Died On This Date (November 13, 2004) Ol’ Dirty Bastard / Wu-Tang Clan
themusicsover Russell “Ol’ Dirty Bastard” Jones
November 5, 1968 – November 13, 2004
Russell Jones was an American rapper who went by the stage name Ol’ Dirty Bastard (often shortened to ODB). He was one of the founding members of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. 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 microphone technique (critic Steve Huey writes of Jones’ “outrageously profane, free-associative rhymes” delivered “in a distinctive half-rapped, half-sung style”), Jones’ 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 congestive heart failure as a result of an accidental drug overdose only two days before his 36th birthday.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own
Born Andre Hicks, Mac Dre was a San Francisco Bay area rapper who built a following during the ’90s due to his songs that chronicled life on the tough streets around him. Throughout his career, he had several hits, including “Too Hard For This Fuckin’ Radio” and “California Livin.” He also worked with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Too Short and Warren G. Hicks started his own label in 2000, calling it Thizz Entertainment, where he was instrumental in the development of the hyphy sub-genre of rap. Andre Hicks was 34 when he was gunned down by the occupants of another vehicle while he riding in a van with a friend. Though the case has never been solved, a Kansas City rapper by the name of Anthony “Fat Tone” Watkins was killed the following year in what is believed by some to be in retaliation for the murder of Hicks.
Tupac Shakur was a hip hop artist whose professional career basically began as a roadie and backup dancer for Digital Underground in the late ’80s, and ended as one of the biggest selling artists of all time. He has sold upwards of 75 million albums before and since his untimely death. Shakur’s albums generally portrayed a life growing up with violence, racism and the hardships some face growing up in the inner city. For the most part, his songs professed social and racial equality. Shakur was no stranger to the judicial system. In 1995, he was convicted for sexual assault, which many believe never happened, and was sentenced to prison. While serving his time, his album Me Against The World was released. He became the only artist in history to have a #1 album while incarcerated. On September 7, 1996, was involved in an altercation following a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas. Later that evening while riding in a car driven by Suge Knight, a car pulled up beside Knight’s vehicle. At least one occupant fired around a dozen shots into the car, hitting Shakur four times. The 25 year-old Tupac Shakur died from injuries sustained during the shooting six days later. His murder has never been solved.