Fans of Wu-Tang Clan were beyond happy to hear that a new LP, called “A Better Tomorrow” would be released in 2014. It’s been seven years since the legendary pioneer rap group has put out an album, and over twenty years since their critically acclaimed debut was released.
The now 8-piece hip-hop group has been feuding in recent years, so it probably came as somewhat of a surprise that a new album had been in the works. However, a far bigger surprise came a few days ago, when Wu-Tang announced that there would not be one album released in 2014, but rather two albums.
The second album, entitled “The Wu- Once Upon A Time In Shaolin” has made for a massive story in recent music news. But it’s not the fact that Wu-Tang has ceased fighting long enough to create another album that is surprising, it’s how they are releasing it. “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin” will be released completely differently than Wu-Tang’s previous albums. In fact, it will be released differently than any contemporary music album has ever been.
There will only be one copy of the album, an elaborately designed record that will be housed inside of an expensive engraved silver box. RZA, the unofficial leader of Wu-Tang Clan, says that the album will be toured around the world and played as part of an art exhibit, much like how paintings and other visual art pieces are displayed. Also much like with visual art pieces, the album will be sold to a single buyer at the end of the world tour. Just as with the group’s music, this mysterious record seems like something out of an old kung-Fu movie.
This ambitious project is certainty the first of its kind; contemporary music, especially in today’s digital age, is typically released to any who are willing to listen. But if people want to listen to Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, then they will have to either pay to enter the listening exhibit, or outbid numerous high-profile buyers in the final sale of the record.
Even if the release strategy completely fails, it seems to make somewhat of a statement. Not only does it treat modern music as a form of fine art, but this attempt at a step into a higher status for music comes from a group that makes hip-hop, a relatively new genre in the grand scheme of music creation. Needless to say, the project is bound to intrigue fans of music around the world, and will likely earn Wu-Tang a big paycheck when the mysterious single-album is finally sold.