In a message sent to Forbes earlier this month, Wu-Tang Clan lyricist RZA confirmed that the lone copy of the group’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin album will be sold through Paddle8, a company described as “the auction house for the 21st-century collector.”
“We will announce Paddle8 as [the] official auction house,” RZA said in an electronic message sent to Forbes.
No added details regarding the sale were revealed, but according to Forbes, a micro-site with more information on the sale will launch later this month. The micro-site will feature interviews with RZA, Wu-Tang-related essays, and a sneak peek at the Once Upon A Time In Shaolin tracklist.
Additionally, Forbes reports that Once Upon A Time In Shaolin will not be auctioned and will instead be treated as a private sale.
“That’s something that auction houses–Christie’s, Sotheby’s, all the way down to Paddle8–do quite frequently,” Paddle8′s Sarah Goulet said, according to Forbes. “It’s price upon request.”
It’s unclear what amount Once Upon A Time In Shaolin will sell for, but in an interview last year, RZA did reveal that he was offered $5 million for the album.
“Offers came in at $2 million, somebody offered $5 million yesterday,” RZA said during an interview with Billboard in April of last year. “I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails — some from people I know, some from people I don’t know, and they’re also e-mailing other members of my organization.”
For additional Wu-Tang Clan coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
If no one wanted a better tomorrow who would want this for 5 million?
Um, I copped 2 copies. Speak for yourself troll.
I am a troll because you like wack music and are financial irresponsible…get the fuck out here!
A Better Tomoorow is a Solid Album.. Where’s your album?
What the hell does that even mean? Im from the golden era the 90’s I remember going to sam goodies at the mall and buying a CASSETTE of enter 36 chambers a certified classic. But I am not going to give them nostalgia points when there is no cohesion of the group. You probably a hipster and are new to this. You probably on heard of the golden era I lived it.
SHOVE that album up in your ass RZA
aaahahahahahahaha nice one yo!
I personally would buy this album if I had that kinda cash, after which if I didnt like the beats, song structure etcetra etcetra I’d chop up the vocals and being a buding producer myself I would put that shit out on MY beats… anyway if CilvaRingz produced this there might be hope for it though
So whoever buys the album owns the masters right? Supercool, a ton of money could be made off this one off purchase!!!
He lied about that 5 million. lol fucking puss
Your mom lied about you. You’re a test tube baby. lol
funny thing is this album is probly 1000 times better than a better tomorrow
This is still happening? I want my download link.
fuck this shit man.
I’m inclined to believe that at some point this album will become available possessory for any and everyone for no less than the cost of an average album if not an Internet download. Eventually, most things with any value are capitalized. This exclusive “art” concept is fresh and worthy, but I don’t see this album being so valuable on the same level of a Picasso per se. It seems more logical that anyone willing to offer $1M or $5M is doing so as a means of creating an increased financial return through subsequent distribution. I doubt seriously that the owner of this album is equal to the individual purchasing a Basquiat satisfying a possession interest as well as impressing upper-class visitors into their upper-class home. Has hip-hop reached that peak, and if so, is this the album to break that mark? As a die hard Wu-Tang fan, I believe it may be possible overseas where they are still held in high revere. But who knows, maybe there is a Wu fan somewhere in the US who can impart with a “mill”-or-two from their “front pocket” for the sake of owning this album, “just to own”, however, it just seems skeptical.
If it is remotely like A Better Tomorrow, I won’t even bother pirating that shit
RZA….you can take that album your so, so proud of that nobody will ever hear, and you can shove it right up your ass.
Timing of this new album is the problem. Their latest album “A Better Tomorrow” is so bad that fans may be reluctant to spend higher pricing for the new project. Rza should have released this coming project first and then follow it with “A Better Tomorrow” to transition away from their ususal sound.
these irrelevant broke bums need to quit. Lol like anyone would even pay over 10 dollars for this garbage. I feel sorry for the 10 fans that this putang clan has left. These hasbins need to realize this is 2015. In 2015 only drake matters in hiphop. Drake is the face of rap and all these other rappers need a drake feature to be relevent.
Troll
i know how much this one time piece of priceless art is financially capable of achieveing but my question is does it have to be on display once sold . . . I want this but I don’t have the funds at my disposal to receive this masterpiece . . .Very Hardcore Wu tang fan when I was younger but have been distracted from achieving my goals in order to obtain this dream. A Direct answer from a WU member would be greatly appreciated!#!#!#!