How Snoop Dogg and Eminem Used NFTs in a Music Video

The story usually described as Snoop Dogg and Eminem using NFT ownership for a new music video refers to “From the D 2 the LBC,” released in 2022. The rappers used Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) imagery in the video, including animated ape versions of themselves. It is a past release, not a newly announced 2026 video.

The useful takeaway is narrower than “NFTs made the video.” The NFTs connected the artists to particular digital characters and gave the project a recognizable visual theme. They were not a new way to stream the song, and viewers did not need to own an NFT to watch it.

If you are looking at this as a creator, collector or fan, separate three things:

• The token: a record on a blockchain associated with a particular NFT.
• The artwork and licence: the image and the rights its owner or creator permits you to use.
• The music video: a separately produced work that can involve music, performances, animation and other rights.

Owning one piece does not automatically give you the others. That distinction is the key to understanding the project—and avoiding assumptions when you plan your own.

The NFT connection was visual and creative: BAYC ape imagery was incorporated into the video’s animated presentation. The artists’ association with ape characters helped link the video to a prominent NFT collection and to their public identities as NFT holders. The NFTs were not necessary for the song to exist or for audiences to play the video.

Think of an NFT as a unique blockchain token associated with an item, rather than the item’s entire creative and legal package. A token can help identify a particular collectible and its holder. The image, animation, recording, lyrics and finished video remain distinct creative works, with their own owners and permissions.

Part of the project	What the NFT connection means	What it doesn’t establish by itself
Ape character	A visual reference to a BAYC collectible	Ownership of the BAYC brand or all related art
Music video	NFT imagery was part of its presentation	That the video is stored on-chain or requires a token to watch
Fan interest	Collectors may recognize the collection	A promise of financial value or benefits for viewers

The distinction matters because coverage can blur “an NFT appeared in a video” with “the video is an NFT product.” Those are different claims. Here, the story is about using NFT-linked imagery in a mainstream music video.

Buying or holding an NFT generally gives you control of the token recorded on its blockchain. It does not automatically transfer copyright in the artwork, ownership of the collection’s brand, or permission to use the image in every commercial project. The rights you receive depend on the specific collection licence and its terms.

BAYC has been associated with commercial-use rights for holders’ individual ape artwork, subject to the collection’s applicable terms. That kind of licence can make creative uses possible, but it is not a blank cheque. Read the current licence for the exact token and confirm that it covers your planned use, territory, duration and commercial activity. Do not assume terms are identical across NFT collections.

A licence for an ape image also does not clear everything else in a music video. You may need separate permission for:

• the song, lyrics, recording and any samples;
• performers’ names, likenesses and voices;
• logos, trademarks, costumes or other artwork;
• any third-party animation, footage or production assets.

For a large commercial release, have an entertainment or intellectual-property lawyer review the rights chain. A wallet transaction proves control of a token at a point in time; it is not, on its own, proof that every element of your video is cleared for publication.

If you want to make a video featuring an NFT, start with the rights and production plan—not with a wallet purchase. A token may be connected to artwork you want to feature, but the collection’s licence determines what you can do with that artwork. Keep a copy of the terms that apply when you secure permission, and ask a qualified lawyer about any unclear commercial use.

Use this checklist before committing money or publishing:

1. Identify the exact asset. Record its collection, token ID and blockchain. Check that the token belongs to the collection you intend to reference.
2. Read the licence. Confirm whether it allows the specific use, including advertising, merchandise, edits and distribution on your intended channels.
3. Clear other material. Obtain the necessary music, sample, performer, trademark and production permissions separately.
4. Plan the production. Budget for animation, editing, legal review and any required marketplace or blockchain transactions.
5. Keep evidence. Save licence terms, agreements, invoices and records of who approved each asset.
6. Review before release. Check that the final cut still matches the permissions you obtained; a new edit or merch campaign may need additional clearance.

You can make a strong NFT-themed video without claiming that the token gives you more rights than it does. Being precise in the credits and promotion helps audiences understand whether an NFT is artwork, a character reference or a collectible associated with the project.

There is no single price for using an NFT in a video. Your total cost can include acquiring a token, blockchain transaction costs, production, licensing or legal advice, and permission for music or other protected assets. These costs vary by chain, marketplace, rights-holder and project. Do not assume that buying an NFT is the largest cost—or that it clears every use.

The project also creates practical risks. A token can be misidentified, transferred or held in a wallet you do not control. A collection’s terms may restrict the use you had in mind, and a marketplace listing may not explain all the rights attached to the artwork. Separately, music or likeness claims can disrupt distribution even when the NFT-related permission is valid.

Reduce the chance of trouble by checking the collection’s official contract and the token’s current ownership, then matching the token to the licence you plan to rely on. Be wary of messages asking you to sign a wallet transaction to “verify” rights or claim an appearance. A signature can authorize an action, and a transaction can transfer assets; neither should be approved unless you understand its effect.

If costs or rights are unclear, pause. Get written answers before you pay, animate, announce a collaboration or distribute the finished work. A token’s market price does not tell you whether a planned use is permitted.

The most common misunderstanding is treating NFT ownership as a substitute for copyright clearance. It is not. A token may give its holder specific rights under a licence, but those rights do not automatically cover the song, an artist’s likeness, the collection’s name, or someone else’s video assets.

Avoid these mistakes:

• Assuming the token is the artwork’s copyright. Read the licence rather than relying on a seller’s description or social-media post.
• Assuming one licence covers a whole campaign. A music video, paid advertisement and merchandise line may be treated differently.
• Skipping identity checks. Confirm the collection and token using reliable project information; lookalike collections and copied images can mislead buyers.
• Signing a wallet prompt you do not understand. Review the action, network and permissions before confirming. Never share your recovery phrase.
• Treating an old report as a current announcement. “From the D 2 the LBC” is a 2022 project. Check official artist channels for any genuinely new release or collaboration.
• Promising buyers or fans a return. A music-video appearance does not guarantee that an NFT will rise in value or gain future utility.

The safest approach is to describe the NFT’s role narrowly, verify the rights before production and avoid implying that a collectible grants broader access or benefits than the terms actually provide.

For fans, the video is best understood as a 2022 music release that incorporated BAYC imagery—not as a requirement to buy an NFT, a token-gated video service or proof that NFT prices will rise. You can appreciate the visual idea without holding a collectible.

For collectors, an NFT’s appearance in a famous video does not change the basic checks you should make before buying. Verify the collection, token and blockchain; read the licence; consider transaction and marketplace costs; and treat resale value as uncertain. A celebrity association is not a guarantee of future demand, official benefits or ongoing commercial rights.

For creators, the useful lesson is that NFTs can supply a distinctive character or community connection, but the token is only one part of a larger rights and production process. Confirm what the licence permits, clear the rest of the work, and keep records of approvals. If a proposed use depends on a particular interpretation of the licence, get professional advice before release.

In short: Snoop Dogg and Eminem’s video showed how NFT-linked art could be brought into a major music production. It did not make NFT ownership equivalent to owning a song, a brand or every right needed to publish a video.