Russell tyrone jones biography

Biography of Ol' Dirty Bastard

Ol' Dirty Bastard, also known as Russell Tyrone Jones, was an American rapper. Born in Brooklyn, New York City in 1968, he spent much of his childhood with his cousins Robert Diggs and Gary Grice, who shared his love for rap music and Chinese kung fu movies. This marked the beginning of the iconic rap group of the 90s, the Wu-Tang Clan.

In 1993, they released their first album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", in which Jones played a minor role. However, in 1995, he decided to pursue a solo career with the help of his brother and fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Robert Diggs, who had already successfully promoted Method Man. On March 28, 1995, Jones released his solo album, "Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version", which included beloved songs sung in his unique style. The album quickly achieved platinum status.

That same year, Jones, who preferred to be called "Ol' Dirty Bastard," recorded a remix of Mariah Carey's song "Fantasy". By this time, he already had 13 children, but his child support payments were irregular, resulting in legal troubles. In 1997, the Wu-Tang Clan released their second and most famous album, "Wu-Tang Forever," where Jones only contributed to two songs, neither of which gained significant popularity among listeners.

In February 1998, Jones witnessed a car accident near his studio in Brooklyn, where a four-year-old girl was injured. He and his friend helped rescue the child from the burning car, and he later helped pay for her medical treatment. At the Grammy Awards ceremony, Ol' Dirty Bastard made a statement that the Wu-Tang Clan deserved the "Best Rap Album" award, which went to Puff Daddy.

In 1999, in between two prison sentences for drug possession and usage, including cocaine, Jones found time to record his second solo album, "Nigga Please". The song "Got Your Money" from this album gained significant popularity in the United States and spent several weeks at the top of the charts.

In 2003, immediately after his release from prison, Jones's life took a radical turn. Damon Dash and Mariah Carey offered him a contract with Roc-A-Fella Records to "start a new life". The contract required him to undergo forced rehabilitation for drug addiction, followed by house arrest. Jones accepted the terms and even recorded a new album, planned for release in mid-2004. However, he tragically passed away before the album's release. Russell Tyrone Jones died on November 13, 2003, while recording in the Wu-Tang Clan's home studio, just two days before his 36th birthday. The official cause of death was a drug overdose.

In November 2009, a documentary film titled "Dirty: The Official ODB Biography" was released, detailing the life and career of this rap music legend of the 90s.