Method Man Reacts to Secret Wu-Tang Clan Album After First Listen

Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man has finally heard the legendary hip-hop collective's elusive, single-copy project, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," according to reporting from Rolling Stone based on a recent episode of "Pablo Torre Finds Out."

The record, originally conceptualized in 2015 by Clan leader RZA and producer Cilvaringz, was famously designed as a singular piece of fine art with an 88-year restriction on public commercial release. Rolling Stone reported that the production was heavily steered by Cilvaringz, who worked closely as a protege to RZA.

Over the past decade, the saga surrounding the album's ownership frequently overshadowed the music itself. The work was initially auctioned for $2 million to pharmaceutical figure Martin Shkreli. Shkreli eventually lost ownership when the federal government seized the physical project alongside his other assets during a securities fraud case.

Following that seizure, the United States government placed the one-of-a-kind physical album on the auction block once again in 2021, selling it to the digital art collective PleasrDAO for $4 million.

The path to Method Man finally hearing the music came together through an unexpected connection. According to Rolling Stone, an artist whose work initially helped launch PleasrDAO was an avid follower of "Pablo Torre Finds Out." Recognizing Torre's personal friendship with Method Man, the listener helped coordinate a private listening session in Brooklyn for the veteran MC, who had never heard the full LP.

For years, Method Man had stood out as one of the most vocal internal critics of the entire venture. Rolling Stone noted that the rapper previously described the single-copy sale and decades-long waiting period as promotional stunts that depreciated the music and his personal contributions. He had also previously voiced harsh criticism toward Cilvaringz directly, characterizing him as a "B member" of the collective.

That perspective shifted noticeably once Method Man had the opportunity to evaluate the finished recordings in person. During the episode, the artist shared his honest assessment after taking in the soundscapes in Brooklyn.

"I could see why people will like this album, and I could see why people will love this album," Method Man said on the broadcast, adding simply, "I don’t hate it."

The lyricist also took time to acknowledge Cilvaringz's musical arrangements, walking back past skepticism regarding the producer's creative leadership on the project.

Method Man remarked that "the production is on par with some of the stuff that RZA used to do back in the day," explicitly giving the producer credit for the sonic direction. He concluded his assessment with clear praise, stating, "I’m gonna give him his props on this one. And I’m gonna validate, this is a valid piece of art right here."