Wu-Tang Clan Secret Album ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ Has Been Sold

Once Upon A Time In Marrakech

For the last year, fans of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan have been treated to some news that was better off with them not even finding out about. Two years ago, FORBES revealed the Shaolin-based group recorded a secret album, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, which was produced by Tarik “Cilvaringz” Azzougarh with RZA. Through six years, the bulk of the rhymes were done in Marrakech, Morocco, as the double album was never granted a public release.

Now upstart auction house, Paddle8, has officially sod the album to a private American collector, for an unknown price in millions. The sale was agreed upon in May, but contracts and legal protections for the album were necessary to finalize the purchase.

RZA released a statement saying, “The Wu-Tang Clan have always been driven by innovation, and this marks another moment in musical history. From the beginning, we hoped that this concept would inspire debate and new ways of seeing creativity. Both of those goals have been achieved, and the ideas continue to evolve.”

This now surpasses Jack White’s $300,000 purchase of Elvis Presley’s first song, for the most expensive single album ever. The group even received a $5 million offer at one point, but that was overshadowed by their 2014 release of A Better Tomorrow. Through the transfer, the new owner agreed to not commercially release the project for 88 years (or when we’re all dead), and will have the decision whether or not to release the album.

Originally, RZA wanted the buyer to showcase the music art at museums, galleries, and even take it on tour, where listeners would have to pay a premium to privately hear the project. Owning the project or a potential leak is out of the question at this point, but hearing it is something many diehards of the killer bees can only wish for at this point.

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