Martin Shkreli, the owner of the one of a kind “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” Wu-Tang Clan album wasn’t able to sell it after a highly publicized attempt to unload it on the highest eBay bidder.
Shkreli auctioned the album on eBay last month, and two of the highest bidders, Matt “M-Eighty” Markoff and Colorado resident Darby Welch were not able to finalize a deal with the pharmaceutical executive. Markoff, who made a serious offer that he detailed during a Sirius XM interview with Rude Jude and Justin Hunte believes Shkreli’s recent arrest halted the sale of the project. He also thinks the eBay auction might have been more of a publicity stunt than anything else.
“I think the ‘sale’ or Martin offering the album for sale was laced with fraudulent trolling intent from the get-go,” said Markoff during a recent interview with HipHopDX. “From the moment I saw the album listed on eBay, I contacted him directly, provided him with my offer sheet and requested financial documents. You’re going to tell me my $1 million in cash you requested wasn’t enough to get the job done?” Markoff previously told Rude Jude and Hunte that he wanted to offer fans the opportunity to listen to the album through some type of paid subscription service. He admitted to not being the type of person who could afford just to buy it and sit-on and had plans to earn his money back. Markoff backed out of the purchase altogether a few weeks back.
Welch, on the other hand, hasn’t given up but doesn’t believe the eBay sale will actually go through. “I had talked to someone from eBay as well, and they said the bid might be canceled that I placed. Because the attorney from Martin’s side suggested they would rather go the route of an off eBay contract for it,” he said to HipHopDX recently.
Welch linked up with an unnamed investor to purchase the project. He previously told Markoff that Shkreli’s attorneys alluded to a final sale of the album taking place in January if and when he is released from prison. However, Markoff doesn’t want to deal with the headaches and left it to Welch. He also said the RZA probably wouldn't be buying the album either since he could make a new one anytime he wants. Despite all the confusion, Welch still believes the album is worth getting his hands on. “I think it’s a one-of-a-kind album,” he said. “I think it has a lot of cultural implications especially with who we have in office as president, and it’s absolutely worth the litigation and hassle.”
Source: hiphopdx.com
