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.
Dirty
Ol' Dirty Bastard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anything closer will kiss the nine
Think I'm out the game? You out of your mind
Cuz I stay on track, like transit line
Keep it nappy or braided up
Dirty in the cockpit, blazin' up
Stop frontin' when you made it up
Tellin' all my hoes, you can't spray it up
Still trickin' on hoes like Heidi Fleiss
You know why niggas don't give you much respect
Cuz they seen you gettin' slapped with the empty gat
Know Dirt, like bow know death
When I'm huntin' down, birds of rap
Hate Dog, cuz I ate your cat
And you can eat my ass and have a coke with that
Use a spoon, unless you want a fork
Pull my dick out, watch the room get dark
Stay high with the zombie walk
Gotta sit my ass down, like Rosa Parks
Dirty Dirty, you tell me how you do it
It look so easy, like there was nothin' to it
But they don't understand, about the Dirty M.C
It's the... (Ohhhhhhhhhh), new track by ODB
They say dirt and sunshine make the flowers grow
I say, fuck a bitch raw and drive your nut on the floor
Call it what you want, you son of a ho
I was 5 percent til' white bitches came and dropped it down to four
3, 2, 1, I can lick the sun with my tongue
Pull it out and smack a nigga, just for thinkin' I'm done
Shut your trap, razor blade cut your wrap
Fat girls seen me comin', started tuckin' their flab
Rhymefest and Dirt Dog, gon' spark this
The day he got to heaven, track mud on the carpets
Hot like the hot potato, you niggas ain't macho
You hot as gazpacho
Go to the show, for hot dogs and nacho's
This me and Dirt Dog's style, it's not yours
[2X}
What can make a ho, look more cuter
Hennessey shots, or smoke more Buddha?
I don't know Dirt, now she look like Zab Judah
Test my manhood, go get my dick ruler
Now you hungry, wanna eat right through her
But you better first track for a noter
Like does she have a best friend, or a daughter
Has she ever tried fuckin' under water
Down down with the fishes, deep sea dishes
I ain't a genie, bitch, I don't respect your wishes
This trick ain't fuckin' me though, god damn
Something very wrong, I don't understand
Misinterpetate, let me break it down
Two pulls make the your merry go round
Touch your toes, show me that rose
Butt naked, in a Wu-Tang pose
Wide open, girl, everything goes
Real freaky, when you powder that nose
Keep it and move, I sleep in the nude
I'm keepin' it rude, pull out my dick and pee in the food
On the way to the stars, don, where's the map?
We fuckin' there, and we gonna fuck back
Yeah, Dirt Dog, Rhymefest, you want it, man
Rest in peace, I know you heaven right now
Trackin' mud on the carpet, so, we gon' let ya
Do what you do it's the ohhhhhhh
Don't forget the crew, it's the Wuuuuuu
I thought you knew, it's the Ol' Dirt Dog
Rhymefest, yeah yeah, from now to 3000, man
What's rap with Dirty? What's the world without Dirt?
Just a bunch of fuckin' water, ohhhhhhhhh
We out...
The song "Dirty" by Ol' Dirty Bastard is a fast-paced, energetic rap track that features the artist's signature brash style and bold lyricism. The song includes a series of provocative lines, many of which involve sexual innuendo or vivid descriptions of illicit activity. For example, the chorus suggests that the rapper's lifestyle is both effortless and misunderstood, while other verses describe sexual encounters and drug usage in graphic detail.
However, the song also explores themes of power and respect, with many references to the rapper's reputation as a skilled and dangerous figure in the music industry. The opening lines of the song suggest that the rapper is always on the edge of danger, constantly flirting with the line between success and failure. The song also includes references to the rapper's ability to intimidate and dominate other figures in the industry, as well as his disdain for those who attempt to imitate his style without truly understanding his artistry.
Overall, "Dirty" is a complex and multifaceted track that showcases the unique talents and sensibilities of Ol' Dirty Bastard. Through its bold lyricism and engaging beats, the song captures both the rebellious spirit and the creative vision of one of hip-hop's most iconic figures.
Line by Line Meaning
Two steps from the border line
I'm so close to getting what I need, but if I go any further, things could get dangerous
Anything closer will kiss the nine
If I go any further, I might get shot
Think I'm out the game? You out of your mind
Don't count me out yet, I'm still in the game
Cuz I stay on track, like transit line
I stay focused on my goals and don't get sidetracked
Keep it nappy or braided up
I'm comfortable with my hair however it is
Dirty in the cockpit, blazin' up
I'm smoking weed in the cockpit of a plane
Stop frontin' when you made it up
Don't lie about your accomplishments
Tellin' all my hoes, you can't spray it up
You can't touch my women
Hah, huggin' nuts like tighty whites
You're always trying to get in with the people in power
Still trickin' on hoes like Heidi Fleiss
I'm still paying for sex with prostitutes like Heidi Fleiss
You know why niggas don't give you much respect
People don't respect you because they've seen you get humiliated
Cuz they seen you gettin' slapped with the empty gat
They saw you get hit with a gun that wasn't even loaded
Know Dirt, like bow know death
My reputation is solid, and everyone knows who I am
When I'm huntin' down, birds of rap
I'm always looking for the next big thing in music
Hate Dog, cuz I ate your cat
People hate me because I'm a wild, unpredictable person
And you can eat my ass and have a coke with that
No matter how much you insult me, I don't care
Use a spoon, unless you want a fork
Be careful what you ask for, because you might not like it
Pull my dick out, watch the room get dark
I'm a dominant, attention-seeking person who likes to shock people
Stay high with the zombie walk
I'm always high, and I walk like a zombie because of it
Gotta sit my ass down, like Rosa Parks
I need to take a break and rest, just like Rosa Parks stood up for herself
Dirty Dirty, you tell me how you do it
Can you explain how you're so successful?
It look so easy, like there was nothin' to it
You make it look easy, but I know it's not
But they don't understand, about the Dirty M.C
People don't really understand what I'm all about
It's the... (Ohhhhhhhhhh), new track by ODB
This is my latest song, and it's going to be amazing
They say dirt and sunshine make the flowers grow
People say that even negative things can have a positive outcome
I say, fuck a bitch raw and drive your nut on the floor
I suggest having unprotected sex with a woman and then ejaculating on the floor
Call it what you want, you son of a ho
You can call me whatever you want, but I don't care
I was 5 percent til' white bitches came and dropped it down to four
I thought I was invincible, until women brought me down
3, 2, 1, I can lick the sun with my tongue
I'm capable of doing anything, no matter how crazy it sounds
Pull it out and smack a nigga, just for thinkin' I'm done
Don't underestimate me, or I'll show you who's boss
Shut your trap, razor blade cut your wrap
Be quiet, or I'll cut you
Fat girls seen me comin', started tuckin' their flab
I have a reputation for sleeping with overweight women
Rhymefest and Dirt Dog, gon' spark this
Together, Rhymefest and I are going to make something amazing happen
The day he got to heaven, track mud on the carpets
Rhymefest was so amazing, even when he got to heaven, he caused a scene
Hot like the hot potato, you niggas ain't macho
I'm hot, and you're not man enough to handle it
You hot as gazpacho
You're cold and unappealing
Go to the show, for hot dogs and nacho's
Come to my concert and enjoy some stadium food
This me and Dirt Dog's style, it's not yours
Don't try to copy our style, it's unique to us
What can make a ho, look more cuter
What can make a prostitute look more attractive?
Hennessey shots, or smoke more Buddha?
Is it alcohol or weed that makes them look better?
I don't know Dirt, now she look like Zab Judah
I'm not sure what's going on, but this woman looks like someone else now
Test my manhood, go get my dick ruler
If you want to prove yourself, you need to measure up to me
Now you hungry, wanna eat right through her
Now that you find her more attractive, you want to have sex with her
But you better first track for a noter
You better make sure she's not taken before you make your move
Like does she have a best friend, or a daughter
Is there anyone else around who could cause problems?
Has she ever tried fuckin' under water
This might be a good opportunity for some adventurous sex
Down down with the fishes, deep sea dishes
Let's have sex underwater
I ain't a genie, bitch, I don't respect your wishes
I don't care what you want, I'm going to do what I want
This trick ain't fuckin' me though, god damn
This woman isn't going to have sex with me
Something very wrong, I don't understand
I'm confused about what's happening
Misinterpetate, let me break it down
You misunderstood me, let me explain it better
Two pulls make the your merry go round
Just two hits of weed can make you feel amazing
Touch your toes, show me that rose
Bend over and show me your butt
Butt naked, in a Wu-Tang pose
Completely naked, in a pose like the Wu-Tang Clan
Wide open, girl, everything goes
Let's get wild and do anything we want
Real freaky, when you powder that nose
You're really wild when you use cocaine
Keep it and move, I sleep in the nude
Let's keep doing what we're doing, and I like to sleep naked
I'm keepin' it rude, pull out my dick and pee in the food
I'm being crude, and I'm going to urinate in the food
On the way to the stars, don, where's the map?
We're on our way to the top, but do we have a plan?
We fuckin' there, and we gonna fuck back
We're going to make it to the top, and we're not going to back down
Yeah, Dirt Dog, Rhymefest, you want it, man
Together, Rhymefest and I are unstoppable
Rest in peace, I know you heaven right now
Rest in peace, Rhymefest, I know you're in heaven
Trackin' mud on the carpet, so, we gon' let ya
Rhymefest was always wild, so we'll let him do his thing
Do what you do it's the ohhhhhhh
Keep being yourself, Rhymefest
Don't forget the crew, it's the Wuuuuuu
Don't forget about the Wu-Tang Clan
I thought you knew, it's the Ol' Dirt Dog
I'm still here, and I'm still doing my thing
Rhymefest, yeah yeah, from now to 3000, man
Rhymefest will be remembered forever
What's rap with Dirty? What's the world without Dirt?
What's rap without me? What's the world without me?
Just a bunch of fuckin' water, ohhhhhhhhh
It's nothing, just meaningless and worthless
We out...
We're done here
Contributed by Asher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.