Australia Museum To Play Sole Copy Of Wu-Tang Clan's Album To The Public For The First Time

In a thrilling surprise for Wu-Tang Clan fans, the group’s secret album is finally set to be displayed. After six years of meticulous recording, their seventh album, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, was produced as a single physical copy. In 2015, it was sold at auction to pharmaceutical business and investor Martin Shkreli for $2 million (approximately Rs 16 crore). However, the album was later seized by the United States Department of Justice. Reportedly, The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart has acquired the album on loan for their upcoming Namedropping exhibition.

For 10 days in June, MONA will host listening parties where a few lucky visitors can experience 30-minute sample of the album. Alongside this, the physical record, covered in a silver box, will be available for viewing. Regarded as one of the most valuable albums ever made, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was recorded secretly between 2006 and 2013. It features contributions from all members, including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

According to a BBC report, the museum will host small listening parties over 10 days in June, during which the public can hear a curated, 30-minute sample from the album. “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,” said Jarrod Rawlins, Director of Curatorial Affairs at Mona as quoted by the outlet.

The album will be shown as part of the museum’s Namedropping exhibition, exploring ‘human pursuit’. “During Namedropping, the world’s only copy of the Wu-Tang Clan’s fabled seventh studio album will be on display in the museum. We’re giving you the chance to hear it, too. At least some of it. We’ll be hosting a series of private listening events in Frying Pan Studios, where a lucky few will get to experience a special Mona-only selection of tracks from the album. You hear talk about once-in-a-lifetime opportunities: this is probably one of them,” the website reads.

More About Wu-Tang Clan’s Rarest Secret Album

The 31-track album, Once Upon A Time in Shaolin, was recorded in New York City and produced in Marrakesh between 2006 and 2013. It includes the nine surviving members of the group, along with pop artist Cher and actress Carice Van Houten.

Feeling that the value of music had been “cheapened” by online streaming and piracy, they wanted to take a “400-year-old Renaissance-style” approach to music. The album is packaged in a hand-crafted silver and nickel case, which includes a 174-page book wrapped in leather. It also contains lyrics, a certificate of authenticity, and a legal condition that the owner cannot release the tracks for 88 years.