We can finally hear some of Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon A Time in
For the first time, fans can now hear snippets of the legendary, one-of-one Wu-Tang Clan album, "Once Upon A Time in Shaolin," thanks to a collaboration between the crypto art collective PleasrDAO and the "Pablo Torre
For the first time, fans can now hear snippets of the legendary, one-of-one Wu-Tang Clan album, "Once Upon A Time in Shaolin," thanks to a collaboration between the crypto art collective PleasrDAO and the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast. The exclusive record, infamous for its convoluted ownership history and extreme rarity, was played for Wu-Tang member Method Man, whose reactions, along with two distinct audio segments, are featured in the podcast's latest episode published on October 16, 2026.
This marks a significant moment for music enthusiasts and the blockchain art community, as the album was designed to be a unique piece of art, not commercially released until the year 2103. Its journey through various controversial owners has only amplified its mystique, making these newly released snippets a rare and exciting glimpse into one of hip-hop’s most guarded creations.
The Album's Storied Past
"Once Upon A Time in Shaolin" has a history as complex as it is captivating. In 2015, the sole copy of the album was acquired by disgraced pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli at auction for a reported $2 million. His ownership quickly became synonymous with controversy, further cementing the album's status as a symbol of extreme exclusivity.
Following legal troubles, Shkreli was compelled to forfeit the album to the US government. In 2021, the government sold the album to PleasrDAO, a crypto art collective, for approximately $4 million. PleasrDAO's acquisition brought the album into the realm of digital art and blockchain, aligning it with their mission of collecting culturally significant pieces.
A Glimpse into the Vault
Until now, opportunities to hear the album have been exceedingly rare, limited mostly to private viewings or highly controlled exhibitions. PleasrDAO has facilitated some of these, including a public play at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, allowing a select few to experience the elusive tracks.
The "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast, working directly with PleasrDAO, orchestrated a unique listening party. They invited Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, who, despite being part of the legendary group, had never heard the complete album himself. The podcast captured this momentous event, including Method Man’s live reactions to hearing the legendary work.
Listeners can now access two short, but highly anticipated, snippets from the album within the podcast episode. These segments are available at the 32:30 and 39:02 marks of the show, offering the first widely accessible audio from the album since its creation. Method Man’s succinct, yet telling, review of the album was: "I do not hate this album."
Implications and What's Next
The release of these snippets, even partial, is a cultural breakthrough. For years, "Once Upon A Time in Shaolin" has been a subject of intense speculation and debate, representing a bold experiment in music distribution and ownership. This development allows a broader audience to finally engage with the actual music, rather than just the narrative surrounding it.
While the album's commercial release remains under wraps until 2103, PleasrDAO's continued efforts to share the album in controlled, unique ways suggest that further opportunities for interaction may arise. The involvement of a crypto collective in stewarding such a significant cultural artifact also highlights the evolving landscape of art ownership and digital rights, pushing boundaries in how exclusive content is managed and experienced.
FAQ
Q: Who currently owns "Once Upon A Time in Shaolin"?
A: The album is currently owned by PleasrDAO, a crypto art collective, which purchased it from the US government in 2021.
Q: Why has it been so difficult to hear the album?
A: The album was created as a single-copy art piece with the stipulation that it could not be commercially released to the public until the year 2103. Its previous owners, including Martin Shkreli, largely kept it from public ears.
Q: What is the significance of the 2103 date for the album?
A: The year 2103 marks the earliest date the album can be commercially released to the public, according to the original agreement set by the Wu-Tang Clan, making it an extremely long-term exclusive artifact.
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