Two weeks ago, Forbes confirmed that Wu-Tang Clan's secret album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, was sold for millions, although at the time, the buyer was unidentified.
Now, Bloomberg has attached a name to the purchase. The news agency says Martin Shkreli, a well-known pharmaceutical company executive from New York City, purchased the iconic rap group's exclusive 1-of-1 copy of the album for reportedly $2 million.
Shkreli, who had previously purchased Kurt Kobain's Visa card from the same Paddle8 company auctioning the Wu-Tang album, had attended a private listening session by Paddle8 co-founder Alexander Gilkes and that's how the initial interest in purchasing the rare LP sparked.
"Then I really became convinced that I should be the buyer," Shkreli told Bloomberg, adding that he also had lunch with RZA, regarded as the mastermind rapper/producer of the Wu-Tang Clan.
"We didn't have a ton in common," Shkreli said. "I can't say I got to know him that well, but I obviously like him."
Shkreli was allowed to listen to a few extra snippets of the album, to ensure that it was a complete recording, before closing on the purchase.
RZA told Bloomberg that the album had many suitors, ranging from private collectors to trophy seekers, millionaires and even billionaires, before Shkreli wound up as the winning bidder.
When Bloomberg caught up with Shkreli, he and his employees were preparing for a Christmas party, in which budding rap star Fetty Wap was performing — courtesy of Shkreli's paid arrangement.
Forbes had previously reported that while the owner of the exclusive album can listen to it all he pleases, he won't be able to release the music publicly for 88 years, as per the purchasing agreement.
But that won't stop Shkreli from inviting elite company in the case that they want to give Once Upon a Time in Shaolin a spin.
"I could be convinced to listen to it earlier if Taylor Swift wants to hear it or something like that," Shkreli told Bloomberg. "But for now, I think I'm going to kind of save it for a rainy day."
