Every time the world turns, energy burns – or so it seems. The same can surprisingly be said about cryptocurrencies and the carbon footprint they leave behind.

As humans, it is unsafe and unfair to make sweeping generalizations. But, as a universe, it is safe to say that our energy consumption and emissions are not trending in the renewable direction.

NFTs and crypto’s carbon footprint are no different. They are exponentially driving the surge toward the extinction of energetic life as we know it.

Now, that last statement might have been a slight exaggeration. Either way, it is a clear-cut fact that cryptocurrencies and blockchains have been running rampant within the past year.

There are sustainable blockchains. But those typically see less volume as most cryptocurrencies operate on a designed proof-of-work basis.

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Foundational crypto models work, but also leave behind a brolic carbon footprint

Proof-of-work is the consensus algorithm within the majority of usable decentralized blockchain networks. Proof-of-work systems secure funds within the decentralized ledger instead of third-party overseers.

They are designed to be inefficient – that way it is less profitable for someone who might have an intention to hack into the blockchain.

The proof-of-stake model is a centralized ledger utilized by NBA Top Shot. In that realm, NBA Top Shot operates on the Flow blockchain which asks that users contribute their tokens. Thus, these token submissions prove the users’ stake in keeping the ledger accurate. 

Normally, purchases that occur on the proof-of-work blockchain send economic signals to cryptocurrency miners which in turn increases emissions. 

On the bright side, the proof-of-stake model eliminates the need for computers to solve complex puzzles and burn boatloads of energy in the process. Conversely, it creates a single institution oversight which is the exact opposite of why crypto was created.

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Who are the major influencers behind cryptocurrencies?

Jack Dorsey – the CEO of Twitter has kept his name in the headlines for all the right reasons.

He was one of the first to step up to the plate and censor the 45th President on his major platform. He purchased Tidal from Jay-Z. And more recently, he sold his first tweet as an NFT. This man has been ahead of the curve for years and continues to influence and inspire those with tech aspirations.

Justin Sun – this economist created his cryptocurrency TRON and has been moving like an absolute boss within the digital space.

His recent acquisition of BitTorrent propagates further decentralization of the internet. Sun’s 9-9-6 model (9 AM – 9 PM 6 days/week) makes him a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur. Keep tabs on him as his cleverness, focus, and work ethic are downright unmatchable. 

Michael ‘Beeple’ Winkelmann – as a major player in the NFT space, Beeple has minted his artwork for upwards of millions. He has been spreading his wealth of influence amidst many top platforms. Going forward, he plans to make all of his paintings carbon neutral or carbon negative and encourages others to do the same.

Tim Kang – an original NFT guy – people were questioning his sanity upon his first Beeple purchase. Kang spent $777K on the piece and has spent roughly $1M on 200 digital artworks to date.

He influences the masses by taking risks, creating trends and breaking ground on new developments. Tim Kang was the person that showed other people a world of infinite access to creative liberation through NFT ownership. 

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What are some ways crypto and its carbon footprint can be sustainable?

Sidechains build another layer on top of an existing blockchain which saves energy via off-chain transactions. Make all of your 1to1 processes exist on a sidechain that avoids energy consumption on the main blockchain.

Bridging creates compatible interoperability between blockchains. Once again, creating a diversion of the crypto trail means that these parallel networks consume energy elsewhere. Thus, the main blockchain player does not get weighed down as the activity takes place off-site.

Lastly, the most important solution we can put forth is purchasing alternatives. These cryptocurrencies are much better for our carbon footprint as all of them are either C neutral or C negative: Algorand, Tezos, Polkadot, Hedera, Hashgraph.

Regardless, for those seeking their foray into the cryptocurrency sphere. Do so at your own financial and environmental risk.

Financially, crypto is extremely volatile and can climb/descend the charts quickly due to its relatively small market cap. Crypto is so volatile that its carbon footprint will always be a topic of conversation.

Environmentally, it is a decentralized energy-hungry beast centered around financial gain. 

America the great – I believe it to be. But still, there is consistent evidence that America does not care about many of its residents. For people (mostly Black people) in Jackson, Mississippi, and Flint, Michigan, who are still without clean water, this must feel like the case.

Flint, Michigan has been a town without clean water for nearly a decade. The city’s nearly $100M project to destroy all lead pipes has nearly been completed. Still, residents must amend their amenities by alternative means to receive clean water. And the same goes now for residents of Jackson, MS.

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What is our current country status?

Since when has it become alright to let reasonable people go without? The more that capitalism swallows our prideful principles, the more that America morphs into a third-world country. America does not treat itself or its people well and exists with many self-serving tendencies. 

So maybe it isn’t too much to ask for a thriving nation to grant access to clean water in every one of its active cities. Unfortunately, another leak has sprouted as this year continues to reveal the rust on our foundation. Jackson, Mississippi, and Flint Michigan need clean water. Plain and simple.

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Awful winter storm damages Jackson, MS’s clean water

The issue in Jackson, Mississippi resembles the Texas power storm grid disaster. The infrastructure in play is not equipped to handle the current stress the system is experiencing. 

In mid-February, a harsh and late-season snowstorm did a number on the city of Jackson, MS. On February 17, the city created a boil water notice and was forced to shut down its water supply for a period of time. This left more than 70,000 residents of Jackson without access to clean water.

The lack of clean water situation was harrowingly similar to that in Flint.

Today, the water is nowhere near its daily standard capacity with reports of only 37 lbs of pressure per sq. inch being pumped through the pipes as opposed to a successful 90 lbs of pressure per sq. inch. 

Issues as heinous as this one make us beg the question as to where our priorities lie? I know everyone always has something to complain about and it takes so much to make us happy. But, it seems like running water is something that should be handled with greater preparation and alternative gameplans.

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The world unravels in layers

Regardless, we are entering the craziest decade in history and I hope that these extracurricular happenings do not continue to become commonplace. If these extraordinary events such as increased natural disasters occur at growing rates, people are harmed and humanity suffers.

Events like these lead into vicious cycles because not only does it represent uncontrollable climate change but also accelerated natural selection which increases our reliance upon corporations. 

People in this situation are now being forced to shovel funds to plastic processing water companies at an excess rate. 

The Jackson, MS water storm caused a lot of burst pipes and left many Americans with their hands dry and itchy. Looking for an emergency fund, many Americans had to resort to boiling water or buying bottled water at an extreme markup. 

According to journalist Sarah Fowler, the scene in the city looks like, “a whole lot of neighbors helping neighbors.” There has not been a determined date for when the city will reach the desired water pressure to fulfill its obligations.

With more and more happenings in our world, it seems as if we must take the good with the bad. Throughout life, it may be true that winning only occurs when the pros outweigh the cons. The question remains, what fuels those in power’s motivations?

There is just something downright and undisputably captivating about a lyrically vulgar hip hop song. I mean a track so nasty with toxic lyricism that you curl up your nose and scrunch up your face while bobbin’ your head along to it.

That feeling of sheer invincibility on the track provides listeners and artists alike with a unique sense of power. Toxic lyricism reigns audiences in. But of course, it is a double-edged sword, because are these lyrics really what we want to spread to the masses and youth?

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Give-and-take mechanisms

The artist feels magnificence. Catching different breath pockets, coasting upon different stanzas while feeling untouchable and of a different elk.

The fans feel elated to hear their favorite artist continue to impress by walking all over the recording in a multifaceted manner.

This is the world provided to us through a mutual trust and affinity toward established artists. For any person, it is not easy to do the same things year after year. And continue to improve and reinvent themselves. 

Yet, successful artists manage to stay current and adapt their individual sound to the changing times surrounding them. Hence, new fans jump on board and original fans continue to tap in.

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Toxic lyricism goes hard, but what are the lasting impacts?

Nowadays, the problem with many hip hop artists’, deals with their derogatory and also aggressive use of toxic lyricism. 

America seemingly has a deeply rooted obsession for violence and toxic lyricism. Thus, when artists spit lines about robbery, mistreatment, or other toxic vocabulary, people tend to chalk it up for what it is – a part of the genre. 

The hip hop genre is diluted by foul language, misrepresentation, and cut-throat practices by nature. The top-tier executives are also a major reason for these toxic tropes. After all, they set the standards and decide what music sells.

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Nobody wants to be cookie-cutter pillow-soft

It is evident that violence, machismo and arrogance are three components that can bolster a hip hop artist’s credibility. Of course, actions to match words help for clout purposes.

The problem is still that many artists stand firmly on this idea that, “I actually live this life and everything I talk about is what I have done or will do.”

Nobody is actually verifying whether or not these actions are carried out like they are performed within the song. The fact of the matter is, why is it important for hip hop artists to be considered reputable threats in order for them to be taken seriously as a force within their industry?

The answer is simple: records that question or pose a challenge to the status quo are not given financial backing. Thus, the music that people want to hear is actually spoonfed via carefully constructed formula and has been that way for years.

Therefore, artists perpetuate limited means of expression based upon the fact that specific lyrical criterion sells.

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With the exceptions of aficionados, rap will never be taken seriously by the masses

It is difficult to improve and change the trajectory of a genre that is embedded with bloodsuckers and leeches. Hip hop is marred with animosity and desensitization. And this makes it incredibly difficult to be heard if you decide to variate from the norm. 

What is the norm? Fast cars, designer clothes, scantily-clad women, big jewels, stoicism, and also a preoccupation with violence.  

Why might violence increase the selling power of a hip hop artist? That is the easiest way to boost your stats and be seen as lyrically credible. 

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Artist types 

There is something to be said for the downright disrespectful artist. The one who will say anything or take it intentionally too far as a part of their delivery style. This person does not follow any codes or rules, rather they are trying to be as blatantly disgusting as possible. 

This artist still practically uses their lyrics as a way to spit venom into your face and operates on the most competitive possible platform.

A lot of people tend to flock toward the braggadocious artist because their fortified exterior and tough talk gets us hyped. 

The artist who flaunts their content in your face only to still snatch it right back in an instant. Many people tune into artists with the slick ability to talk trash with toxic lyricism simply because they want to hear the off-the-wall sentiments that person will come up with next.

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More artist types: Do they all engage in toxic lyricism?

A well-polished city-slicker that is flyer than you, has more money than you, and has also been more places than you and they know it.

Every word uttered is worth a pretty penny and they also often take a step back in the body of the song to gauge their audience’ jealousy meter? Oh you mad? I thought that you’d be happy I made it.

With the Escape Artist, hip hop creates a fantasy world where we are all allowed to exist in the slightest sense.

This artist is also often elusive in nature, does not make many public appearances, and provides his listeners with the ability to become apart of a space they normally wouldn’t receive admission to.  

Brutal Humilitarian –  A humilitarian is a humble humanitarian. Some artists are just so incredibly honest that there is nothing else you can do but respect them. No toxic lyricism here folks.

Humility is one of my favorite hip hop novelty devices because it represents honor, background, reflection and provides the closest connection between listener and speaker. 

“My pops knew exactly what he did when he made me – Tried to get a nut & he got a nut in – What!”

(Jay Z, Reasonable Doubt)

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Many artists sacrifice integrity for the almighty dollar that toxic lyricism presents

Why is it that we are attracted to those who might be deviant? People are ‘fascinated’ with serial killers because it feeds some sort of innate obsession.

It all boils down to one thing: the allure of the illicit. Being a bad boy character and doing things that buck the trend provides quite the emotional appeal to hip hop consumers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5clkFgVhmj4

The unfortunate part about it is that many artists do not differentiate between reality and descriptive character. Many people are great hip hop artists because they draw a clear distinction between the lyrics and persona they pose in songs versus who they are in real life.

Some people struggle with drawing that line. And let dispositional attitudes taken up for commercial success blur and infiltrate the lines of their on-Earth relationships.

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Aspirational endeavors

The reason why hip hop as a whole identifies with individuals like Ralph Lauren is that the genre discerns great similarities between storylines. People coming up within the commercial industry of hip hop and fashion often pursue delusions of grandeur.

These illusions may cloud the vision of some, while it makes the foresight of others absolutely crystal clear. The fact of the matter is: We all want to make it and go from humble beginnings to the upper echelon. 

Many hip hop purists will straight up tell you – there is nothing better than a grimey spitter. One who will cypher for hours, continue to piece words and sounds together and do so in the only way they know – eye for an eye.

There is no replacement for that superior confidence boost feeling that reinforces the notion of man as a conqueror. 

Technology, education, transportation, and telecommunication may all change – but one thing that will always remain the same – the nature of man.