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O.D.B. R.I.P

O.D.B. or to use his full monicker, Ol' Dirty Bastard, died yesterday in a recording studio. He was aged 35.

2 days away from his 36th birthday, O.D.B. (real name Russell Jones) was finishing off his comeback album and apparently complained of chest pains before collapsing in the studio. He was dead by the time the ambulance arrived. At this time the exact cause of death is unknown.

ODB was one of the most colourful members of the rap community and his increasingly 'erratic' (or just damn funny!) behaviour made numerous headlines over the years. These included taking his kids to a welfare office to claim food stamps in front of MTV News, dodging U.S. police authorities for a month... while still performing on-tour with the Wu Tang Clan (who he was a founding member of) and my own personal favourite, gate crashing the 1998 Grammy Awards during a presentation to Shawn Colvin after losing the 'Best Rapper award to Puff Daddy, complaining that he had spent a lot of money on new clothes so he would look good when they announced he had won.

A leader in the field, our thoughts and condolences go out to his friends and relatives.

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  Shame.

  dmq123 | 14 Nov '04, 15:13 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  Yeah, one of the colourful guys.

  Jane-O | 14 Nov '04, 15:27 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  Wow

  jackl | 14 Nov '04, 15:43 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  RIP a sad loss. One of the most interesting people in rap.
  
  Now we have Nelly, Oh great.

  fullerov | 14 Nov '04, 16:26 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  This has really upset me. Fuck rap, Big Baby Jesus was one of the greatest in any genre of music.
  
  Peace

  Placid_Casual | 14 Nov '04, 17:01 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  My favourite story was the one when he was on the run from the police and managed to get on stage with the Wu Tang Clan, perform, get off and escape. Only to get caught outside a fast food restaurant because he stopped to sign autographs.

  Damian | 14 Nov '04, 17:12 | Reply | X

• Re: O.D.B. R.I.P

  That pesky rapper. The reports are sketchy, so I wonder what is was. 35 year olds don't normally just keel over, especially if they've got a jail hardened body.

  keiths_tele @Damian | 14 Nov '04, 18:05 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  *potentially libelous comment* - Jail hardened no, Drug-addled Yes. 'Tis a shame - he always was good for a story - whether he didn't get the system, or he just got his kicks out of screwing with it - he was a quasi-leg-end

  mooseman | 14 Nov '04, 18:41 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  ROP, legend.

  scarfo | 14 Nov '04, 19:02 | Reply | X

• Re: O.D.B. R.I.P

  Of course, I meant RIP

  scarfo @scarfo | 14 Nov '04, 19:06 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  Drugs probably. Didnt know much about him, but sounds like a bit of a legend.

  CaviarAndCigarets | 14 Nov '04, 19:31 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  this is terrible

  zen-arcade | 14 Nov '04, 21:43 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  ffffffffffffucking hell.
  
  RIP.
  
  x
  gen

  -gen- | 14 Nov '04, 22:32 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  Shit, i thought the headline may have just been to do with him giving up his monker or retiring from music or something, i wasn't expecting that.
  That is indeed terrible. He made some great records too. RIP.

  thommo | 15 Nov '04, 00:22 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  legend. :( the only guy in the world who would take a limo to pick up a welfare cheque...

  Zoo1 | 15 Nov '04, 10:10 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  I'm not going to pretend i know who O.D.B was, as i'm not a big rap fan. But the death of anyone so young whose done so much for his genre of music, and had so much more to do is always a tragedy.
  
  R.I.P Russell Jones
  

  pigeon | 15 Nov '04, 12:28 | Reply | X

• O.D.B. R.I.P

  Wow. This is a shock. I was never a fan, but still...
  
  R.I.P.

  Effloresce_Sean | 15 Nov '04, 16:37 | Reply | X

• Re: O.D.B. R.I.P

  Fathering 13 kids mustnt have been good for his hear either.

  queen_bee @CaviarAndCigarets | 15 Nov '04, 19:42 | Reply | X