Unlocking the Enigma: Dive into the Wu-Tang Clan's Exclusive One-Copy Album
Delve into the enigmatic world of 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin' by the iconic Wu-Tang Clan. This secret project, crafted over six years, remains shrouded in mystery with its solitary physical existence. Experience the allure of a rare musical masterpiece that few have had the privilege to fully embrace.
"Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" is a mysterious album recorded by the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It took them six years to make, and only one physical copy exists. Very few people have had the chance to listen to the album in its entirety.
But now, a few lucky members of the public will have the opportunity to hear it. They just need to make their way to a museum on the Australian island of Tasmania next month.
A rare piece of hip-hop history will be showcased at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) from June 15 to 24. The museum announced that the album will be featured in an exhibit lasting just over a week. Limited free tickets will be offered for curated private listening sessions.
Jarrod Rawlins, director of curatorial affairs at Mona, describes the "Namedropping" exhibition as a showcase of rare objects with mystical properties that go beyond their physical form.
In a statement, Rawlins explains that the inclusion of "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" in the exhibition goes beyond just being an album. He wanted to highlight the transcendent nature of a namedrop when considering status.
The museum has stated that the album "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" cannot be commercially exploited until 2103, but it can be played at private listening parties.
In March 2014, Wu-Tang Clan announced their plan to create a single copy of the album to be sold to the highest bidder. "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" was presented in a hand-carved box along with a leather-bound book featuring lyrics and the album's backstory.
The group decided to release only one copy of the album with the intention of creating a unique piece of art that had never been done before in the history of modern music. According to Wu-Tang member Robert “RZA” Diggs in a 2014 interview with Forbes, this decision was made to stand out and make a statement.
The Wu-Tang Clan originated as a group of rappers from Staten Island, New York in the 1990s.
RZA also mentioned in the interview that the album was a form of protest against the devaluation of music as an artform in the digital age. This unconventional approach was a way for the group to emphasize the importance of music as a creative and valuable form of expression.
The Wu-Tang Clan originated as a group of rappers from Staten Island, New York in the 1990s.
Bob Berg/Getty Images
The album has had a history almost as unusual as its release. In 2015, the notorious "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli purchased the album for approximately $2 million, making it the most expensive music album ever sold at the time.
US federal authorities seized the album from Shkreli after he was convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy in 2017. He was found guilty of defrauding investors of over $10 million between 2009 and 2014.
Before his conviction, Shkreli gained notoriety for raising the price of a drug used by AIDS patients from $13.50 to $750 per pill while serving as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. In 2015, he was labeled as "the most hated man in America" for his actions during his time as CEO of the biotech company Retrophin.
In 2021, the US Justice Department sold the album without revealing the buyer. They mentioned that the funds from the sale would be used to pay off the remaining balance of about $7.4 million that Shkreli owed from his sentencing in March 2018.
A rare look of what's inside the album box.
A rare look of what's inside the album box.
Jon Lynn/Wu-Tang Clan/Pleasr/Museum of Old and New Art
PleasrDAO, a digital art collective that identifies as a “decentralized autonomous organization” and a pioneer in NFT digital art, revealed in a video that they purchased the album using cryptocurrency. They did not disclose the exact amount they paid for the album, but according to The New York Times, it was sold for around $4 million.
Editor's P/S:
The enigmatic journey of Wu-Tang Clan's "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" album captivates with its extraordinary rarity and unique artistic vision. The album's existence as a single physical copy, its elusive nature, and the veil of secrecy surrounding it have elevated it to a mythical status in the world of music. The upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania offers a rare opportunity for a select few to experience this musical masterpiece, further fueling its mystique.
The album's creation and subsequent history reflect the group's experimental and progressive approach to art. Wu-Tang Clan challenged conventional norms by releasing only one copy, emphasizing the exclusivity and value of their work. The album's subsequent sale to Martin Shkreli and its subsequent seizure and resale by the US Justice Department added layers of notoriety and controversy to its story. The album's ultimate purchase by PleasrDAO, a collective known for its investment in digital art, further underscores the intersection between traditional and contemporary art forms. "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" stands as a testament to the enduring power of music, the boundaries of artistic expression, and the fascination with the elusive and extraordinary.
