One of the most hated men in America just bought the ONLY copy of the last WuTang album for $2 million dollars. In 2014, RZA told us that the rap group would gather together one last time to create only ONE copy of their next album. The Album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, would be sold to the highest bidder. RZA stated in an interview with Forbes, “We’re about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of music… We’re making a single-sale collector’s item. This is like someone having the sceptor of an Egyptian King.”
Once Upon A Time in Shaolin consists of 31 tracks and comes in a hand-carved box with a leather bound book consisting of 174 pages filled with lyrics and backgrounds on songs. Every living member of the Wu contributed to this album, along with some special guests. After true fans of WuTang objected to this marketing tactic, even going as far as starting a kickstarter campaign to buy it to keep it out of the hands of some scoundral. The Kickstarter fans stated, “someone who has disposable millions, its just another shiny new toy for them, It’s most likely not going to be someone who appreciates music.” They were only able to raise about $15,000 through Kickstarter. Now, their words of warning have never rang so deeply in the hearts of real Wu fans.
After hiring online auction startup Paddle8 to sell the album, on November 24th, they announced that the album had sold for a record figure “in the millions”. WuTang wouldn’t release the name of the buyer and RZA stated the buyer wanted privacy – HOWEVER the buyer didn’t care anything about privacy – he wanted to publicity!
Back in May, several buyers gathered in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, joined by 36 fans who won tickets on Hot 97 where they all were able to listen to 13 minute excerpts of the album. Rumor has it that it sounded like the best WuTang Clan album recorded in years. An actual fan of rap, a controversial figure made the highest bid for this new album; Rumors are flying that he paid about 2 million for the album. The mogul that won this priceless album goes by the name of Martin Shkreli, 32 year old pharmaceutical executive. His name may not sound familiar but his story released earlier this year, made him one of the most hated men on the internet. The same month he won the guestimated $2 million bid, he also made another major purchase. Shkreli purchased an anti-parasitic drug called Daraprim, the drug is used to fight many diseases, but people know it best because it fights the HIV/AIDs virus. Once Shkreli purchased the drug, he became one of the most hated men in America by taking the price of the drug from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill. Even Hillary Clinton reprimanded him calling him a price gouger and stating that he is outrageous. Donald Trump called him a spoiled brat and the BBC labeled him “the most hated man in America”.
Shkreli thought that politicians scolding him was amusing, and in turn he donated to the Bernie Sanders campaign; Bernie and his team in turn took the $2700 donation and forwarded it on to a Washington health-care facility.
The Pharmaceutical mogul says his biggest worry was how WuTang would react; he worried they would back out the deal, however it was too late – the deal was complete. In an attempt to cover their own asses after learning Bloomberg would release the purchasers details, Rza sent in a statement:
“The sale of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was agreed upon in May, well before Martin Skhreli’s business practices came to light. We decided to give a significant portion of the proceeds to charity.
During an interview for Bloomberg, Shkreli was getting prepared for a holiday party and stated he had arranged for Fetty Wap to give a personal concert. Shkreli said these words:
“As an average fan, I can’t get Fetty Wap to give me a personal concert. The reality is sure you could. you know, at the right price these guys basically will do anything.” —-WOW
The Pharmaceutical mogul hasn’t listened to Once Upon a time in Shaolin just yet, he says he is saving it for a time when he is feeling low and needs something to lift his spirts. However, he has stated he would be willing to listen to it if, “Taylor Swift wants to hear it or something like that.”
So, did WuTang sell their souls to the devil, or is this just business? Amazing.
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
