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Wu-Tang Clan’s Fabled Album ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’ Heard in Podcast Clips

Two snippets of the famously inaccessible record, once owned by Martin Shkreli and now by crypto collective PleasrDAO, are revealed by Pablo Torre Finds Out.

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
The notoriously secretive Wu-Tang Clan album ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’ has finally been heard by a wider audience, with the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out publishing two snippets of the exclusive record and detailing its long, winding history from pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli to the US government to the crypto art collective PleasrDAO.

The Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’ album, long considered one of the most inaccessible recordings in music history, has been partially unveiled. The podcast ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out’ published an episode dedicated to the exclusive record, including two snippets of the music. The episode also features Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, who reportedly heard the album for the first time during the recording.

The album’s journey has been extraordinary. Disgraced former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli purchased the sole physical copy at auction in 2015. The album is legally barred from commercial release until 2103. After Shkreli’s conviction, he forfeited the album to the US government, which sold it in 2021 to PleasrDAO, a decentralised autonomous organisation focused on acquiring culturally significant digital and physical art.

The podcast episode goes into detail about the album’s history, offering the public a rare chance to hear any portion of the music. The release of these clips marks a significant moment for fans and collectors alike, though the album’s full contents remain largely unheard and locked away for decades to come.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • For music fans and collectors: after years of speculation and legal drama, the first authorised public audio from the album is available, offering a glimpse of a legendary but almost inaccessible work.
  • The story highlights the intersection of music, intellectual property, high-stakes auctions, and the crypto art world, showing how unique cultural artefacts are traded and restricted.
  • It raises questions about the future of the album: whether PleasrDAO will allow more access before 2103 or use it as a cultural and financial asset.

Background

The album ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’ was recorded by Wu-Tang Clan in secret and produced as a single physical copy. It was sold at auction in 2015 with the unusual condition that it could not be commercially exploited until 2103. Martin Shkreli, who bought it for a reported $2 million, later forfeited it after his securities fraud conviction. The US government sold it in 2021 to PleasrDAO for an undisclosed sum, making the collective the sole legal owner. Since then, the album has been exhibited occasionally but rarely played publicly.

Key Perspectives

Wu-Tang Clan and fans: The album represents a unique artistic statement, and hearing any portion is a rare cultural event. Method Man’s participation on the podcast suggests some members are open to controlled sharing. PleasrDAO: As the current owner, they hold a valuable asset that is part of music history and a crypto-art collectible. Their approach to access is key; limited releases in podcast form may signal a gradual opening without violating the 2103 restriction. Critics/Skeptics: The podcast clips may be seen as a publicity stunt or a way to build hype around the PleasrDAO’s holding. The broader album remains inaccessible, and the legal constraints could be seen as overly restrictive for a work of art.

What to Watch

  • Whether PleasrDAO releases more clips or arranges further limited listening events.
  • Any legal or contractual challenges to the 2103 commercial release ban.
  • The public and critical reaction to the snippets: do they change perceptions of the album’s legendary status?

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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