Method Man Revisits Wu-Tang Clan's Secret Album: 'I Do Not Hate This Album'

Method Man has shared his perspective on Wu-Tang Clan's elusive one-of-a-kind record, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," after finally listening to excerpts during an appearance on "Pablo Torre Finds Out," according to reporting by AllHipHop.

The Brooklyn listening session, which aired on October 16, gave the veteran rapper an opportunity to hear the material shaped by producer Cilvaringz. Method Man offered praise for his fellow group members and acknowledged the quality of the production, calling the release a "valid piece of art." He openly stated on the show, "I do not hate this album," as reported by AllHipHop.

However, Method Man clarified that his approval came with notable reservations. According to AllHipHop, he explained that he had not yet heard the complete two-hour project and noted that several segments felt stretched out. He also observed that Cilvaringz's production style tilted heavily into the signature sound cultivated by Wu-Tang leader RZA, expressing a desire to listen through the entire release on his own in private.

Beyond the musical execution, Method Man reaffirmed ongoing questions regarding the way the material was compiled. According to AllHipHop, the artist said he was unaware of the ultimate concept when he laid down his contributions, adding that he might have brought more to the table had the rollout strategy been made clear. In 2024, Method Man described the project as an uncomfortable topic among the group, saying members were compensated to record without being informed their verses would be packaged into an exclusive, single-copy release. Because of that approach, he viewed the final release more as a compilation than the genuine Wu-Tang Clan group record that had been presented to buyers.

The record has maintained a turbulent history across the music and art worlds since its inception. Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli purchased the sole physical copy in 2015, but later surrendered it under court order following his conviction for securities fraud, according to AllHipHop. The United States Department of Justice subsequently sold the album in July 2021 to apply funds toward Shkreli's roughly $7.4 million forfeiture judgment.

The art collective Pleasr acquired the recording, stating that it paid $4 million for the piece. While original purchase stipulations prohibited any commercial release until the year 2103, Pleasr introduced a $1 digital sampler in June 2024 as part of an effort to make portions of the project accessible to fans sooner. The ongoing conversation around the project coincided with Netflix's October 16 release of the documentary "The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable," directed by Joanna Natasegara with executive production from RZA, chronicling Cilvaringz's journey and the album's unconventional path.