The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

R.I.P. O.D.B 1969-2004

Hip-hop pioneer Russel Jones, aka Ol' Dirty Bastard, died in a Manhattan recording studio Nov. 13 after complaining of chest pains. O.D.B. was 35 years old.

He and his fellow Wu-Tang Clan members were a part of one of the most influential musical groups of the '90s. And O.D.B, who would later called himself Dirt McGirt, Baby Jesus and several other odd names, was the prodigal bada** of the Staten Island faction.

O.D.B was what Keith Richards was to the Rolling Stones in their brown sugar days - the dangerous member who was always in trouble with the law - a loose cannon. But unlike Richards, who seems to defy death, O.D.B.'s passing was sudden and premature.

Born Russel Tyrone Jones in Brooklyn, N.Y., O.D.B. founded the Wu-Tang Clan in 1992 with cousins Rza (Robert Diggs) and Gza (Gary Grice). A year later, the 9-member group released its debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers)." The album received rave reviews, but even when his group wasn't making headlines, O.D.B. was a mainstay in the public eye.

In 1998, the rapper scared the s--- out of Shawn Colvin at the Grammys when he walked on stage during her acceptance speech and demanded the Best Rap Album award be given to the Wu-Tang Clan instead of Puff Daddy (yes, it was Puff Daddy back then).

In the years following the Grammy stunt, he was arrested on separate occasions for making terrorist threats, owning illegal bulletproof armor, possessing crack cocaine and taking part in several domestic disturbances. He was also shot during a robbery attempt at his apartment.

Although the music man made news for what happened out of the studio just as much as he did with the hit songs "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and "Got Your Money," his death is more than just another "what if" story.

In 2003, things were looking up for O.D.B., who was released from jail and joined Rock-A-Fella records. He spent the last year of his life recording his fourth album, taping a reality show and trying to mend ties with his estranged family (he was said to have fathered 13 children from seven women).

Still, the rapper, who would've celebrated his 36th birthday the weekend after his passing, may be best remembered for what could have been. His ordeals with the law, rehab stints and publicized drug addictions impeded what could have been a historic career, but then again, if not for all the trouble, rumors and scandals, he wouldn't have been the O.D.B. He didn't tame like many of his peers over the years, but instead embraced the same life that first festered his lyrics. O.D.B. never shied away from the slurred and sporadic rhymes that often reflected the way he lived.

In a musical landscape where floating toward the middle is not only considered the norm, but is rewarded, O.D.B. stood out from the crowd. He laced his jagged smile with diamonds and gold and exploited himself with the help of the media - the whole time not caring what you thought as long as you ate it up.

He was himself - even if he wasn't an ideal husband, father or son - and for that, he'll be truly missed.

[Macro error: Can't include because the file is larger than 32767 characters.]

Today's News | Sports | Voices - Editorial | Letters
Newsbriefs | pulse - Arts & Entertainment | Calendar | Photo Staff
Apts & Rentals | Photo Personals | Live DE NewsCam | Classified Ads