In an exciting development for Wu-Tang Clan enthusiasts, the group’s elusive album is about to be unveiled. Following six years of careful production, their seventh album titled “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin” was created as a unique physical copy.
A recent BBC article mentions that the museum plans to organize intimate listening sessions spanning ten days in June. These sessions will allow the public to experience a specially curated, 30-minute excerpt from the album.
Jarrod Rawlins, Director of Curatorial Affairs at Mona, expressed, “Every once in a while, an object on this planet possesses mystical properties that transcend its material circumstances. Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is more than just an album, so… I knew I had to get it into this exhibition.”
The museum’s Namedropping exhibition will feature the album as part of its exploration of the theme of ‘human pursuit’.
The website states, “During Namedropping, the museum will showcase the world’s only copy of the Wu-Tang Clan’s legendary seventh studio album. Visitors will also have the opportunity to listen to a curated selection of tracks from the album at private listening events in Frying Pan Studios. This exclusive experience is described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Once Upon A Time in Shaolin, a 31-track album, was recorded in New York City and produced in Marrakesh from 2006 to 2013. It features the participation of the nine remaining members of the group, alongside pop artist Cher and actress Carice Van Houten.
Back in 2015, it was auctioned off to pharmaceutical executive and investor Martin Shkreli for $2 million (roughly Rs 16 crore). However, the album was later confiscated by the United States Department of Justice. Now, The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart has secured the album on loan for their upcoming Namedropping exhibition.
They sought to restore music’s value by adopting a Renaissance-style approach, packaging the album in a hand-crafted silver and nickel case with a leather-bound 174-page book, lyrics, a certificate of authenticity, and a legal restriction preventing track release for 88 years.