UNDRGRND - LA CRÉME DE LA CRÉME

LA CRÉME DE LA CRÉME

NFTjoe — July 27, 2022

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JULY 27TH, 2022

Pinning down what La Créme De La Créme is definitively has been like trying to explain why you’re friends with certain people: when it’s organic and natural, it’s hard to explain.

Community has almost lost all meaning in the NFT space; it’s a catch phrase, a virtue signal. Most don’t seem to know how to build one, or what makes a strong community (hint: it’s not NFT influencers vouching for one). If you begin to look around, and actually interact with communities, you’ll begin to find a similar origin story. Someone had an idea, told someone else, invited a few people to a Twitter group and then others started being invited until you’ve reached the max amount of members in the group chat and then have to begin think about where this movement is going and how to expand (e.g. Women of Crypto Art).

Your first awareness of De La Créme probably began scrolling through Twitter, when artists you follow started to add to their profile name. The styles were similar-ish, their locations had similar origins in South America…sometimes. Then there were artist-collectors that had neither of those attributes.

Trying to find information about De La Créme is hard but you’ll find the colorful la creme de la creme genesis on OBJKT and the idea that brought the group together.

Basaia created la creme de la creme genesis to allow for others to become founders of a “metaverse club & art dao”. Fifteen editions, plus Basaia, would make for sixteen founders. Each founder was then given a founders card.

The description reads, “how to describe la creme de la creme? first of all is an imaginary place in my mind where anything can happens that was turned into the genesis piece of the collection that has the same name and after that into a weird, nasty & fancy meta verse club. to add more fun I decided to test how a DAO works and some decisions about the collection such as places, characters on artworks, size or pricing on some eds will be taken my DAO founders.

“DAO members in first instance are the primary buyers of the genesis piece but with time this can change. this account will handle the DAO profit and some mints.”

“this is the first DAO member Founder card. let's have some fun”

And while all this remains to be the general direction of La Créme De La Créme, what transpired was something more.

“I don't know if there was ever an objective beyond having fun,” Basaia says, “I think everyone liked the idea of the membership card, then the members themselves began to ask if they could add a friend or acquaintance and so the group was put together, in a very organic way. I also noticed that there was a small community of a degenerate art style, or whatever you want to call it, and wanted to start joining as a community. The objective was never to put together a select group or anything like that, just friends and fun. Even the name is an ironic question. I wanted to represent the elite of the 90's but in a bizarre way, to be a little bit the antithesis of that.”

Initially, people may have signed up for the drops but what it has become is something more.

“It's been a search to surround myself with artists most of my life,” says Purpledrank, a founding member, “It started as a group of 15 and we just slowly met or observed artists making moves or staying consistent with their art. We just asked them over time to put their heads together with us. Then with the Ukraine piece it became a bit more cohesive.”

“Our first test was the piece we did when the war started in Ukraine, in honor of our Ukrainian friends, ratcloak and eugor1996, it was a success and we received a lot of support. Now we are planning our next event. Yes for sure the goals are changing, we are in a very dynamic community and space.”

Many of the founders felt this could be more than just a DAO, and that they even had a responsibility to make it more.

“So when he announced that he was dropping a 15/15 token that granted access to his DAO/art club,” says Artwolf, another founding member, “which would give first access on drops plus airdrop perks, well I am always all the way in with this utility. Women already make up such a small percentage of this space, that I feel it’s part of my responsibility as a web3 builder and ambassador of women to get my seat at the table. I also love a good competitive drop when it’s focus is on the art. When I mentioned the need for inclusivity and more women than just me, Bas and the crew immediately brought in more incredible women like Mental Noise, Sümeyra, Bluretina.”

And this has always been something that Basaia appreciated from the set, “There were also people who helped a lot by inviting very well known people who helped a lot, I don't want to forget to mention them or forget any of them, like Mikey Wilson, PurpleDrank, all those who collaborated in the Ukrainian piece. even Xer0x helped me a lot.”

“I created the group but with the idea of a DAO, I mean, I don't want to be the leader or president of that shit, I believe that we are a smart group and there is no need to have one that rules.”

There are future plans for drops, purchases, and expansion for this group. The initial goal of the group still remains. However, as with everything, once people get involved things change.

Perhaps the easiest explanation for what La Créme De La Créme is comes from UNDRGRND artist, Astra de la Créme.

Astra was invited to the group by Artedeft in April, “I knew about them before and always thought they looked like a very interesting bunch and with fucking amazing art. Once I joined, I was overwhelmed with the amazing artists and collectors. I can say for sure I would not be where I am now without their support and advice. I describe this group as relevant, talented and generous individuals who are interested in supporting the arts and artists. I learn so much daily with them and we share our works and accomplishments on a daily basis. We love one another and celebrate each others victory as it was our own. We also share the works of artists we love and help many of them by collecting and sharing.”

Celebrating each other’s accomplishments and victories as if it were your own. That is what brings people together. That is what building in web3 is about. That is what builds community. That is La Créme De La Créme.

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