Drake, the renowned rapper and entrepreneur, has recently shifted his focus from a rap beef with Kendrick Lamar to the upcoming launch of his NOCTA apparel brand in collaboration with Nike. However, amidst this transition, crypto traders have speculated that Drake may have subtly referenced a rising meme coin called Banana Tape Wall (BTW).
BTW, a Solana meme coin created on Pump.fun, gained popularity in August with a market cap peaking at $18 million. The coin features an image of a banana duct-taped to a wall, reminiscent of the famous art piece „Comedian“ by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. In NOCTA’s latest ad for its „Hot Step II“ sneakers, the brand showcased the shoe taped to the wall using gray duct tape, sparking speculation among crypto enthusiasts.
Crypto Twitter erupted with theories about the potential connection between NOCTA’s ad and the meme coin. Content creator Orangie questioned whether Drake’s brand was promoting the meme coin or if it was merely a coincidence. The meme coin itself added to the speculation by retweeting NOCTA’s post with a cryptic message, further fueling the frenzy.
Following NOCTA’s post, BTW experienced a significant surge in value, jumping 38.25% in under an hour and a half, reaching a market cap of $9.51 million. While some believe that NOCTA’s ad was a nod to the meme coin, others argue that it was a reference to Cattelan’s controversial art piece that gained global attention in 2019.
Fashion and lifestyle platform Hypebeast suggested that NOCTA’s ad was more likely inspired by Cattelan’s art piece rather than the meme coin it inspired. Decrypt reached out to NOCTA for clarification on any association with the meme coin but did not receive an immediate response.
Drake’s affinity for art is well-documented, with his impressive collection featuring works by renowned artists like Andy Warhol and KAWS. The rapper’s engagement with crypto has been relatively subdued, with partnerships with platforms like Stake for crypto betting and public displays of hardware wallets like Ledger.
In conclusion, Drake’s foray into the world of crypto and art continues to intrigue fans and industry observers alike. Whether the reference to BTW in NOCTA’s ad was intentional or coincidental, it has sparked a conversation within the crypto community and added another layer of intrigue to Drake’s multifaceted ventures.
