Wu-Tang Clan’s unique album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, has been making headlines recently.
First, it was revealed that the album would be played at an exhibition in Australia’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) from June 15-24. Following this, PleasrDAO, who owns the album now, sued Martin Shkreli for copying it and streaming it online without their consent.
In another twist, PleasrDAO is now offering partial ownership of the album. According to a press release, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin has been turned into a non-fungible token (NFT), which you can buy for $1 on www.thealbum.com.
If you buy an NFT of this album, you’ll get access to some sample tracks and also help release the full album 88 seconds earlier each time someone buys one. Right now, it’s set to be public on October 8, 2103.
I think it’s interesting how technology changes our connection to music.
The producers RZA and Cilvaringz said that mass replication has changed how we see recorded music. They believe digital copies have made us lose our emotional bond with music as personal treasures.
PleasrDAO’s Matt Matkov mentioned that this sale isn’t just about the music; it’s about changing our ideas around owning music and fan participation in today’s digital world.
PleasrDAO bought Once Upon a Time in Shaolin for $4 million back in 2021. The new digital version comes with fresh artwork by Hassan Rahim and is encrypted through partnerships with Privy, Crossmint, and Holograph on Base. You don’t need cryptocurrency to buy the NFT either!
