Russell Tyrone Jones (November 15, 1968 – November 13, 2004) was an America… Read Full Bio ↴Russell Tyrone Jones (November 15, 1968 – November 13, 2004) was an American rapper from New York known by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard (often shortened to ODB by mainstream media) since 1988. He was one of the founding members of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

Ol' Dirty Bastard simultaneously brought a measure of humor and a touch of the absurd to the Wu-Tang Clan. Often noted for his unusual mic technique (critic Steve Huey writes of Jones's "outrageously profane, free-associative rhymes" delivered "in a distinctive half-rapped, half-sung style"), Jones's stage name came from a 1980 kung fu film entitled Ol' Dirty & The Bastard, the relevance of which was articulated by Method Man's assertion that there was "no father" to Jones's style.

After establishing the Wu-Tang Clan, Ol' Dirty Bastard went on to a successful solo career. However, his professional success was hampered by his erratic personal behavior and frequent legal troubles, including incarceration. He died in late 2004 of a drug overdose in a recording studio.

Life and Career
Ol' Dirty Bastard was born Russell Jones in Brooklyn in 1968, and grew up in the neighborhood of Fort Greene. As he got older, he started hanging out more and more with his cousins Robert Diggs and Gary Grice; they all shared a taste for rap music and kung-fu movies. Diggs, later to be known as the RZA, Grice, later the GZA, and Jones formed Force Of The Imperial Master, which subsequently became known as the All in Together Now Crew after they had a successful underground single of that name.

Wu-Tang Clan
The cousins soon added six more friends and associates to the Clan, and released their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993 (1993 in music). 36 Chambers received enormous critical praise, and is now widely regarded as one of the best and most influential albums of any genre to be released in the 1990s, as well as one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

While most of the group's members received individual praise from critics and fans, Jones became perhaps the best-known member of the group. Armed with a seemingly crazed, slurred, often off-beat, half-sung half-rapped delivery, bizarre lyrics and humorous antics that were unlike anything ever heard before in rap, he seemed to encapsulate and personify the raw, unadulterated and innovative style of the group.

Ol' Dirty Bastard takes his name from the 1980 film by Meng-Hwa Ho called An Old Kung Fu Master, known also as Mad Mad Kung Fu and Ol' Dirty & The Bastard. The movie features Yuen Siu Tien aka Simon Yuen who can also be found in other classics such as Drunken Master. Yuen Siu Tien often played a character of an old drunkard who had mastered the martial art of Drunken Boxing.

Solo career
ODB's solo career began in 1995, the second member of the Wu-Tang Clan to release a solo album, following Method Man's 1994 effort, Tical. Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, released on March 28, 1995, spawned the hit singles Brooklyn Zoo and Shimmy Shimmy Ya, and powered the album to gold status. The album's sound was as raw and gritty as 36 Chambers, producer RZA creating beats even more minimalist and stripped-down than on the group's debut.

That same year, he was featured on the remix of Mariah Carey's "Fantasy". What might have seemed like an unlikely pairing spawned a major hit song. "Fantasy" was among the first popular pop, R&B, and hip hop collaborations.

Around this time, Jones gained notoriety when, as he was being profiled for an MTV biography, he took two of his thirteen children by limousine to a New York State welfare office to pick up his welfare check while his latest album was still in the top ten of the US charts. The entire incident was filmed by an MTV camera crew and was broadcast nationwide.

In 1997, ODB appeared on the Wu-Tang Clan's second and most commercially successful album, Wu-Tang Forever. However, Jones appeared less often on the Clan's sophomore than on the debut; he contributed a solo track titled "Dog Shit" as well as hooks ("As High As Wu-Tang Get") and spoken introductions ("Triumph"), but other than these appearances and featuring prominently on the songs "Maria" and "Reunited," as well as delivering a very short verse on "Heaterz", he was absent.

In February 1998, Jones witnessed a car accident from the window of his Brooklyn recording studio. He and a friend ran to the accident scene and organized about a dozen onlookers who assisted in lifting the 1996 Ford Mustang—rescuing a 4-year-old girl from the wreckage. She was taken to a hospital with second and third degree burns. Using a false name, Jones visited the girl in the hospital frequently until he was spotted by members of the media.

The evening following the traffic accident, Jones rushed onstage unexpectedly during Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech for "Song of the Year" at the Grammy Awards, and began complaining that he had recently purchased expensive clothes in anticipation of winning the "Best Rap Album" award that he lost to Puff Daddy. Before being escorted off-stage, he implored the audience, "I don't know how you all see it, but when it comes to the children, Wu-Tang is for the children. We teach the children. Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best. I want you all to know that this is ODB, and I love you all. Peace!" (He evidently was confused between Shawn Colvin and Sean Combs, Puff Daddy's real name). His bizarre onstage antics were widely reported in the mainstream media.

In April 1998, he announced his new stage name, Big Baby Jesus (the first of many alternate stage names; see the list below), but was never able to give a coherent explanation for the very brief switch.

In 1999, he found time to release Nigga Please between jail sentences, which received much success and was even more bizarrely warped than his debut. This release included the single "Got Your Money" which became extremely successful in the US and elsewhere; it was produced by The Neptunes, and its success would serve as one of the production group's main stepping stones to the superstardom they would later achieve. As well as the Neptunes, the single also put singer Kelis, who sang the chorus, on the map; she went on to have a successful solo career.

In 2001, with Jones again in jail for crack cocaine possession, his record company Elektra Records made the decision to release a greatest hits album (despite there being only two albums in ODB's back catalogue) in order to both end their contract with the unreliable, troubled artist as well as make some money off the publicity generated by his legal troubles. After the contract with Elektra was terminated, the label D-3 records released the album "The Trials and Tribulations of Russell Jones" in 2002, comprised of tracks put together without Jones's input, using the vocals he had recorded prior to his capture by authorities. The label recruited many guests including several Wu-Tang Clan affiliates, No Limit Records artist C-Murder, and the Insane Clown Posse. However, the album was critically panned and sales were poor.

The year 2003 brought a change in the life of Ol' Dirty Bastard however. The day he was released from prison, with Mariah Carey and Damon Dash by his side, Jones signed a contract with Roc-A-Fella Records, and began a new chapter in his life. Living at his mother's home under house arrest and with a court-ordered probation hanging over his head, he managed to star in a VH1 reality television series. He also managed to record a new album, scheduled to be released in 2006 through Dame Dash Music Group.

He had stated that he also planned on collaborating with artists in the electronic music genre, such as Carnage and The Fiasco, Fischerspooner, and possibly even Massive Attack.
Legal troubles

In 1993, ODB was convicted of second degree assault for an attempted robbery and in 1994, he was shot in the abdomen following an argument with another rapper.

In 1997, he was arrested for failure to pay child support for three of his thirteen children. His wife, Icelene Jones, claimed he had not paid any support in over a year.

In 1998, he pled guilty to attempted assault on his wife and was the victim of a home invasion robbery at his girlfriend's house. He was shot in the back and arm but the wounds were superficial.

In July 1998, only days after being shot in a push-in robbery at a cousin's house in Brooklyn, he was arrested for shoplifting a pair of $50 shoes in Virginia Beach, Virginia, although he was carrying close to $500 at the time. He was issued bench warrants by the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Department to stand trial after he failed to appear in court numerous times. He was arrested for criminal threatening after a series of drunken confrontations in Los Angeles a few weeks later, and was then re-arrested for similar charges not long after that.

During a routine traffic stop, the details of which remain clouded in multiple versions of events, he was arrested for attempted murder and criminal weapon possession. The case was later dismissed.

In February 1999, he was arrested for driving without a license and for being a convicted felon wearing a bulletproof vest (the first person arrested for this infraction under a new California law). Back in New York weeks later, he was arrested for drug possession of crack cocaine and for traffic offenses. With multiple cases in the past and present, he was arrested with marijuana and 20 vials of crack. After his arrest, ODB reportedly asked the police to "make the rocks disappear". During a court hearing, he once called a female prosecutor a "sperm donor."

This criminal record was commented on by Chris Rock in his 1999 spoken word song, "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)", with Rock asserting that "ODB couldn'tve possibly committed all those crimes. Coolio did some of that shit."

ODB entered rehab while still technically a fugitive from the law, but strange behavior during a subsequent court date sent him to jail for a brief period.

In October 2000, he escaped from his court-mandated drug treatment facility and spent one month as a fugitive. During his time on the run, he hooked up with the RZA and managed to log some time in the recording studio. He then appeared onstage swigging a bottle at a record release party for The W, a Wu-Tang Clan album. He was later arrested in a Philadelphia McDonald's parking lot while signing autographs, and extradited to New York City. A Manhattan court sentenced him to two to four years incarceration. Mental problems resulted in a suicide attempt not long after his sentencing.

In May 2003, Russell Jones was released from prison. It was said that long time friend, Mariah Carey, picked him up after his release.

At first, his legal troubles and odd behavior made Jones "something of a folk hero", according to The New Yorker writer Michael Agger. However, Huey writes that "it was difficult for observers to tell whether ODB's wildly erratic behavior was the result of serious drug problems or genuine mental instability ... the possibility that his continued antics were at least partly the result of conscious image-making disappeared as time wore on."

Russell Jones collapsed at approximately 5:29 p.m. on November 13, 2004 at Wu-Tang's recording studio (36 Records LLC on West 34th Street in New York City). He was pronounced dead less than an hour later. He was buried at Brooklyn's Christian Cultural Center.

A statement was released on Saturday (November 13, 2004) evening by his mother Cherry Jones:

"This evening, I received a phone call that is every mother's worst dream," she said. "My son, Russell Jones, passed away. 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 the support and prayers that I have received. Russell was more than a rapper, he was a loving father, brother, uncle, and most of all, son."

A statement was also released by Damon Dash, who signed ODB to Roc-A-Fella Records in the fall of 2004:

"All of us in the Roc-A-Fella family are shocked and saddened by the sudden and tragic death of our brother and friend. Russell inspired all of us with his spirit, wit and tremendous heart. He will be missed dearly, and our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to his wonderful family. The world has lost a great talent, but we mourn the loss of our friend."

The cause of death remained unknown until December 15, 2004; although he reportedly complained of chest pains prior to collapsing, a heart attack was not listed as the cause of death. During the initial autopsy of the 35-year-old rapper, a doubled plastic bag containing cocaine was discovered in his stomach. Final results from an autopsy show he had a lethal mixture of the prescription painkiller Tramadol and high amounts of cocaine in his system at the time of his death, which was ruled an accidental overdose by the New York Medical Examiner's Office.

Brooklyn Zoo II
Ol' Dirty Bastard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

One two, one two, you taping this?
All types of shit yo let that shit ride
Word to mother, turn up the microphone!
Get all that good shit, get all that good shit (one two, one two)
One two, one two, one two, one two
Now niggas know
Shit, yo yo check this out, check this joint
This is strictly for the radio, yo

I just want all y'all to know
The reason why I curse is because my momma and my daddy
They grew up cursin'
So please respect my style, please!

I'll grab the mic and now I damage you, cut your whole stamin-u
Oh, shit, nah
I'll grab the mic and now I damage ya, cut your whole stamina
Here comes the medical examinuh
One verse then you out for the count
Bring the ammonia make sure he sniffs, the right amount
Ya yo, I'm sorry, un-gah-e-gas-e-ya

I'll grab and the mic and now I damage you, cut your whole stamina
Here comes the medical examinuh
One verse then you're out for the count
Bring the ammonia, make sure he sniffs the right amount
Wake you up and then I ask you
How do you intend this
Competition to get an ass kickin' so tremendous
You shouldn't bother this
Leave me alone like a son he'll be fatherless!
I got the Asiatic flow mixed with disco
Roll up on the scene like the Count of Monte Crisco
And MC's start to vanish
I rolled up on a jet black kid the nigga started speakin' Spanish
Yo! You wasn't from Panama
I asked you how you get so fuckin' dark, you said suntama
He responded so fast, you made me laugh
Ha-ha-ha, scared his ass!
Kick the hundred strongest rhymes
Then I brought out the punk in him
Roll up with the strong five deadly venoms
Told him! Enter the Wu-Tang!
Witness the Shaolin slang, that crush any shit you bring
I watch your ass take a big fall, why?
My Main Source, is like a friendly game of stickball
And as you step up to bat man, I play the riddler
You try to do me for my nigga I'll change to Hitler
I'll go out like a Nazi, wish your fuckin' ass stayed
Home and play Yahtzee!
Or watchin' Happy Days sweatin' Poxie
With Ralphie and Cunningham, Joni and Chachi

(Yo Unique, yo kid
Check this shit out! Yo, yo)

Ninety-five niggas is wasted
Keystone capered, and Wu kept the rap fiends basted
Foamin' out the mouthpiece, heads blown like geese
Murderous police, I do shows and perform in Greece
It's not magic, gaming is the gadget
World classic big national high attracts dear graphics
Lampin' in my own zone, my physical show
Inhale bones Tony stuck, for the diamond in Rome
He's convincin', labelled one man rap convention
The nigga that'll gun down, eighty Frenchmen
Lead vocalist, music specialist, rap arsonist
I deal with sharpness plus spark the hardest individual
I plant crimes inside vocals
My rap's like my passport, my life's my proof
Hit the sun roof, be out like a wanderin' dream
Shuttle, and get startled off the verbal hygiene, my nigga

Shame on you when you step through to
Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo!
Shame on you when you step through to
Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo!
What, my nuh
Shame on you when you step through to
The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo
Shame on you when you step through to
The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo
To the West coast!
To the East coast
To the North coast
To the South
When you take North, East, West, South
Put it all together and it spell news
Then you got the ol' rhythm, bastard blues

And ya don't stop
So keep your shit, motherfucker, fucker, fucker!

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Brooklyn Zoo II" are a prelude to an onslaught of raunchy, confrontational rhymes. The rapper states that he curses because his parents did and requests respect for his style. Then he launches into a flurry of braggadocio, boasting of his rhyming skills and declaring his superiority over the competition. The lyrics are loaded with obscure references and off-beat humor, highlighting ODB's unique style.

The line "Shame on you when you step through to Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo!" is repeated throughout the song, serving as the chorus. The phrase is a warning to anyone who dares to challenge ODB, a declaration of his dominance in the world of rap. The song features a chaotic assortment of rhymes, with ODB jumping from topic to topic, interrupting himself, and twisting words to create humorous effects. The overall effect is a frenzied ode to the art of rhyming, delivered with brash confidence and irreverent humor.

Line by Line Meaning

One two, one two, you taping this?
Confirming that the microphone is on and in use.

All types of shit yo let that shit ride
Let the music continue playing without interruption.

Word to mother, turn up the microphone!
Directing the crew to increase the volume of the microphone.

Get all that good shit, get all that good shit (one two, one two)
Asking to capture all the good audio content while recording.

One two, one two, one two, one two
More microphone testing.

Now niggas know
Everyone should now be aware of what's going on.

Shit, yo yo check this out, check this joint
Introducing the upcoming song and asking for attention.

This is strictly for the radio, yo
Clarifying that this song is meant for radio airplay.

I just want all y'all to know
Making sure the audience is aware of something important.

The reason why I curse is because my momma and my daddy
Explaining why using foul language is a part of his style.

They grew up cursin'
Detailing the source of his upbringing and influence.

So please respect my style, please!
Asking for understanding and acceptance of his musical expression.

I'll grab the mic and now I damage you, cut your whole stamina
Asserting dominance and threatening an opponent in a rap battle.

Here comes the medical examinuh
Continuing to intimidate an opponent in a humorous way.

One verse then you out for the count
Claiming that one verse from him is enough to defeat his rivals.

Bring the ammonia make sure he sniffs, the right amount
Making a joke that his rhymes are so bad they might knock someone out cold.

Wake you up and then I ask you, how do you intend this
Asking a defeated opponent how they plan to compete with him in the future.

Competition to get an ass kickin' so tremendous
Making it clear that anyone who challenges him will be destroyed.

You shouldn't bother this, leave me alone like a son he'll be fatherless!
Threatening anyone who attempts to challenge him again in the future.

I got the Asiatic flow mixed with disco
Describing his musical style as a unique blend of cultural elements.

Roll up on the scene like the Count of Monte Crisco
Swaggering onto the music scene as a self-assured, charismatic performer.

And MC's start to vanish
Bringing fear to other rappers who might compete with him.

I rolled up on a jet black kid the nigga started speakin' Spanish
Describing a humorous situation where he encounters someone who doesn't speak his language.

Yo! You wasn't from Panama
Pointing out that the person he encountered wasn't from the Spanish-speaking country he tried to claim.

I asked you how you get so fuckin' dark, you said suntama
Mocking the person who tried to lie about his background.

He responded so fast, you made me laugh
Finding humor in the other person's ridiculous behavior.

Ha-ha-ha, scared his ass!
Joking about how easily he intimidated someone with his words.

Kick the hundred strongest rhymes
Promising to deliver a powerful performance with his lyrics.

Then I brought out the punk in him
Boasting about his ability to intimidate other rappers.

Roll up with the strong five deadly venoms
Referencing a kung fu film and comparing himself to the skilled fighters in the movie.

Told him! Enter the Wu-Tang!
Announcing his affiliation with the rap collective Wu-Tang Clan.

Witness the Shaolin slang, that crush any shit you bring
Boasting about his lyrical abilities and challenging other rappers to compete with him.

I watch your ass take a big fall, why?
Continuing to threaten rival rappers with defeat.

My Main Source, is like a friendly game of stickball
Referencing the hip hop group Main Source and comparing rap battles to friendly competition.

And as you step up to bat man, I play the riddler
Referencing a Batman villain and suggesting that he is more intelligent and strategic than his opponents.

You try to do me for my nigga I'll change to Hitler
Threatening anyone who tries to take advantage of him or his friends.

I'll go out like a Nazi, wish your fuckin' ass stayed home and play Yahtzee!
Making a dark joke about his willingness to resort to violence.

Or watchin' Happy Days sweatin' Poxie, with Ralphie and Cunningham, Joni and Chachi
Endlessly flipping through TV channels and referencing several characters from the show Happy Days.

(Yo Unique, yo kid Check this shit out! Yo, yo)
Talking to someone else in the studio, addressing them by name and asking them to listen to the music.

Ninety-five niggas is wasted
Referring to the year 1995 and boasting about his dominance in the rap game.

Keystone capered, and Wu kept the rap fiends basted
Making a metaphor involving cooking and suggesting that Wu-Tang Clan keeps their fans well-fed with good music.

Foamin' out the mouthpiece, heads blown like geese
Describing a wild performance and the enthusiastic reaction of the audience.

Murderous police, I do shows and perform in Greece
Referencing tensions between black Americans and law enforcement and boasting about international success.

It's not magic, gaming is the gadget
Explaining that his skills are not a result of magic but rather hard work and practice.

World classic big national high attracts dear graphics
Making a reference to the video game industry and the attention he receives as a famous rapper.

Lampin' in my own zone, my physical show
Relaxing comfortably in his own space while putting on a good performance.

Inhale bones Tony stuck, for the diamond in Rome
Making obscure references to drugs and stolen jewels while rapping about his success.

He's convincin', labelled one man rap convention
Boasting about his ability to win over fans with his music and performances.

The nigga that'll gun down, eighty Frenchmen
Threatening to use violence against anyone who challenges him.

Lead vocalist, music specialist, rap arsonist
Listing his various talents and abilities in creating and performing music.

I deal with sharpness plus spark the hardest individual
Boasting about his skills and his ability to outperform anyone who tries to compete with him.

I plant crimes inside vocals
Making a metaphor about how his rhymes are so powerful and influential that they can inspire people to commit crimes.

My rap's like my passport, my life's my proof
Comparing his music and his real life experiences as evidence of his unique perspective and talents.

Hit the sun roof, be out like a wanderin' dream
Going on a joyride and enjoying a sense of freedom and excitement.

Shuttle, and get startled off the verbal hygiene, my nigga
Continuing to boast about his verbal abilities and reminding his rivals to be on their guard.

Shame on you when you step through to Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo!
Issuing a warning to anyone who tries to challenge him and his crew.

What, my nuh
A Jamaican patois phrase meaning something like 'what's up'.

To the West coast! To the East coast To the North coast To the South
Acknowledging his fans all over the country and beyond.

When you take North, East, West, South Put it all together and it spell news Then you got the ol' rhythm, bastard blues
Playfully manipulating a cliched phrase to create his own unique brand of music and lyrics.

And ya don't stop
Ending the song with a classic hip hop refrain.

So keep your shit, motherfucker, fucker, fucker!
Using vulgar language to emphasize his tough persona and to shut down any would-be rivals.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dennis Coles, Robert Diggs, Russell Jones

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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