Judge Refuses Shkreli’s Request to Force RZA Into Rare Wu-Tang Album Litigation
Martin Shkreli’s attempt to pull Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA into his ongoing legal dispute over the ultra-rare album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin has been firmly rejected by a federal judge. Judge Pamela Chen dismissed Shkreli’s request on Monday, describing it as “astonishingly devoid of support.”
A federal judge denies Martin Shkreli’s request to force Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA into the ongoing legal battle over the rare album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, calling the motion unsupported.
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Shkreli, facing allegations that he illegally retained copies of the one-of-a-kind album, had argued that RZA (Robert Diggs) and producer Cilvaringz (Tarik Azzougarh) were “indispensable parties” in the case. Chen, however, ruled that speculation alone was insufficient to compel the famed musicians to join the litigation.
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is considered one of hip hop’s most legendary and secretive projects. The album exists as a single CD secured in a nickel and silver box, accompanied by unusual legal restrictions preventing public release until 2103.
Shkreli purchased the album at auction in 2015, shortly before gaining notoriety as the “Pharma Bro” for drastically increasing the price of AIDS medications. After his 2017 securities fraud conviction, he forfeited the album to federal prosecutors to help satisfy his restitution obligations.
In 2021, Pleasr acquired the album from the government for $4 million, later obtaining copyrights and related rights in 2024 for $750,000. The company has tried to monetize the asset through private events and limited blockchain offerings.
Concerns escalated when Shkreli threatened to leak the album online in 2024. Pleasr filed a federal lawsuit, warning that such a release would destroy the asset’s value. Last month, a judge allowed Pleasr’s case to move toward trial, suggesting the album could be considered a trade secret that Shkreli effectively stole.
Shkreli surprised observers last fall by demanding RZA and Cilvaringz’s involvement, claiming conflicting interests in the property. Judge Chen, however, found this argument “unpersuasive,” noting that Shkreli was attempting to “manufacture” a conflict. She concluded that he had not proven the musicians were necessary parties to the case.
The lawsuit will now continue through discovery and ultimately proceed to trial. Pleasr’s attorney Stephen Cooper emphasized that Shkreli’s motion was a mere delay tactic: “The court soundly rejected it, and Pleasr will now pursue its claims against the defendant.”
