FFS.
The man behind the now-infamous 5,000% price hike on essential AIDS drug, Daraprim, has been unveiled as the buyer of one and only copy of Wu-Tang’s Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album.
The $2m exchange happened after Martin Shkreli attended a private listening party of the album and became convinced he should be the buyer after the reclusive millionaire was promised “he would have the opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrities and rappers who would want to hear it.” According to an article published by Bloomberg, Shkreli also owns Kurt Cobain’s Visa card after buying it through a similar process, and he occasionally reveals it to shock when it’s time to pay a bill.
In response to being asked about Wu-Tang’s fans potentially being upset by the purchase, Shkreli said: “At the end of the day, they didn’t buy the last album or the one before that, and all they had to pay was $10.”
Once finding out that Shkreli would be revealed as the album’s buyer, RZA – who’s been in charge of the project alongside the Dutch Wu-Tang affiliate Cilvaringz – stated: “The sale of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was agreed upon in May, well before Martin Skhreli’s [sic] business practices came to light. We decided to give a significant portion of the proceeds to charity.”
The Bloomberg article also explains how Shkreli can get Fetty Wap to perform a personal concert for him at the drop of a hat, and why he hasn’t listened to it yet (“I could be convinced to listen to it earlier if Taylor Swift wants to hear it or something like that, but for now, I think I’m going to kind of save it for a rainy day.”).
Excuse us while we have a little weep.
UPDATE
An unconfirmed photo of an alleged clause in the contract Shkreli signed upon recieving Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is making its way around the internet. In it, it’s suggested that if any of the original members of Wu-Tang Clan and/or actor Bill Murray were to stage a “heist or caper” they could potentially claim the album back.
“The buying party also agrees that at any time during the stipulated 88 year period,” it reads, “the seller may legally plan and attempt to execute one (1) heist or caper to steal back Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, which, if successful, would return all ownership rights to the seller.”
“Said heist or caper can only be undertaken by currently active members of the Wu-Tang Clan and/or actor Bill Murray, with no legal repercussions.”
See the picture below. A source has not been confirmed.
Forget the $2M, this is easily the most interesting part of the whole deal between Wu-Tang and Martin Shkreli. pic.twitter.com/5nSshXhjnJ
— Rob Wesley (@eastwes) December 9, 2015
