The Wu-Tang Clan are a hip-hop group from New York City. The collective has been regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop acts of all-time, formed in the early 1990’s with producer RZA as the de facto leader. The group has worked with well-known artists such as Mobb Deep, Nas, and Kanye West.

While the members have been composing and producing their own solo work since the conception of the group, it has been seven years since they have released an album all together. Their new album, The Wu- Once Upon a Time In Shaolin, will only have a single copy produced.

“History demonstrates that great musicians such as Beethoven, Mozart and Bach are held in the same high esteem as figures like Picasso, Michelangelo and Van Gogh. However, the creative output of today’s [recording] artists is not valued equally to that of artists like Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst or Jean-Michel Basquiat. Is contemporary art overvalued in an exclusive market, or are musicians undervalued in a profoundly saturated market?” said Clan member RZA, boldly explaining the concept of the new album. It is an attempt to make this album unleakable. They want it to be high-profile art, like a statue or a painting within a museum.

The group’s first two albums, 1993’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and 1997’s double album Wu-Tang Forever, topped the 2 million mark in U.S. sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album can be yours if you are the highest bidder. It has been reportedly been offered by an individual to be bought for 5 million dollars so far. There is also a campaign on Kickstarter for fans to pledge the cost in an attempt to release the album for everybody. It is l0cked inside a hand-crafted, ornate box designed by British-Moroccan artist Yahya, who has designed works of art for business leaders and royal families around the world.

Wu-Tang fan, Antioch Community High School junior Bishop Chapa said, “the Wu-Tang Clan has always been known as being different and creative. They have proved themselves as a prolific, elite rap collective with many group and solo albums. And with their new album they have proven themselves once again. The album brings its own style just like Wu Tang. The organized chaos that is the Wu-Tang Clan produced another innovative hit.”

The album will be exhibited in various museums, galleries, and festivals for listening under tight security. If it’s leaked, the whole idea is undermined. Only one will possess the album, who can decide to either lock it away in secrecy or release it for the fans to experience. Is this a publicity stunt or a unique approach to the way the music industry works? It certainly has people talking.