In the ever-evolving landscape of music NFTs, Spottie WiFi has cleverly crafted a unique and distinctive brand presence.

Like several other music artists in 2021, Mig Mora, known as Spottie WiFi, minted his digital identity in crypto culture while NFT trading was at an all-time high. Leveraging the Crypto Punks and BAYC communities for OG cred and FOMO, Mora endeared the rap name Spottie WiFi to thousands of degen collectors.

—but before the rapper with a spotted Crypto Punk could pump his persona for 60 ETH in 60 seconds, Mora had life lessons to learn and skills to acquire during his 10-year hiatus from Hip hop.

You’re King of the Crypto Punks? #5528?

I’m the people’s Punk, you know. I just accept the title.

Others know you as the NFT rapper Spottie WiFi, who made $90k in 60 seconds.

It was actually 60 Etherium in 60 seconds, which at that time was about $192,000.

You said that was more money in a minute than you ever made in a year selling music. From Web2 to Web3, all it took was 2000 NFTs and 700 collectors.

It did a lot that first week. It did 100 Etherium in secondary sales in the first 7 hours. I don’t know if other indie artists have replicated that in terms of how quickly it sold out, but there’s a few artists that have taken that model of what I did, to replicate it in their own way.

Spottie WiFi’s music is a reflection of his eclectic influences and lived experiences that blend elements of hip-hop, party music, and crypto. As a member of The Bridge, his college rap group, Mora had the opportunity to open for successful artists like Talib Kweli, Nas, Snoop Dogg, and T.I.

Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, Mora’s musical influences ranged from Puff Daddy to the classics playing on his mom’s oldie station. He developed a love for rap music during his middle school years. Remembering the devices of the time, he fondly recalls the tape decks in cars, his mom’s record player, and the transition from cassettes to CDs in high school. Walkmans and record players delivered the soundtrack for his formative years, setting the stage for his future in music.

I put out a lot of music with The Bridge, and then some other music with this cover band. And then I did a solo album in December 2012, which was my last anything, until the Spottie WiFi era in 2021.

Spottie WiFi

I have a music background as a writer, and even in those days, I was acting as our booking agent, our manager, coming up with marketing ideas, street team strategy, stuff like that. So I got a crash course. And then at different times, I was managing other artists, too. So I’ve always had the music business angle. Something I’ve been studying.

“When I didn’t want to do law or music anymore, I got into marketing and media partnerships at big agencies for big brands.”

Spottie WiFi

Stepping away from the rap scene, Mora continued to pursue Law at Loyola University, where he later passed the bar exam before briefly practicing law. He also began to explore other entrepreneurial pursuits that interested him.

Years later, it was serendipitous timing when Mora heard about blockchain technology. He realized he was capable of making an impact, and he wanted to do something conceptually unique. It was during this time that his passion for music resurfaced, which ultimately led to Spottie WiFi’s solo rap career.

Mora’s idea for the name Spottie WiFi started with a rare trait on his Crypto Punk. Normally, a rare trait will cost you more crypto as a collectible, but people didn’t want spots on their Crypto Punk, so Mora found one at floor price. Fortunately, with Mora’s marketing savvy, his Crypto Punk’s rarity illustrated its persona and inspired its rap name.

Embracing self-deprecating humor, Mora markets Spottie WiFi as a playful caricature to make people laugh with him rather than at him. Through his music, Spottie WiFi wants to educate and entertain, bridging the gap between the crypto natives and mainstream audiences.

“When I bought it, I wasn’t thinking of using it for music. I was just buying it as a collectible asset. And then I thought, well, this one is pretty rare. There’s 10,000 Crypto punks, but there’s only 124 that have spots on their face.”

Spottie WiFi

I remember Puff Daddy videos, and his rockstar demeanor; he was always on top of the world, rockin’ a fur coat and stuff. I’ve worn some fur coats, which you know, and I’m always wearing the spots, that’s a big part of my thing. I embrace the digital identity of Spottie WiFi, my Crypto Punk.

Envisioning your brand image where music meets Web3, the metaverse and NFTs; it all fits. Spottie WiFi embodies the spirit and culture of Web3 music like few artists have. Yet this space moves fast; moments fade quickly—just like the 2021 NFT boom. In hindsight, 2021 was more like a flash in the pan. But no matter where it all goes, Spottie WiFi is already grounded in his identity as an artist.

What was your rap name before Spottie WiFi?

Just Mig, which is short for Miguel.

You’ve said before that you consider yourself an underdog. Considering your upbringing and education, you’re certainly not an underdog in life. Is it your brand of Hip hop that makes you an underdog, that maybe you don’t fit in?

I’m privileged that I have two great parents. I’ve been able to go to school, and see the world and things like that, but I don’t come from money. My dad immigrated to the U.S. from Costa Rica with little or nothing to his name.

It all started in Web3, started from nothing but a spare bedroom, and a computer, a laptop, and a microphone, and a mixer. Everything you’re looking at has been built from the ground up by me and my partner, Stephen Clark, who’s my music producer who also owns the Crypto Punk with me, and my wife, who supports me and gives me all the love and space I need to do this crazy thing that I’m doing, and a few other partners and friends and teammates, and that’s it. It’s really indie and really grassroots.

I know what it’s like to go 8 years, and think my chance to do music, as a career, is over, Or my opportunity to work in entertainment, as the talent, is dead.

Spottie WiFi

I appreciate things a lot more than I would have if I had become super successful a decade ago. It’s like I’m playing with house money now. Compared to other artists coming out of Web3, like really born in Web3, I think we can put our resume up against anyone.

As a rapper too? Talk about your Discord battles.

That’s a thing I participated in early in my Web3 experience. There’s a group called ThaCypher and they have a Discord. They used to do weekly or almost daily rap battles.

I’m really not a battle rapper, but I would go in there sometimes and try to keep up. We had a lot of fun. There’s a collection called the Abba Stars, an OG NFT collection. They had a big battle one year leading up to my album, or my single launch—that was a big one. I did a battle there. Close Match. My guy, Louie C Rhymes, who’s a dope battle rapper, he beat me in the final.

What’s your battle record?

I don’t want to compare myself to any boxers, but I don’t get into rap battle situations if I don’t know what’s going on, because I don’t trust my battle skills enough to just battle anybody. I pick my spots.

Would you like to see Web3 music, particularly rap, become more competitive—is that why you poked the bear?

I think sometimes it’s too competitive. Actually, I would like it to be more collaborative.

When I say poke the bear, I’m referring to Kane Mayfield. If you ask me, he’s the underground king of Web3 Hip hop.

About that tweet from Outer Edge LA: you were performing on stage, while Kane was watching. He turned; and that look on his face…

You tweeted about that.

KANE MAYFIELD:
 
"I didn't know the phone was there; 
I don't walk around like I'm being recorded. 
I think he was kidding. 
If he wasn't, that's sad, 
because that means he doesn't have media training. 
I responded, we should all be more thankful for Web3. 

I have no interest in being entertainment for tourists in my culture. 
I'm not a zoo animal. 
You can't get me to square dance without my consent. 

The promise of Web3 is that we don't have to entertain any of that stuff.
This isn't the music business.
It's not about talent in Web3.
How good you are at rapping doesn't matter here."

Web3 feels like 90s Hip Hop. I think of that Taco Bell commercial with MC Hammer in it. Back then, you were considered a sellout if you partnered with a major brand like that. But fast forward, you have Migos in a Mountain Dew commercial, and the meaning of the term sellout seems to have evolved.

What does a sellout mean in Web3 when it comes to the tenets and ethos of the blockchain? Is it possible to become a sellout when it comes to content and partnerships, or is all money good money now that artists have full ownership and control of their Web3 brand?

All money is not good money, whether it’s Web2 or Web3. The biggest issue I see right now, in terms of people selling out, is people sell out their followers; they sell out their fanbase. That’s nothing really new. But if you’re promoting a product that you haven’t actually vetted, that’s the thing; some people will just claim ignorance, or give themselves plausible deniability, because they can say they didn’t know it was a scam, or a rug.

Spottie WiFi continues to exemplify what a sustainable brand looks like in Web3 music. It requires more than just talent and hard work; success in Web3 requires technical knowledge, consistent persistence, and keen insight and understanding of our niche market, with a loyal community that is willing to grow with you.