Sole copy of Wu-Tang Clan album to be played to the public for first time at Mona

Source: The Guardian

Sole copy of Wu-Tang Clan album to be played to the public for first time at Mona

Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, the ‘world’s rarest album’ once sold for $2m to Martin Shkreli, will be loaned to Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art

Sian Cain
Mon 27 May 2024 15.01 BST
Last modified on Mon 27 May 2024 15.12 BST

Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, the Wu-Tang Clan album that exists in a single physical copy that was once bought by disgraced pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli for US$2m, will finally be available to hear – if you can get to Tasmania.

The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart has acquired the album on loan from digital art collective Pleasr for its upcoming exhibition Namedropping, which is set to explore status, celebrity and notoriety.

Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, sometimes referred to as the most valuable album ever made, was recorded in secret between 2006 and 2013 and is housed in an ornate silver box. It reportedly features contributions from all surviving members of Wu-Tang Clan – and two appearances from Cher.

The album’s rarity was intended as a statement about the impact of streaming and piracy on the value of music, ...

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/28/wu-tang-clan-once-upon-a-time-in-shaolin-album-played-first-time-tasmania-mona-martin-shkreli