LEADER 02700pam 2200133 a 4500
001 941067
005 20190426092822.0
008 190514s2017 nyu g 000 0 eng d
020 $a9781250125279 (hbk.) :$cNT$945
082 04$a782.421649$222
100 1 $aBozorgmehr, Cyrus.
245 10$aOnce upon a time in Shaolin :$bthe untold story of Wu-Tang Clan's million dollar secret album, the devaluation of music, and America's new public enemy no. 1 /$cCyrus Bozorgmehr.
246 30$aThe untold story of Wu-Tang Clan's million dollar secret album, the devaluation of music, and America's new public enemy no. 1.
260 $aNew York :$bFlatiron Books,$c2017.
300 $aviii, 274 pages ;$c22 cm.
505 0 $a"The untold story of the world's must controversial album--a surreal tale of secret recordings, baffled customs agents, the world's most hallowed art institutions, and a villain of comic book proportions. In 2007, the innovative young Wu-Tang producer, Cilvaringz, took an incendiary idea to his mentor the RZA. They felt that the impact of digitization threatened the sustainability of the record industry and independent artists, while shifting the perception of music from treasured works of art to disposable consumer products. Together they conceived a statement so radical that it would unleash a torrent of global debate--a sole copy of an album in physical form, encased in gleaming silver and sold through an auction house for millions as a work of contemporary art. The execution of this plan raised a number of complex questions: Would selling an album for millions be the ultimate betrayal of music? How would fans react to an album sold onthe condition that it could not be commercialized? And could anyone ever justify the selling of the album to the infamous Martin Shkreli? As headlines flashed across the globe, the mystery only deepened. Opinions were sharply divided over whether this was high art or hucksterism--quixotic idealism or a cynical cash grab. Was it a noble act of protest, an act of cultural vandalism, an obscene symbol of greed, a subversive masterpiece, a profound mirror for our time, or a joker on capitalism's card table? As senior adviser to the project, Cyrus Bozorgmehr is uniquely placed to unlock the secrets behind the album and tell the full, unadulterated story. With explosive revelations about backroom plans made public tor the first time, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin charts the album's journey from inception to disruption in vivid style. An extraordinary adventure that veers between outlandish caper and urgent cultural analysis, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin twists and turns through the mayhem and mischief, while asking profound questions about our relationship with art, music, technology, and, ultimately, ourselves."--Jacket.
650 0$aShkreli, Martin.
650 0$aWu-Tang Clan (Musical group). Once upon a time in Shaolin.
650 0$aSound recording industry$vMoral and ethical aspects.