Martin Shkreli purchased the Wu-Tang Clan’s one-of-a-kind album, Once Upon a Time In Shaolin last year for a reported $2 million. Shkreli has been criticized for his business practices including purchasing the HIV drug Daraprim and raising its price from $13.50 to $750.
RZA addresses the purchase of the album in an interview on Bloomberg‘s “With All Due Respect” program.
“He bought it, he can do what he wants,” RZA says. “The power of art is I could never discriminate. If the most greatest man in the world was the one who wanted to possess it, it woulda been his objective. If my enemy came to an auction and was like, ‘Yo, I want that picture of RZA just to throw darts at it,’ it’s being auctioned. So that’s something that I could never, ever, at this age in my life and through the years, I could never discriminate who appreciates art.”
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In an exclusive interview with HipHopDX, Shkreli shared his impression of the Wu-Tang rapper.
“He definitely acts like his shit doesn’t stink and he invented Rap,” Shkreli says. “This concept of selling one album, this shit’s backfiring for him now.”
RZA responds to these comments with a smile.
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“That’s a little hostile, but what could backfire from creating a piece of art, having an idea and see it grow into fruition?” he says. “As far as me being arrogant? It depends on what day you catch me. I could be arrogant, right? But most people that know me respect me because I am down to earth and very communicative.”
The full episode of “With All Due Respect” is scheduled to air today (January 6) at 5 pm EST on Bloomberg Television.
For additional Wu-Tang Clan coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
