On Monday, Wu-Tang Clan member RZA and producer Cilvaringz let it be known in a Q&A that the winning bidder for the lone copy of their new album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin won't be able to share it with the world for 88 years. Fellow Wu-Tang alum Method Man was quick to call the plan stupid when XXL Mag caught up with the rapper on Wednesday.
"What do you mean 88 years?" said Method Man, who was perhaps caught off guard with the news of the release schedule for the album.
"F*ck that album," said Method Man once things were explained to him. "I'm tired of this sh*t and I know everybody else is tired of it, too. F*ck that album, if that's what they are doing. I haven't heard anything like that, but if they're doing crap like that, f*ck that album. Straight up. I'm just keeping it 100. When music can't be music and y'all turning it into something else, f*ck that. Give it to the people, if they want to hear the shit, let them have it. Give it away free. I don't give a f*ck; that ain't making nobody rich or poor. Give the f*cking music out. Stop playing with the public, man."
Method Man did say he was initially on board with the idea to sell a one-of-a-kind copy of the release.
"I dug the whole idea in the beginning. I'm like, 'Wow, this has never been done before,'" Method Man said. "I was cool with sh*t. But now, this is ridiculous. 88 years? Really? If that sh*t is true, that sh*t is stupid. You have to wait 88 years to hear some sh*t? By that time, it's going to be f*ckin' played out. If it ain't already played out. I hope that's a rumor. Whoever said that, that sh*t is f*ckin' stupid."
Cilvaringz, who produced this Wu-Tang release instead of RZA, gave the reasoning behind 88 years in the Q&A.
"Anyone who knows the Wu-Tang Clan knows that we often apply numerology, mathematics and symbolism to the things we do," said Cilvaringz.
"There were 8 original members of the Clan when we made 'Protect Ya Neck' and 'M.E.T.H.O.D Man.' The individual numbers of this year also add up to the number 8. The broker of this work carries the number 8 in its name. The number 8 on its side is a symbol of infinity, as it was used on our album 'Wu-Tang Forever'. You can call it mathematical coincidence, but it's always had great symbolic significance for us. For us it also addresses the issue of music's longevity in a time of mass production and short attention spans. Nothing about this record revolves around short-term gains, but rather around the legacy of the music and the statement we're making."
What do you think of the Wu-Tang's decision to not allow this album to be heard by the masses? Do you side with Method Man? Let your voice be heard in the comments below.
Check out the video below where RZA, Cilvaringz, and Sasha Frere-Jones conduct a listening session of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin:
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