For those unfamiliar with they myth surrounding Wu Tang Clan‘s latest studio album Once Upon a Time in Shaloin, let me fill you in. The double album, recorded back in 2014 only ever had one pressing made. This exemplar, encased in a engraved silver box with leather lining, was then stored in a vault in Marrakech, Morocco to be auctioned off to the highest bidder via the website Paddle8 – that is under legal agreement that the album would not be commercially exploited for 88 years. It has been reported that this singular copy has been sold.
Although Paddle8 have confirmed the sale, they are yet to release any staement about how much for, to whom, or when/if it will be available in museums or galleries for listening, although allegedly the album was set to sell for over $5 million.
When talking with XXL about the album Wu Tang’s Method Man claimed that the whole concept was “fucking stupid”: “Fuck that album. I’m tired of this shit and I know everybody else is tired of it, too. Fuck that album, if that’s what they are doing. I haven’t heard anything like that, but if they’re doing crap like that, fuck that album. Straight up. I’m just keeping it 100. When music can’t be music and y’all turning it into something else, fuck that. Give it to the people, if they want to hear the shit, let them have it. Give it away free. I don’t give a fuck; that ain’t making nobody rich or poor. Give the fucking music out. Stop playing with the public, man.”
I have to say I’m on board with you Method Man.
