It was conceived as a one-of-a-kind collector's item like no other in the history of music, a piece of art equivalent to "owning the scepter of an Egyptian king."

Legendary rap group Wu-Tang Clan announced in March 2014 that it would produce just one copy of "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" to be sold to the highest bidder. The 31-track album would come in a hand-carved box with a leather-bound book of parchment paper containing lyrics and backstory.

Rumors swarmed over who would end up with one of hip-hop's most coveted albums of all time, with director Quentin Tarantino, a Wu-Tang fan and associate, leading the odds. According to Clan producer RZA, mastermind of the project, "private collectors, trophy hunters, millionaires, billionaires, unknown folks, publicly known folks, businesses, companies with commercial intent, young, old" expressed interest.

Today, the buyer was revealed in a Bloomberg Businessweek exclusive as none other than reviled pharmaceutical CEO Martin Shkreli. His biggest prior claim to fame was raising the price on a drug used by AIDS and cancer patients from $13.50 to $750 per pill after his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, bought the rights to it (he later promised to lower the price).

Given Shkreli's reputation as "the most hated man" in America, the announcement drew widespread jeers from fans, music critics and even those who never paid much mind to the rap collective before.

"Martin Shkreli is so lonely he spent $2 million on the new Wu-Tang album to hopefully buy friends," comedian Mike Glazer said on Twitter.

"The first thing we do when the uprising begins is liberate the Wu-Tang album from Martin Shkreli's house," journalist Tom Gara tweeted.

Anticipating this sort of outcome, fans launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2014 to raise money to bid on the album. The attempt fell far short of its $5 million goal, raising just $15,406.

Even the Wu appears to be distancing itself from the transaction, which was handled by online auction house Paddle 8.

"The sale of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was agreed upon in May, well before Martin Skhreli's business practices came to light. We decided to give a significant portion of the proceeds to charity," RZA wrote in an email to Bloomberg Businessweek.

The Clan had initially wanted to forbid the buyer from publicly releasing the album for 88 years but eventually loosened the terms to ensure that it was never sold commercially.

Shkreli appears to be taking the criticism in stride. He tweeted the article from Bloomberg when it came out and followed it up with the quip, "If there is a curious gap in your favorite artist's discography, well, now you know why" (which, unsurprisingly, drew lots of threatening Wu-Tangisms like "protect ya neck" and "remember, Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta feth wit.")

Later on, he asked for "poll suggestions" for "which artist should I now approach to buy my next private album from?"

Shkreli told Bloomberg he has not listened to the album. He's saving it for a "rainy day."

First we learned that the single copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album was bought by a pharmaceuticals CEO once described as “the most hated man in America” (reportedly for $2 million), then the buyer - Martin Shkreli - started a YouTube live stream, teasing that he might play the album for viewers, and now we learn of an amazing stipulation in the album’s contract.

‘The buying party also agrees that,’ it states, ‘at any time during the stipulated 88 year period, the seller may legally plan and attempt to execute one (1) heist or caper to steal back Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, which, if successful, would return all ownership rights to the seller.’

Then comes the best bit:

‘Said heist or caper can only be undertaken by currently active members of the Wu-Tang Clan and/or actor Bill Murray, with no legal repercussions.’

I don’t know if Murray was aware that he was written into the deal, but I like to imagine him slowly and carefully putting on a cat burglar outfit somewhere right now, blasting 'Protect Ya Neck' from his speakers and looking real serious.

This is also begging for a movie adaptation, possibly directed by Wes Anderson.

After Shkreli’s business practices came to light, RZA confirmed to Bloomberg that Wu-Tang with be giving a “significant portion’ of the proceeds from the album sale to charity.

Shkreli appears to be taking the criticism in stride. He tweeted the article from Bloomberg when it came out and followed it up with the quip, "If there is a curious gap in your favorite artist's discography, well, now you know why" (which, unsurprisingly, drew lots of threatening Wu-Tangisms like "protect ya neck" and "remember, Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta feth wit.")

Later on, he asked for "poll suggestions" for "which artist should I now approach to buy my next private album from?"

Shkreli told Bloomberg he has not listened to the album. He's saving it for a "rainy day."

 Grey Templar wrote:
Wait what? Is this real?

 Orlanth wrote:
The heist or caper clause is going to be interesting.
It absolves the musicians, who must perform the hist themselves, or accompanied by Bill Murray from criminal liability.
This cannot however extend to trespass, or damage of property while performing the heist (which is all but inevitable if it is held in a vault).

As the owner is a grade 1 douche anything could happen.

 Formosa wrote:
2 mil for an album.... This represents everything that is wrong with the world.... Greed gone mad

 Breotan wrote:

 Formosa wrote:
2 mil for an album.... This represents everything that is wrong with the world.... Greed gone mad

Exactly. Think of all the gold bars that two million could have bought instead.

 Dreadwinter wrote:
Can we Kickstart a campaign to pay for a Heist/Caper to get it back?

If we reach the 2 million mark, Bill Murray joins the team!

 Gitzbitah wrote:

 Dreadwinter wrote:
Can we Kickstart a campaign to pay for a Heist/Caper to get it back?

If we reach the 2 million mark, Bill Murray joins the team!

I love it! And one of the pledge levels could allow the pledger to become an active member of the Wu Tang Clan, and go on the heist!

 reds8n wrote:
http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-martin-shkreli-securities-fraud/


"A boyish drug company entrepreneur, who rocketed to infamy by jacking up the price of a life-saving pill from $13.50 to $750, was arrested by federal agents at his Manhattan home early Thursday morning on securities fraud related to a firm he founded."

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
If he cops a plea (or is found guilty) I suspect he'll end up liquidating quite a few assets (or having them seized)


So will the Wu-Tang clan plot a caper against the federal government to recover the album, higher risk than against Mr Shifty, but to successfully complete it would be all the sweeter....

Maybe Bill Murray could work some sort of movie star/comedien telethon in there somewhere

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
If he cops a plea (or is found guilty) I suspect he'll end up liquidating quite a few assets (or having them seized)


So will the Wu-Tang clan plot a caper against the federal government to recover the album, higher risk than against Mr Shifty, but to successfully complete it would be all the sweeter....

Maybe Bill Murray could work some sort of movie star/comedien telethon in there somewhere

I think you underestimate Bill Murray. This arrest is clearly the first step in his master plan.