Complications with Wu-Tang Clan’s A Better Tomorrow LP have fans less than optimistic about a full-length from the legendary collective actually releasing. But that changes today, as a 31-track double disc titled Once Upon A Time In Shaolin was announced.
However, there’s a catch. Only one copy of the project will be sold to a collector with a hefty wallet. “We’re about to sell an album like nobody else sold it before,” RZA told Forbes. “We’re about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of [modern] music. We’re making a single-sale collector’s item. This is like somebody having the scepter of an Egyptian king.”
Raekwon posted a tweet stating that the album had been sitting in the vaults for some time. Acknowledging the artistic endeavor’s worth (the packaging was designed by British-Moroccan artist to royal families and business leaders, Yahya), RZA plans to sell it for a price “in the millions.” But not before the Once Upon A Time In Shaolin tour, which is set to hit venues like museums, galleries, and festivals. It will cost between $30-$50 to attend, and attendees will probably have to listen to the Wu’s new music via a pair of administered headphones to avoid piracy.
The body of work is completely separate from A Better Tomorrow.
Once Upon A Time In Shaolin contains 128 minutes worth of original Wu-Tang Clan tunes. As reported by Forbes, it will release commercially once the “tour” (and we assume the grand purchase) is complete. See an image of Yahya’s elaborate design below.
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Photo: Forbes