The world's rarest album goes on display 10 years after its secret recording

The world's rarest album goes on display 10 years after its secret recording

A hugely rare Wu-Tang Clan album will be released next month (Picture: Getty)

Fans of Wu-Tang Clan, your day has finally arrived as their ridiculously rare album will finally be put on display.

The group recorded have secretly recorded their seventh albumOnce Upon A Time in Shaolin, over the course of six years – and only one physical copy made.

It was placed in a beautiful silver box before being auctioned in 2015, becoming the most expensive record ever sold.

Music lovers could previously only dream of getting their hands on this offering, but thanks to the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Tasmania, Australiathis could now become a reality.

Once Upon A Time In Shaolin is being shown as part of the museum's Namedropping exhibition, which explores big names, brands, artists and musicians, and the 'human chase'.

Mona has announced a series of intimate films listening parties for the coveted album for 10 days in June, allowing fans to hear a 'selection of songs'.

The elusive album was recorded over six years and auctioned in 2015 (Photo: Mona)

The website states: 'During Name Dropping, the world's only copy of the Wu-Tang Clan's legendary seventh studio album will be on display at the museum.

'We're giving you the chance to hear it too. At least some of it.

'We're hosting a series of private listening events at Frying Pan Studios, where a lucky few can experience a special Mona-only selection of songs from the album.

'You hear talk about unique opportunities: this is probably one of them.'

The 30-minute listening parties will take place twice a day between June 15 and 24. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. and are completely free.

It will be exhibited at the Mona in Australia (Photo: Mona)

“Every now and then an object on this planet possesses mystical qualities that transcend its material circumstances,” Jarrod Rawlins, Mona's Director of Curatorial Affairs, said of the exhibition.

“Once Upon A Time in Shaolin is more than just an album, so… I knew I had to get it in this exhibition.”

Wu-Tang Clan recorded the album between 2006 and 2013 and wanted to take a stand against the rise of online streaming, so he decided to preserve the songs with “a 400-year-old Renaissance-style approach to music.”

Not entirely satisfied with releasing their record in a plastic CD case, the members opted to house Once Upon A Time in Shaolin in a hand-carved nickel case, with the lyrics in an accompanying leather-bound script.

Only a few people have ever heard snippets of the songs (Photo: AFP)

In 2015, a single copy of two CDs was printed before the master files were removed.

To ensure that the album would be used for the purpose the group originally wanted, a legal agreement was drawn up stating that it could not be used for commercial purposes until 2103.

The music became so rare that to date only a few people have been able to view just a few snippets – in 2015 potential buyers were blessed with a 13-minute selection before Martin Shkreli bought it at auctionfor $2 million.

One CD was pressed and released, and the master files were then deleted (Photo: Mona)

Three years later, the controversial businessman was found guilty of fraud and was forced to hand over the elusive album to authorities, after which the digital art collective Pleasr bought it.

Pleasr bosses said in a statement: '10 years ago, the Wu-Tang Clan had a bold vision to create a single-copy album as a work of art.

'With this one work of art, the Wu-Tang Clan's intention was to redefine the meaning of music ownership and value in a world of digital streaming and commodification of music.

“Pleasr is honored to partner with Mona to support RZA's vision for Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.”

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