Ethiopian-Eritrean rapper Tonight he grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, at the nexus of multiple worlds. As a street-smart honor roll student, Hay experienced both the privileges and injustices of his environment. His family’s apartment was located next to his primary and secondary schools, a library, and a police station, a combination of places that would shape his outlook on life.
When I was little, hay explains that one of his earliest memories involved a traumatic encounter with the police when they broke into his home, shining a flashlight and pointing a gun at him. He says he too was wrongly accused of selling drugs in the first degree and put in handcuffs. These events influenced his outlook on life and his place in it and contributed to his knowledge of the high rates of incarceration in Maryland.
Today, Hay is using his art and blockchain technology to create a meaningful impact in his life, the life of his ever-growing digital community, and in his communities in the US and Ethiopia.
Social change through the empowerment of artists
On his next album, I’m tired of being hyper-vigilant, Hay intends to bring attention to issues of racism, police brutality, mental health, and privacy. “Every aspect of the digital world is controlled to some degree,” Hay explains on the project’s website. “I feel much safer offline and off the grid. […] I’m tired of hypervigilance.
And it’s not just about these platforms having access to our phone records, financial records and facial recognition data, he explains, it’s also about the ways they benefit from users. Social media users can build a following by sharing daily content, but by doing so, they are also creating value for the platform.
According to Hay, blockchain technology is particularly well-suited to combat these issues. “[In Web2,] We publish our content, but we do not own it. At Web3, we own everything,” he said in an interview with nft now.
But Hay’s art is not only focused on raising awareness about these issues, it also directly contributes to social change. Proceeds from his deliveries go to The Bail Project, Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform and Baltimore Action Legal Team, making a tangible impact on the lives of people in his home state. Also, as a volunteer Ethiopian FoundationHay helped open a knowledge center in Ethiopia, providing computer labs and other technology to local children.
These efforts are a big part of why he believes he’s made a name for himself in Web3. “People care more about the intent behind a project on Web3 than they do in the traditional music industry,” he said. “Once I realized that, I knew I had found the right place.”
The financial benefits of blockchain technology
Although Hay sees himself in the “right place”, his career originally started on web2. The transition from him to Web3 highlights the advantages of trust and transparency that blockchain technology offers artists.
“I come from the traditional music industry, where I paid thousands of dollars to write contracts to do business with people,” Heno explained. “If I need 20 pages of clauses to do business with you, maybe we shouldn’t work together.” By contrast, smart contracts allow artists to collaborate and conduct business without the need for complex legal agreements or intermediaries.
Hay also stresses the importance of each artist understanding their compensation and ownership, which blockchain technology makes more transparent and accessible. This ease of access allows artists to take control of their careers and financial futures, allowing them to continue their artistic expression.
“Obviously, I get paid more on Web3 than I get paid to stream numbers,” he said in an interview with nft now. “That’s great, but that’s the myopic benefit.” Having the freedom to choose both your financial and creative path is a privilege you would not have enjoyed under a traditional record deal.
Many artists deal with impostor syndrome, assuming they have to settle for less and rely on larger entities to succeed. Hay’s experience with Web3 shows that this is not the case. “I think when people see you helping yourself, they want to support you more,” she said. Through Web3, Hay has been able to build relationships with people directly, fostering a supportive community and connecting with audiences on a deeper level.
Hay also stresses the importance of humility and learning in building a community on Web3. Given the technological learning curve, artists must approach the space with a genuine desire to learn and adapt. This mindset has been one of Hay’s greatest assets, allowing it to evolve along with the rapidly changing landscape. His desire to learn has helped him collaborate with artists like Mick Jenkins, JPEGMAFIA, Chaz Bear, and more.
Through her community collaborations and desire to drive social change, she has managed to create a unique digital world around her music. Of particular note is a short film titled Meanwhilewhich launched as an NFT series on March 22.
Hay’s goal is to create works of art that stimulate conversations, foster connections, and facilitate transformation. While driving social change through their craft is certainly crucial, artists must also advocate for themselves. One method of achieving this is by experimenting with Web3.
He believes that blockchain technology allows him to break his work into digestible pieces, making it more accessible and appealing to the public. By pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on Web3 and taking advantage of the unique opportunities it presents, Hay and other artists can continue to drive social change through their art, but also advocate for themselves.
