Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin has essentially become Hip Hop folklore at this point. Purchased by infamous “pharma-bro” Martin Shkreli for $2 million in 2015, it’s become an obsession for many curious, hardcore Wu-Tang fans.
The album’s fate seemed sealed in Shkreli’s hands until he was convicted of securities fraud and $7.4 million worth of his assets were seized by the Feds earlier this month. In an interview with Rolling Stone, RZA admits the second he saw Shrkeli had put the album up for sale on eBay, he called his attorney to see if he could buy it back. Unfortunately for the Wu-Tang legend, he was told that was impossible.
“I’ve actually tried to get it back but the paperwork and the contract stops me from getting it back,” he said. “When [Shkreli] put it on eBay, the first thing I did was call my lawyer, and I was like, ‘Yo, let’s go.’ And they said, ‘All right, check with your contract.’ And it’s no, you can’t do it. Ain’t that a bitch?”
But RZA admits he didn’t really want to let it go in the first place.
“It was hard for me to sell that album because I wanted it to be on my living room table,” he said. “When it was finally completed and everything was sent out, I was like, ‘This would be great in the Wu mansion.’ Whoever comes by here can see this piece of art sitting in my living room. I argued with the people that invested money to get the project on its way, but they wanted [their investment] back.
“So it would’ve cost me more than the selling price in reality, because of the deficit that was already incurred. Also, everybody is like, ‘This ain’t for you. That’s even more selfish than selling it.’ They were talking to me to let that thing go.”[apple_news_ad type=”any”]
Elsewhere in the discussion, RZA also talked about the backlash he received for selling the rare project for such an exorbitant amount of money.
“I got a lot of flak from fans for that album,” he explained. “I’ve lost fans, because they think I’ve done something that was out of the nature of what Wu-Tang is. I think they’re wrong, but they will have their opinion, right? They felt that we tried to make music become something that only the elite can have, and that’s far from the reality. No, we just wanted to point out that when you devalue something, you got a big conflict over it.”
Once Upon A Time In Shaolin was part of the $7.4 million in assets Shkreli was forced to forfeit. Forbes recently reported the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York would determine the album’s future.
RZA, sold his soul for a dolla …… Men lie,Women lie,numbers don’t A man that stands for nothing,fall for anything
Shkreli already owned the album by the time his price hike of that HIV drug became public so I can’t really blame RZA for choosing Shkreli but yeah the whole process was kind of sketchy and whether it even is a true Wu-Tang album or a clivarings production. Half the material could be affiliates for all anyone knows.
I don’t understand why Rza and Colvaringz refuse to acknowledge their part in creating negative impression of this album with the wu fans only.
First off for the rest of the worlds benefit, this album has been riddled with lies from the outset primarily from Cilvaringz. He stated he wanted to create an album for the fans and asked and ultimately stole their suggestions. If it’s for the fans then the fans expect to hear it.
He was never truthful with the rappers as to what he was creating. Rza then decided to add the 88 year rule bs to it. Further if you question them why they were so underhanded they will tell you that fans have stolen from them in the past. Huh?! Wu stans? The most loyal fan base in the world. Yes those who stole from you were not fans dummy and they are the minority.
Bottom line if they were truthful from outset then people would understand.
Cilvarings kept rza’s involvement secret for years to create an actual album since they werent doing shit with rza. Read the book that came out on it, shit is maaaad cray. AT this point i dont really care who produced or did what, i just want to hear since the few who heard parts of it say its a killer.
So lying to them still makes it ok? The bottom line is Rza needs to look at himself and ask why the others did not want to do an album with him. They can’t all be wrong . Rza quality has been average for over a decade the others have a right to not want to do something with him. Wu tang is bigger than Rza
If they put it in the library of Congress then everybody could listen to it for free. I doubt that will happen though. They’ll probably auction it off and some other rich asshole will buy it and no one will ever hear about it again. That or Trump will take it and use it as a drink coaster
Wu Tang Clan ain’t nothin to fk with!….unless you got some $$ then we can totally be fkd with…life lessons 101
Fuck Rza..talks all this NOI stuff but sold his manhood and soul to be in white man’s hollywood
The albums probably 60% Cappadonna any damn way
Donald trump is on a skit on method mans tical 2000 album
F*ck Tump
This was when people didn’t know that Trump was the scum he is. But true!
I’m still waiting for that Ghostface Killah, Tragedy Khadafi, and Killah Priest Collab album.
And where’s that Ghostface Killah and MF DOOM collab album?
WTF!!!!!
HOLD ON, WHAT!?!?!?!? Ghost,Tragedy and Priest??? how come you the only one that know about that album? when and where was that announced?? if that’s for real that’s going to be a crazy ass album that i must have especially since Ghost and tragedy just found out their cousin’s which i don’t know how they never knew cause they look so much alike. Ghost said he was dropping four albums this year(WU-BLOCK,SUPREME CLIENTELE 2,The WU-TANG ALBUM RZA put him in charge of and another random album he said he was working on) so hopefully that last album is either Ghost and doom album or the one you just made up.
Jay-Z should buy this album and resolve this shit instantly. This would make up for how poorly he handled matters with Method man and Ghostface albums during his Def Jam Presidential days. Hova buy this album, put it back in the hands of the Abbott (RZA) and the Wu and Wu Fans will never forget what you have done for the Wu-Tang legacy in Hip Hop. (Remember yours and Raekwon picture when you were recording Magna Carter/Holy Grail)
It’s currently being held hostage by the government. Nothing Jay can do about it.
Jay didnt get to the top by making bad investments. I hate rza for this move. Did is for himself not the fans
He sold it in the first place…why would he want it back?
I don’t understand why Rza and Colvaringz refuse to acknowledge their part in creating negative impression of this album with the wu fans only. First off for the rest of the worlds benefit, this album has been riddled with lies from the outset primarily from Cilvaringz. He stated he wanted to create an album for the fans and asked and ultimately stole their suggestions. If it’s for the fans then the fans expect to hear it. He was never truthful with the rappers as to what he was creating. Rza then decided to add the 88 year rule bs to it. Further if you question them why they were so underhanded they will tell you that fans have stolen from them in the past. Huh?! Wu stans? The most loyal fan base in the world. Yes those who stole from you were not fans dummy and they are the minority. Bottom line if they were truthful from outset then people would understand.
For the record I am a big fan of Rza but I can’t stand Cilvaringz. He is not wu in my eyes and if he is he is second tier wu. If you did not come from Shaolin you could never be first tier. Tough but true. I am a fan of Rza but not a Stan. When he is wrong he is wrong and he needs to understand that. He took the fans for granted here
I know that Shkreli hadn’t proved to the world he was a douchebag yet but RZA had to know after meeting with him personally for several hours. How are you going to make a big deal about this being the ultimate Wu experience and sell it to some scumbag. Oh yeah, he didn’t care just wanted the pub from selling a record for a few milli… that backfired. They got a few things wrong on their first album. Cash certainly rules everything around them but the Wu-Tang Clan can definitely get fked wit.
RZA souled Wu-Tang Clans Soul when he sold that album the way he did. The Fans know what’s up. He can try to spin that shit in his favor all he wants but actions speak louder than words.
Just leak that shit RZA!!! I’m sure you still have the session files!!! We just want to hear the music!
We all know this was a cash grab
From the snippets Shkireli played the album isnt that good
Its all Cilvarings beats which are garbage
I think they know that album is trash
Just like A Better Tomorrow was
I love the Wu since 93′ but c’mon money and fame ruined this group years ago
Anyone remember the movie The Show?
Remember Meth and Rae fighting on the japanese bullet train? It started then.
To many ego’s and not enough money for everybody to be on the same level so only a fee core members actually get money from there releases. Its starts at the top with Rza then the money trickles down from there like some kind of Wu Tang Pyramid scheme
Shits sad cause they have so much potential still they just cant be humble anymore and just do it for the love of music.
Nothing last forvever though including the W
jeff sessions blazin’ some bomb chronic and bumpin this right now…
If he gets it back,he should send it to space x to send it into space. On a gold disc if possible anyway
Just picked up ITS YOURZ promo single at a record fair for a couple bucks. That real Wu shit, not the pretentious at garbage that we’ll never get to hear. The Mathmatics produced record was actually back to basics….but we really need an ADRIAN YOUNGE produced EP, something short and sweet with no filler. Ghost has been on the right track for years….the others fell behind waiting to be handed a plate..