The lustrous container was handcrafted over the course of three months by British-Moroccan artist Yahya, whose works have been commissioned by royal families and business leaders around the world.

“We’re about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of [modern] music. We’re making a single-sale collector’s item. This is like somebody having the scepter of an Egyptian king.” - RZA

According to RZA and the album’s main producer Tarik “Cilvaringz” Azzougarh, a Morocco-based part of Wu-Tang’s extended family, the plan is to first take Once Upon A Time In Shaolin on a “tour” through museums, galleries, festivals and the like. Just like a high-profile exhibit at a major institution, there will be a cost to attend, likely in the $30-$50 range.

Visitors will go through heavy security to ensure that recording devices aren’t smuggled in; as an extra precaution, they’ll likely have to listen to the 128-minute album’s 31 songs on headphones provided by the venue. As Cilvaringz puts it: “One leak of this thing nullifies the entire concept.”

Once the album completes its excursion, Wu-Tang will make it available for purchase for a price “in the millions.”

as grandiose and cartoonish as this is, it's also admirably cool as fuck.

Sounds first and foremost like a cheap stunt to get people talking. I don't give it much credit beyond that, all claims to artsy aspirations to the contrary.

Iron Flag was the last album I liked by them. I don't think I've even heard 8 Diagrams. I'm not holding out hope for this.

I love the fact that it's a CD.

Only thing better would have been a cassette. Like inside that gold box inside a gold box, there's a little plastic cassette. Or a VHS tape.

Do you mean you are not holding out hope you will be the winning bidder of it?