Wu-Tang Clan are expanding their spirits range with the launch of a premium vodka

The group from Staten Island launched the Wu-Tang Clan Premium Liqueurs range in Australia in 2017.

Wu-Tang Clan Vodka will be launched in Sydney on 18 April to coincide with the influential group’s 25th anniversary.

The new spirit will launch at a star-studded event at Sydney’s Max Watt’s music venue, which will feature performances from hip-hop star Jay Sean and musician Timomatic.

The band’s vodka will join its range of liqueurs, which includes a strawberry, butterscotch and cream liqueur expression.

The liqueurs, bottled at 21.5%, are available exclusively in Australia through online retailer Dan Murphy’s for AU$14.99.

Upon its release, Wu-Tang Clan Vodka will also remain exclusive to the Australian market.

[via The Spirits Business]

Wu-Art Thursday #290

WU-TANG CLAN - C.R.E.A.M. | REACTION

RZA Reveals New Dates For "Live From the 36th Chamber of Shaolin" Tour

If you missed out on RZA's "Live From the 36th Chamber of Shaolin" tour in 2016, you're in luck. The producer recently announced additional dates for the show where he'll be live-scoring the movie in its entirety. The shows will take place from towards the end of April. It'll kick off in Denver at the Paramount Theatre before concluding in San Francisco at the Castro Theatre. He'll be tapping into Wu's catalog to give the movie's score an updated version. Unfortunately, it's only five dates so you should definitely start making plans to check that out before its too late.

The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin is clearly a heavy influence among RZA and the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan considering the title of their debut album.

Peep the dates below.

April 17 -- Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre

April 18 -- Washington DC @ Warner Theatre

Aprl 20 -- Miami, FL @ Lemon City Studios (III Joints Fest)

April 24 -- Los Angeles @ Palace Theater

April 25 -- San Francisco, CA @ Castro Theatre

[via HotNewHipHop]

U.S. Government Could 'Dispose Of' Martin Shkreli's Forfeited Lil Wayne & Wu-Tang Clan Albums

At the top of March, notorious "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in prison for various securities-fraud-related charges. Shkreli will also be forced to forfeit more than $7.3 million in assets as part of U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto's ruling, which includes his $2 million Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, in addition to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter V to cover the fine.

According to the Department of Justice's filing earlier this week, the U.S. government "hereby give[s] notice of its intent to dispose of the forfeited property in such manner as the United States Attorney General may direct." The public has 60 days from filing day to "claim interest" in the property before being discarded.

Forbes reached out to a government representative who stated the albums' fate will, in turn, be decided "directly by the civil division of the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York." With that said, Justice Department head Jeff Sessions will remain "indirectly responsible" for the forfeiture case decision.

>> READ MORE via Billboard <<

U-God - Bit Da Dust (Venom in Stores 3/30)

U-God (Wu-Tang) Presents New Solo-Album, Venom, Which Will Be Released On 3-30; Premieres Second Single From Upcoming Project, "Bit Da Dust"

Stream / Pre-Order U-God's new album Venom, in stores March 30th: fanlink.to/ugodvenom

Purchase U-God’s Book, Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang: us.macmillan.com/books/9781250191168

Purchase tickets for the RAW/Venom Tour: ugodofwutang.com/tour/

U-God Venom Tour Dates:
3-21-18- Fullerton, CA- Slidebar Live
3-23-18- Pasadena, CA- Vroman’s Bookstore Q&A
3-25-18- Chicago, IL- Beat Kitchen Live Performance
3-26-18- NY, NY- Housing Works Café Q&A
3-27-18- NY, NY- Cielo Live with Tony Touch

For More Info on U-God, please visit:
twitter.com/ugodofwutang
www.instagram.com/Ugod_Zilla
www.facebook.com/UgodWutang/

Wu-Art Thursday #289

RZA Wrecks A Party. He Freestyles Into Headphones & Scratches (Video)

Wu-Tang's U-God Details Clan's Fracture in Revealing Book Excerpt

Wu-Tang rapper U-God reflects on the business decisions that fractured the Clan in this exclusive excerpt from RAW: My Journey Into the Wu-Tang, the rapper's new memoir.

In the excerpt, U-God breaks down how the group's "all for one" mentality disintegrated when "the days of gold and platinum plaques had dried up" and how he thinks RZA, the "mastermind" behind the Wu-Tang Clan and its branding, eventually turned Wu-Tang into a dictatorship.

>> READ MORE via Rolling Stone <<

Lewis Floyd Henry. BLACK SABBATH VS THE WU-TANG CLAN/ACE OF SPADES JUICY MASHUP

Mathematics Responds To Alleged Lawsuit Over Wu-Tang Clan's "People Say"

"I am not aware of a pending lawsuit."

This week, reports surfaced of a lawsuit being filed against the Wu-Tang Clan as a result of the hip-hop group’s “People Say” single—a track originally found on the crew’s The Saga Continues project of last year.

It was TMZ who broke news of The Diplomats—a soul group from the 1950s and 1960s—filing a claim that the record pulled from the “melody, lyrics, and rhythm” of their 1969 recording “I’ve Got the Kind of Love” on which the line “people say” is used in heavy rotation. The report claimed that The Diplomats wanted Wu-Tang to stop performing and selling the track in addition to handing over an undisclosed amount for damages

>> READ MORE via HotNewHipHop.com <<

We Asked Inmates How Martin Shkreli Will Get Treated in Prison

The infamous pharma bro just asked to be placed in a minimum-security "camp" facility. Here's what current federal prisoners think he has coming.

Right before he was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison last Friday, “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli broke into tears. Ultimately, the man convicted on three counts of fraud did not get the maximum possible sentence he faced—much less the 21 years I endured in the feds for drug crimes. Even so, the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will be Shkreli's home for the foreseeable future, and the New York Daily News reported Wednesday he's hoping to land in a minimum-security "camp" facility in Pennsylvania best known for a salmonella outbreak.

>> READ MORE via VICE <<

U-God: “I Am The Wu-Tang Member That People Don't Know About"

While strength in numbers proved to be the key to Wu-Tang Clan’s success and enduring legacy, it also proved itself to be a system that lacked equal distribution. While some of the Clan’s bigger names broke off and launched massive solo careers, others had to wait in line. U-God — also known as Golden Arms — was one of the members who played the background.

“I am the Wu-Tang member that people don’t know about,” he told HipHopDX.

The founding member of Wu-Tang is hoping to change that with his new book, Raw: My Journey Into the Wu-Tang, which follows him from age five to 26.

>> READ MORE via HipHopDX<<

Wu-Art Thursday #288

C.R.E.A.M. (Charity Rules Everyone Around Me) Campaign

The Wu-Tang Foundation and StockX have joined forces in support of children from marginalized and neglected communities.

From March 13 through March 16, simply go to THIS PAGE and make a $10 donation(s) for your chance to take home one of nine pieces of the Wu-Tang legacy. 

*100% of all proceeds raised from the Wu-Tang Foundation + StockX C.R.E.A.M. (Charity Rules Everyone Around Me) Campaign will directly benefit the Wu-Tang Foundation programs.

Win an Autographed Copy of - RAW: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang

U-god just curated an exclusive playlist in honor of his new book 'RAW: My Journey Into The WuTang.’ To win an autographed copy, share his #RawVenom playlist link + #TIDALXUGod + #Giveaway: tdl.sh/Raw-Venom

Martin Shkreli Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison For Fraud

Image source

As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Shkreli was today (March 9) given a seven-year sentence for “defrauding investors in two failed hedge funds.” The formal charge is securities fraud and the conviction was handed down by U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto. According to the report, Shkreli cried in court and told the judge “I want the people who came here today to support me to understand one thing, the only person to blame for me being here today is me. I took down Martin Shkreli.” His attorney, Benjamin Brafman, reportedly told Judge Matsumoto “that he sometimes wants to hug Shkreli and sometimes wants to punch him in the face.”

However, as the judge made clear, Shkreli’s sentencing had nothing to do with his “self-cultivated public persona … nor his controversial statements about politics or culture.” Rather, Matsumoto called his crimes serious and agreed with prosecuting attorneys that “the 34-year-old was a master manipulator who conned wealthy investors.”

>> READ MORE via Ambrosia For Heads <<

RIP - BIG (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997)

U-God Discusses His Memoir, Life Before Wu-Tang + More

Forever M.C. ft Wu-Tang Clan- Piranhas

The Emcee and Production team of Forever M.C. & It's Different have joined forces with some of Hip-Hop's most elite artists in the game to bring the world the unprecedented soundscape for the 3-30-18 release of Forever M.C. compilation on RBC Records.

After two all-star posse cuts, “Terminally Ill” and “King Kong,’ Forever M.C. & It’s Different present the third single from their forthcoming Forever M.C. Compilation ; “Piranhas” featuring the Wu-Tang Clan (Raekwon, Ghostface, Masta Killa & Cappadonna).

Listen at Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/4lbGALd0bMxm97P0YeSiAI

Wu-Art Thursday #287

Do Not Play: The Fries Song, The Avocado Song

Jimmy introduces Wu-Tang Clan's U-God to some music he might want to avoid, including an ode to "Steven Spielberg" by Wolfsuka.

Here comes Dirty Coin, the cryptocurrency of Ol' Dirty Bastard

Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004, is getting into the cryptocurrency game.

The late rapper’s estate is launching a utility token called Dirty Coin to fund music projects and other ventures.

>> READ MORE <<

Judge Orders Martin Shkreli to Forfeit Stake in $2 Million Wu-Tang Album

Infamous Pharmabro Martin Shkreli was one of the worst people of 2017, but CNBC​ is reporting that he's finally getting what he deserves. Convicted of numerous counts of fraud last year, Shkreli first made headlines when he raised the price of a Daraprim, a drug used by HIV patients, from $13.50 a pill to $750. Then, things got a lot worse when it was reported that he was the one who had bought the ultra-rare one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin for $2 million.

Last year, Shrkeli put the album up for sale on eBay, selling it for just over $1 million, but now CNBC says he's being ordered to forfeit his stake in the album. In fact, judge Kiyo Matsumoto said that he has to forfeit a total of $7.76 million to the federal government as part of his criminal sentence. These assets include $5 million in cash in an E-Trade brokerage account that previously allowed Shkreli's release bond, his take in drug company Vyera Pharmaceuticals, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin​, a painting by Pablo Picasso, and even the Lil Wayne album he reportedly has, which is none other than The Carter V.

[via COMPLEX]

Wu-Tang Clan are slated to be involved in the Soundset festival, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the group’s iconic debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), with a performance.

Soundset 2018 takes place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 27. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (March 2) via Front Gate Tickets. Fans in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area can also grab tickets at the Fifth Element store.

Check out the entire lineup for the festival below.

U-God's Memoir 'Raw' Tells The Story Of The Wu-Tang Clan on NPR Music

David Greene talks to Lamont Hawkins, aka "U-God" a founding member of the pioneering rap group Wu-Tang Clan. Hawkins' memoir talks about how rap music was a ticket out of a gritty housing project.

[via NPR Music]

Wu-Art Thursday #286