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Method Man Calls the 88-Year Wait for Wu-Tang’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ ‘Stupid’

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Wu-Tang Clan’s upcoming Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album has already developed quite a fabled history: Only one copy will be produced, and RZA has expressed his wish that it be toured in museums, though he’s already auctioning the sole copy of the record on Paddle8. And, earlier this week, Forbes pointed out that the buyer will also have the right to release it commercially — in 88 frickin’ years.

Naturally, it was only a matter of time before someone spoke up to call bullshit on the fact that this legendary album may not be heard by the fans during their lifetime, and that person is the Wu’s own Method Man. An XXL interviewer was the first to bring the 88-year wait time to Meth’s attention, and his real-time response was as follows:

“Fuck that album. I’m tired of this shit and I know everybody else is tired of it, too. Fuck that album, if that’s what they are doing. I haven’t heard anything like that, but if they’re doing crap like that, fuck that album. Straight up. I’m just keeping it 100. When music can’t be music and y’all turning it into something else, fuck 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 fuck; that ain’t making nobody rich or poor. Give the fucking music out. Stop playing with the public, man.”

He explained that he was, in fact, cool with the idea of releasing only one copy and selling it to the highest bidder: “I dug the whole idea in the beginning. I’m like, ‘Wow, this has never been done before,'” he said. “I was cool with shit. But now, this is ridiculous. 88 years? Really?” He continued, “I hope that’s a rumor. Whoever said that, that shit is fuckin’ stupid.”

Unfortunately, the person who said that was the Clan’s own RZA, who has since responded to Meth via the tweets below.

Other members of the Wu-Tang Clan are no stranger to criticizing RZA in public, as Raekwon has expressed his displeasure with the previous Wu-Tang albums, A Better Tomorrow, and 8 Diagrams on different occasions, even going so far as to consider himself “on strike” from the Wu.