Shkreli's Wu-Tang Album: From Supervillain to NFT Mystery

The extraordinary story of the Wu-Tang Clan's single-edition album, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," is detailed in the documentary "The Disciple." Minted as a one-of-a-kind collector's item, the album fetched $2 million in a 2015 auction, with hedge fund founder Martin Shkreli emerging as the buyer.

Shkreli's subsequent infamy and imprisonment led to the U.S. government acquiring the valuable boxed set. The documentary, directed by Joanna Natasegara, centers on Tarik Azzougarh, known as Cilvaringz, who was instrumental in conceptualizing and producing the album. His journey from a bullied youth in the Netherlands to an associate of the Wu-Tang Clan is explored.

While the nine core Wu-Tang members were not interviewed, archival footage is used, and RZA served as an executive producer. The film highlights Cilvaringz's ambition and persistence in connecting with the group, culminating in the six-year project of "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin." The unique concept of selling it as a work of art was approved by a majority of the members.

The documentary also features anecdotes about efforts to mitigate the album's association with Shkreli, including attempts to convince him to release it or stage a mock theft. These plans were foiled when Shkreli took the feud seriously. The album's fate has been likened to "Raiders of the Lost Ark," ending up in government possession before being reacquired by an NFT company.

Director Natasegara, an Oscar-winning producer, brings her global documentary experience to this tale. Although the direct involvement of the Wu-Tang Clan members is limited, the film offers an insider's perspective through Cilvaringz, whose personal narrative and dedication to the project form the backbone of the documentary.