The Untold Story of the Wu-Tang Clan's Million-Dollar Secret Album

Uncover the intriguing tale behind one of the most debated albums of all time. Dive into the surreal journey involving covert recordings, the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, puzzled customs officials, prestigious art institutions, and an unlikely antagonist reminiscent of a comic book villain: Martin Shkreli.

In 2007, the innovative young Wu-Tang producer Cilvaringz brought a groundbreaking idea to his mentor, the RZA. They were concerned about how digitization was impacting the music industry and independent artists, shifting music from cherished artworks to disposable consumer goods. This threatened the sustainability of the music business and the livelihood of artists.

Together, they came up with an announcement so groundbreaking that it had the potential to spark a global discussion — a single physical copy of an album, presented in a shiny silver casing, and offered through an auction house for millions as a unique piece of contemporary art.

The execution of this plan raised a variety of complicated questions: Would promoting an album for hundreds of thousands be the last word betrayal of music? How would followers react to an album that is offered on the situation that it couldn’t be commercialized? And will anybody ever justify the promoting of the album to the notorious Martin Shkreli?

As headlines flashed throughout the globe, the thriller solely deepened. Opinions had been sharply divided over whether or not this was excessive artwork or hucksterism—quixotic idealism or a cynical money seize. Was it a noble act of protest, an act of cultural vandalism, an obscene image of greed, a subversive masterpiece, a profound mirror for our time, or a joker on capitalism’s card desk?

As senior adviser to the venture, Cyrus Bozorgmehr is uniquely positioned to unlock the secrets and techniques behind the album and inform the total, unadulterated story.

With explosive revelations about backroom plans made public for the primary time, As soon as Upon a Time in Shaolin charts the album’s journey from inception to disruption in vivid type.

A rare journey that veers between outlandish caper and pressing cultural evaluation. As soon as Upon a Time in Shaolin twists and turns by way of the mayhem and the mischief, whereas asking profound questions on our relationship with artwork, music, know-how, and finally ourselves.