RZA has opened up about his reaction to Martin Shkreli purchasing Wu-Tang Clan’s one-of-a-kind album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, revealing how his initial excitement turned into concern.
Speaking in connection with the Netflix documentary The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable, the Wu-Tang Clan founder recalled feeling proud when the album sold for $2 million in 2015. However, his feelings changed after he learned more about Shkreli and his controversial business practices.
RZA admitted that he considered stopping the transaction but realized the agreement had already been finalized. Despite his concerns, he eventually accepted the situation as part of the album’s unusual history.
Shkreli later lost ownership of the recording after his securities fraud conviction. The U.S. government seized the album, which was subsequently sold to the digital art collective PleasrDAO in 2021.
Created as a unique artistic project, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was designed to challenge traditional music distribution and highlight the value of recorded music.
For RZA, the experience remains an unexpected chapter in Wu-Tang Clan’s legacy.