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.
Got Your Money
Ol' Dirty Bastard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dedicated to all the pretty girls
All the pretty girls
All the pretty girls in the world
And the ugly girls too
'Cause to me your pretty anyway, baby
You give me your number, I'll call you up
I don't have no problem with you fucking me
But I have a little problem with you not fucking me
Baby, you know I'ma take care of you
'Cause you say you got my baby, and I know it ain't true
Is it a good thing? No, it's bad, bitch
For good or worse, makes you switch
So I walk on over with my Cristal
Bitch-ass niggas, put away your pistols
Dirty won't be having it in this house
'Cause, bitch, I'll cripple your style
Now that you heard my charmin' voice
You couldn't get another nigga, your coochie won't get moist
If you wanna look good and not be bummy
Girl, you better give me that money, oh
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Yo, so I glanced at the girl, girl glanced at me
I whispered in her ear, "You wanna be with me?"
You wanna look pretty though, in my video
Ol' Dirty on the hat and I let you all know
Just dance if you caught up in the Holy Ghost trance
If you stop, I'ma put them killer ants in your pants
I'm the O-D-B as you can see
FBI, don't you be watching me
I don't want no problems, 'cause I'll put you down
In the ground where you can not be found
I'm just Dirt Dog tryna make some money
So give me my streaks and give me my honey
Radios play this all day, everyday
Recognize I'ma fool and you love me
None of you nuh better look at me funny
Nuh, you know my name, now give me my money
Hey, Dirty (sing it)
Baby, I got your money (sing it, girls)
Don't you worry, I said hey (yes, sing it right now)
Baby, I got your money (if Dirty want his money, I think y'all should give him his money)
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money (that's how I like it, girl)
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Sexy, sexy, sexy
Sexy, sexy, sexy
Sexy, sexy, sexy
Yo, yo
Nigga playing in the club like this all night
Bitches put your ass out, let me hold it tight
You're looking at my wrist saying "It's so nice"
The price, bitch, is diamonds, shining disco light
Girl, you better help me solve my problem
I'ma get this money and rob them
Lucky Dog when I won the lotto
Ran up on my car for carrying Rollo
But hold on, you can call me Dirty
And then lift up your skirt
And you want some of this Dirty
God made Dirt and Dirt bust your ass
Stop annoying me, yeah, I play my music loud
It takes the Bastard, Ol' Dirty, to move the crowd
They say he had his dick in his mouth
Eddie Murphy taught me that back in the house
Now give me my money
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Hey, Dirty (I wanna here)
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Hey, Dirty (sexy, sexy, sexy)
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey (sexy, sexy, sexy)
Baby, I got your money
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
Baby, I got your money
Hey, Dirty
Baby, I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey
The song "Got Your Money" by Ol' Dirty Bastard is a playful and boastful track about the artist's charisma and power over women. The song begins with ODB dedicating the song to all the pretty and ugly girls in the world, since to him, they are all equally pretty. ODB then goes on to detail how women are attracted to him and how he uses this power to get what he wants from them. He ends the song by demanding payment for his services to these women, asserting his dominance over them.
In the first verse, ODB raps about how women are always giving him their phone numbers and how he doesn't mind if they sleep with him as long as they are honest about it. However, he has a problem with women who say they have his baby when they don't. He then states that he will take care of them regardless, although it is not a good thing to have a woman who is lying about having his child. ODB then talks about walking over with his Cristal to confront any men who might want to challenge his authority over women. He ends the verse by proclaiming that he is the only man who can make a woman's coochie moist.
The chorus of the song centers around the hook that has become the most recognizable part of the song. It is a repeating phrase that emphasizes the song's central theme of ODB demanding payment for his services. The chorus is sung by Kelis, who delivers a soulful and catchy melody that complements ODB's raw and irreverent lyrics. Overall, the song is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of sexual prowess and dominance over women.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh baby, mm
This song is dedicated to all the pretty girls around the world along with the not-so-pretty ones.
Dedicated to all the pretty girls
The song is meant for all the attractive ladies out there.
All the pretty girls
This includes all of them, whether they know it or not.
All the pretty girls in the world
This is only about pretty girls; they're the only ones worth mentioning.
And the ugly girls too
Even the ones that are not pretty can be included as they still have some sort of beauty in them.
'Cause to me your pretty anyway, baby
Whether you're pretty or not, in my eyes, you've always got something that is attractive.
You give me your number, I'll call you up
If you give me your phone number, we can connect later.
You act like your pussy on interrupt
You're very excitable when we're communicating.
I don't have no problem with you fucking me
Having sex with me is not an issue.
But I have a little problem with you not fucking me
However, if you don't want to have sex with me, then that's a problem.
Baby, you know I'ma take care of you
I'll always do what it takes to support you.
'Cause you say you got my baby, and I know it ain't true
You claim that you have my child, but I know it's not the case.
Is it a good thing? No, it's bad, bitch
Even though you're lying, it still doesn't make things better.
For good or worse, makes you switch
Your actions make you unpredictable.
So I walk on over with my Cristal
I'm approaching you with my bottle of Cristal champagne in hand.
Bitch-ass niggas, put away your pistols
I'm telling all the violent people to leave their weapons aside.
Dirty won't be having it in this house
I won't tolerate any violence or aggression in this space.
'Cause, bitch, I'll cripple your style
If you try to cause any trouble, I'll make sure to ruin your reputation.
Now that you heard my charmin' voice
After hearing me speak, I'm sure you've become enamored with me.
You couldn't get another nigga, your coochie won't get moist
You won't be able to get sexually aroused by another man after being with me.
If you wanna look good and not be bummy
If you want to maintain a good image, you better start paying attention to me.
Girl, you better give me that money, oh
If you're trying to look good, then you need to give me your money.
Hey, Dirty
The ladies are calling out to me.
Baby, I got your money
I know you've got the cash; don't worry.
Don't you worry, I said hey
Just relax; I've got it all under control.
Yo, so I glanced at the girl, girl glanced at me
I saw a girl staring at me, and I caught her looking.
I whispered in her ear, "You wanna be with me?"
I whispered a suggestive line in her ear, hoping she would want to hook up.
You wanna look pretty though, in my video
If you look attractive in my music video, it would help my career.
Ol' Dirty on the hat and I let you all know
I'll be wearing my signature hat so everyone will know who I am.
Just dance if you caught up in the Holy Ghost trance
If you feel the music is making you move, then just groove along with it.
If you stop, I'ma put them killer ants in your pants
If you stop dancing, I'll make sure to put something uncomfortable (like ants) in your pants.
I'm the O-D-B as you can see
I am Ol' Dirty Bastard (O.D.B.) as my name suggests.
FBI, don't you be watching me
I'm telling the FBI not to keep tabs on me.
I don't want no problems, 'cause I'll put you down
If you try and cause any issues, I'll handle it myself.
In the ground where you can not be found
If you piss me off, I'll make sure to hide your body where no one will find it.
I'm just Dirt Dog tryna make some money
Like everyone else, I'm just trying to make a living for myself.
So give me my streaks and give me my honey
I want my money, and I want my woman too.
Radios play this all day, everyday
This song is so good that radio stations are playing it nonstop.
Recognize I'ma fool and you love me
You know I can be silly at times, but you still find me amusing.
None of you nuh better look at me funny
Don't even think of looking at me in a weird way.
Nuh, you know my name, now give me my money
Now you know who I am, so hand over the cash.
Sexy, sexy, sexy
Everything I do or say is just dripping with sexiness.
Nigga playing in the club like this all night
I'll be playing this song in the club all night long.
Bitches put your ass out, let me hold it tight
Ladies, show off your curves and let me appreciate them.
You're looking at my wrist saying "It's so nice"
You're admiring my expensive jewelry and commenting on how impressive it looks.
The price, bitch, is diamonds, shining disco light
These diamonds were expensive but worth it, and they're shining and gleaming brightly.
Girl, you better help me solve my problem
I've got some issues, and I need you to help me out.
I'ma get this money and rob them
I need to get more money, so I have to make some questionable decisions.
Lucky Dog when I won the lotto
I was very fortunate when I won a large sum of money in the lottery.
Ran up on my car for carrying Rollo
Someone approached my car, thinking that I was carrying illegal drugs.
But hold on, you can call me Dirty
Just call me Dirty; it's easier.
And then lift up your skirt
Please show me what you've got underneath that skirt.
And you want some of this Dirty
You're interested in having some fun with me.
God made Dirt and Dirt bust your ass
Even though God made me, I'm not afraid to cause trouble.
Stop annoying me, yeah, I play my music loud
Please stop bothering me; I'm just trying to enjoy my music.
It takes the Bastard, Ol' Dirty, to move the crowd
I'm the only one who can really get the party started.
They say he had his dick in his mouth
People can say whatever they want about me.
Eddie Murphy taught me that back in the house
Eddie Murphy taught me how to handle haters.
Now give me my money
I already told you; I need my cash.
Hey, Dirty (I wanna here)
The ladies want to call out my name again.
Hey, Dirty (sexy, sexy, sexy)
They're even calling me sexy; I must be doing something right.
Baby, I got your money (sing it, girls)
They're singing along, reminding me that they've got my money.
Don't you worry, I said hey (yes, sing it right now)
They don't need to worry because I've got everything under control.
Baby, I got your money (if Dirty want his money, I think y'all should give him his money)
They're reminding themselves again to give me my money.
Baby, I got your money (that's how I like it, girl)
This is exactly what I wanted to hear; they've got my cash.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chad Hugo, Russell T Jones, Pharrell Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peterkipchumba3971
RIP ODB. His style can't be replicated
@rawdrizzy
Ol Dirty I watch the documentary when you got locked up the whole team should have had been there for you R.I.P
@nocomment1469
Except his stupid son is pretend to be ODB
@danielbrealey2924
@@rawdrizzy Agreed!!!
@PreDopeTV
He's not pretending to be ODB, he's as authentically close to an ODB as we're going to get. He's doing his own thing as Young Dirty Bastard
@OttomanZC
@@PreDopeTV He's not doing his own thing, he trying to be his father, but he is not real enough
@marccoleman2029
I wish ODB had lived long enough to see his joint being used to sell washing machines
@Screaminmyear
I just saw that damn commercial lol
@kiaamida4105
I just saw that commercial🤬
@trevorgolding9200
I’m glad his estate made some money, but I hate it when they use my favorite old school funky jams to sell lame-ass widgets in ads.