Been telling cats this since the first thread was made about the sale. If you wasn't infuriated before the sale of the album then you shouldn't be infuriated now after knowing the sale went through before anybody involved knew how fvcked up this dude is.
Billy, I see you're passionate about this matter. and that's fine. but despite all the technicalities, philosophically...is it not questionable to be complicit in reducing your own brand and subsequently the culture to auctioneer "art" while you're still alive and have the ability to make music and then on top of that agree to the sale of this "art" to a faceless bidder without thoroughly vetting him/ her first?
You don't see how that destroys a brand. .. do you even value the brand by saying "RZA came up... he got 2Ms! ?"
If you, clearly a diehard supporter don't value the brand... the art... then why should we?
.... and why should someone like this guy value it?
Nobody really has to debate you because you're destroying your own argument with each post.
So much more coulda been done with that album to enhance the brand and progress the culture. ... you know, for A Better Tomorrow.
... but this is what we get.
And it's so puzzling because RZA is supposed to be so plugged in and he's proven his sharp business acumen, but yet the whole transaction comes off as so sloppy and mishandled.
Imagine this situation happening to a long lost Beatles album or a classical piece of fine art?
Right.
You can't. Because folks wouldn't have the audacity to do what this guy has done to those works.
And I think we both know why.
... and it also wouldn't happen in part because the curators the handlers of those works haven't and wouldn't trade their power and leverage over their brand in such a.seemingly wanton way.
RZA. ..I believe has/had that power. And it seems he's completely misused it for a money grab and ended up sacrificing more than he probably could imagine.