Today marks a strange milestone in music history: It’s one day after the fourth anniversary of the death of Russell Jones (a.k.a. Ol’ Dirty Bastard or a number of other names) and one day before what would have been his 40th birthday. At this point, ODB may be remembered more for his general nuttiness (i.e. storming the stage at the Grammys) than for his recorded legacy. (The parade of posthumous albums didn’t help.) But in brief glimpses, the man was brilliant, or at least handled brilliantly. Some of his finest moments collected below the cut.
“Got Your Money” (featuring Kelis):
“Brooklyn Zoo”:
“Shimmy Shimmy Ya”:
Mariah Carey, “Fantasy (remix)”:
“Good Morning Heartache” (featuring Lil Mo):
Masta Killa featuring RZA and ODB, “Old Man”:
I don’t know if I’d agree that these are some of his finest moments, but N***a Please is one of my favourite albums and it’s disappointing that there was never a proper follow-up.
Some of the most satisfying on-tour listening the Cookies have ever had involve ODB. Especially in “I Can’t Wait” when he thanks the people listening to his music in submarines and then gives a shout out to himself. Best Shout-Out Ever.
Definitely a shining beacon of weirdness in the rap world; I love both his records.
Bring ODB back to life!