Old Dirty Bastard Dead...Oh...I thought you meant Arafat

[RYP]

Ol' Dirty Bastard Dies at 35


By Chuck 'Jigsaw' Creekmur,  BET.com Staff Writer



Ol' Dirty Bastard, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, collapsed and died Saturday. He was 35.

The exact cause of death is not known, but the rapper, born Russell Jones, had been complaining of chest pains earlier; an autopsy will be conducted Sunday.

The rapper, who was on the brink of a comeback, was working at a Manhattan recording studio when he collapsed at about 4:30 p.m. Paramedics were called and found the performer in a living room area adjacent to the studio. He was pronounced dead at 5:04 p.m.

"This evening I received a phone call that is every mother's worst dream. My son, Russell Jones, passed away," Jones' mother, Cherry Jones, told BET.com.


"To the public he was known as Ol Dirty Bastard, but to me he was known as Rusty, the kindest most generous soul on earth. I appreciate all of the support and prayers that I have received. Russell was more then a rapper; he was a loving father, brother, uncle and most of all, son."

 



As word got out, the streets around the studio quickly filled with mourners, including Clan members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon.



"It's a big loss right now. I knew him for 20 years. He was my brother, heart, soul, pride and joy," Ghostface Killah told the people outside the studio. Jones' body was removed about 8:30 p.m.



Just Friday night, Wu-Tang Clan gave their first East Coast concert in five years.


Jones was a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan and his contributions to the group's debut recording helped solidify the group's place in hip-hop history.

The Brooklyn-born rapper offered hip hip a more humorous aspect but still garnered the respect of the rap community.

Jones was featured on Wu-Tang's debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

The rapper was shot after the release of the album.

He eventually released his solo epic Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, an album that yielded the hits "Brooklyn Zoo" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya."

Jones had several bouts with the law, which eventually landed him in jail in  April of 2001. He got out of jail in 2003 and hooked up with Roc-A-Fella Records, but he never released an album.

Dirty Wear was the rapper's clothing line, released soon after he came home from jail.



 

[need mine back]

I still remember that MTV segment when dirty took his girlfriend and son to cash in their welfare check and pick-up the foodstamps. I thought, what a dirt-bag,

[walt]

RIP ODB. A hero and a scholar...

RECENT TIMELINE

1994-- Wu-Tang Clan topped the Billboard Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales chart for a week with "C.R.E.A.M."

Wu-Tang Clan won Source Awards for New Artist of the Year (Group) and Single of the Year ("Method Man").

1997- Wu-Tang Clan released Wu-Tang Forever.
Wu-Tang Forever topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart for a week, the Billboard R&B Albums chart for 2 weeks, and the UK Albums chart for a week.

4 (Raekwon, GZA, Inspectah Deck, and Method Man) members of Wu-Tang Clan found themselves under investigation for beating an employee (a promotion representative) of their record company. The incident allegedly occurred in Chicago. The group had recently and suddenly left its tour with Rage Against The Machine with no official comment to why.


Ol' Dirty Bastard (aka Russell Jones) was arrested in New York on for not paying child support for his 3 children. Jones reportedly failed to pay over $700 a week in support during most of 1996 and a portion of 1997. Jones was also wanted on charges of domestic assault and driving under the influence, and was served with divorce papers after the court appearance. Jones was arraigned and a court date in the future was set for the allegations.


Ghostface Killah (aka Dennis Coles) was arrested for weapons possession in Harlem. Police found a loaded Magnum and hollow-point bullets in Cole's car after he had words with police officers who had pulled over a friend's car. The New York Post reports that Coles was wearing a bullet-proof vest which allowed the police officers to search his vehicle. Coles had been scheduled to appear in court last week on robbery charges, but failed to appear claiming malaria.

1998- Wu Tang Clan were nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.

Ol' Dirty Bastard of Wu Tang Clan became a life saver when he helped a 4-year old who had been hit by a car. Ol' Dirty was working a Brooklyn recording studio when the accident happened, and was one of a dozen individuals who helped lift the car to release the pinned child. The child was rushed to hospital suffering from burns.

Ol' Dirty interrupted Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards by grabbing a microphone and complaining that he bought a new suit, and didn't win an award. Part of his "speech" included: "Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best..." He told MTV that, "...something just jumped into my blood." Wu-Tang Clan had been nominated for Best Rap Album for Wu-Tang Forever.


Ol' Dirty Bastard was shot in the back during a robbery attempt in Brooklyn, New York. He checked himself out of the hospital 8 hours after being brought in to treat the gunshot wounds, which were called "superficial."

Ol' Dirty Bastard was accused of stealing a pair of sneakers worth $50.


The Swarm, Vol. 1 was released.

An arrest warrant was issued for Ol' Dirty when he failed to appear in a Virginian court to faces charges of shoplifting.
ODB hit the Top 40 helping out Pras Michel and Mya with "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" from the film Bullworth.


ODB hit the Top 10 with "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" (with Pras Michel and Mya).


Ol' Dirty Bastard was nominated for 2 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film ("Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)").

Ol' Dirty Bastard was arrested and accused of threatening to shoot and kill security guards after being asked to leave a nightclub in California for drunken behavior. ODB was arrested at the House of Blues in West Hollywood and released on bail the following day after being "drunk, disorderly, and annoying other patrons..." and then threatening to kill security guards when they tried to remove him from the club.


Wu-Tang Clan had a lawsuit filed against them by a woman claiming the group battered her and held her against her will in August of '97.
Method Man was arrested in Memphis and charged with obstructing traffic while signing autographs outside his hotel room and resisting arrest.

Ol' Dirty Bastard was arrested yet again in California for allegedly threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, twice. He was apprehended while trying to climb a security gate to enter where she works.


Ol' Dirty Bastard of Wu-Tang Clan was named as the #1 NewsMaker of 1998 by MTV more for his antics and arrests over the year than his music.

1999- Ol' Dirty Bastard was arrested again in New York for attempted murder after a shootout with police over a traffic stop (for driving erratically). He sat in jail for a few days as questions about the incident arose - especially the question of whether or not a weapon was found by the police. ODB reportedly said he was holding a cell phone, not a weapon.

A grand jury decided ODB should not face charges for the incident in January, and he promised to sue the police department stating "They took shots at me... now I'm taking shots back at y'all."

It was reported by New York Post that some members of Wu-Tang Clan were being investigated for possible gun-running charges."

Wu-Chronicles was released.

Ol' Dirty Bastard entered a drug rehabilitation center after skipping out of a court date in California.

ODB was sentenced to 1 year in a drug rehabilitation facility and 3 years probation after pleading no contest to various charges.

2000- Wu-Tang Clan re-grouped for a summer tour. Ol' Dirty Bastard would not be part of the tour after he was sentenced to 6 months in a drug rehabilitation center after 90 days of evaluation.

Ol' Dirty Bastard was on the run and wanted after running away from a drug-treatment facility in California.

The group released The W with the first single, "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)."

ODB was arrested again on warrants issued after he fled a drug rehabilitation center.

The W hit #1 on the Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop Chart and was certified platinum.

2001-ODB plead guilty to drug charges which will allow him to only serve 2 to 4 years in prison. The agreement would drop bail-jumping charges.

ODB was sentenced to 2 more years in jail for possession of body armor.

Wu-Tang Clan released Iron Flag.

2002-Iron Flag was certified gold.

ODB released The Trials & Tribulations Of Russell Jones.

2003-VH1: 50 Greatest Hip Hop Artists includes Wu-Tang Clan at # 12.

ODB was released from jail after 2 years for drug charges. A few days later he signed a deal with Roc-A-Fella Records and changed his name to 'Dirt McGirt.'

Rolling Stone: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 386: Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers.

2004- Wu-Tang reunited for a concert on July 17th in California. Disciples Of The 36 Chambers was released September 28th.

ODB died suddenly in a New York recording studio at the age of 35.

[Lunatock]

ASAP I shall give "Bitches" - ICP Featuring 'Ol Dirty Bastard, and Wu-Tang Forever a spin in my CD player. While I'm at it get a copy of the other song 'Ol Dirty did with Insane Clown Posse...his part over the phone from Jail.

[holden]

ICP HA HA

I was going to post the thing on ODB, but I thought I'd take some flak from some here. RIP O.D.B. a true character in Hip Hop.

[britneyfan97]

"Coles had been scheduled to appear in court last week on robbery charges, but failed to appear claiming malaria."

---how the Fk did he get malaria?? it's not like he was in Nam...

[Texas Carnie Roadshow]

Spent 20 minutes editing this at 7 in the morning yesterday when I first heard about this.

[Venturi]

If crack vials are ghosts, ODB was Pac-Man. This man not only left a legacy, but also 13 bastard children. He's also the only rapper to ask cops to make the crack rocks "disappear", so as not to disappoint any of his fans. When they didn't listen and locked his ass up, he blamed it on George Bush. Worrrrrrrrrrrrrd.

Girls with honey dripping from your ass
Arms with the funk of smoking grass
You notice me down the block, I’m that good
So do your people in your neighborhood
The way you walk, your period is yummy
The diamonds in my mouth I eat are gummy.


RIP

[mach1]

He would have been 36 today, apparently. never even heard oh im before today.

13 kids. you dont say.

I know this girl from keebeck who has 12 older bros and sisters who became a famous singer-songstress. OK
now that enough out of me.

[Texas Carnie Roadshow]

Nothing like being a famous rap star with a lot of alimony, child support payments, and being the only guy closest to being rich, and on welfare.