Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Released ‘Return Of The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ 29 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard released his debut solo LP, Return of the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. Released by Elektra Records, Return of the 36 Chambers was only the second solo LP by any Wu-Tang member. Largely produced by fellow Wu-Tang emcee RZA, the album had a mostly positive commercial reception.

Peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart, Return of the 36 Chambers sold 81,000 albums in its first week and was certified gold later that year. The album was also nominated for “Best Rap Album” at the 1996 Grammy Awards.

Coming off such a successful group debut, there were few critics could say to discount the record. The Source, Rolling Stone, and Allmusic have all given the project four out of five stars. In 1998, The Source selected the album to be a part of its 100 Best Rap Albums list.

Following Return of the 36 chambers: The Dirty Version, ODB went on to release one more solo album, Nigga Please, before his untimely demise in 2004. Ol’ Dirty will forever be remembered as one of the most talented and unique emcees to ever grace the mic.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Released ‘Return Of The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ 29 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Released ‘Return Of The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Wu-Tang Clan’s ODB Passed Away 17 Years Ago

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On this date in 2004, Russell Jones, who is better known to the world as Ason Unique aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard, was found unresponsive in an NYC recording studio and died moments later; merely two days before his 36th birthday.

According to the medical examiner, Dirty died from an apparent drug overdose, a fatal mixture of cocaine and the prescription drug Tramadol, a synthetic opiate that is usually prescribed to treat severe pain. His death is being ruled an accident.

ODB has had a well-documented history of drug abuse, but in 2003, following his release from prison after serving a two-year sentence on drug and other related charges, he had publicly professed to be drug-free.

On the day of his passing, ODB complained of chest pains while working at the old Wu-Tang Clan Studios on West 34th Street in New York, a day after missing a Wu-Tang Clan reunion show in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey.

A short time later, he died with his young son, Barsun Jones, present in the studio.

With such a monumental career which includes three solo albums and countless Wu projects, ODB definitely made his mark on the rap game as well as the world.

Salute the God and the rest of the WTC!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Wu-Tang Clan’s ODB Passed Away 17 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Wu-Tang Clan’s ODB Passed Away 17 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Ol’ Dirty Bastard! Top Five Most Memorable Ol’ Dirty Bastard Moments

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On this day Hip-Hop history we celebrate the birth of one of the culture’s brightest stars, the late, great Russell Jones, affectionately known to the Hip-Hop world as Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

To Hip Hop, Dirt Dog was more than a rapper. His personality and ostentatious demeanor were representatives of the soul of Hip-Hop. He did not let the fame and status take away from his character. Those who knew him said that he remained true to himself throughout his career making him quite the public figure. According to some, Ol’ Dirty was the type to help an old woman cross the street then, once he got to the other side, run a bystander for his jewels. He was a noble man with a righteous cause for sinning. His legacy is one that will not fade anytime soon.

In honor of his 50th-degree day, we have put together a top-five list of some of Big Baby Jesus’ most outrageous and memorable moments and these aren’t the only ones to chose from.

Performing as a Fugitive of Justice

In the fall of 2000, ODB was facing two charges for drug possession and had two separate warrants out for his arrest. This didn’t case The Specialist to lose any sleep. He, in fact, took the stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York performing exactly one verse before having to flee the scene. He even gave his fans a warning before gracing the mic saying, “I can’t stay on the stage too long tonight—the cops is after me.”

Taking a Limo to Pick Up Food Stamps

Who wouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to pick up a government assistance check-in style, not ODB. In an MTV News interview, OL’ Dirty takes MTV and the viewers at home on a unique ride down to the welfare office in a fully-loaded stretch limo. If that wasn’t good enough, ODB’s response when asked why he is so blatantly making a mockery of the welfare system he responds, “[They] owe me 40 acres and a mule anyway.” Touche, Dirt Dog, touche.

Interrupting a Grammy Acceptance Speech

In 1998, way before Kanye embarrassed Taylor Swift on the VMA stage, ODB took to the stage to voice his opinion on Wu-Tang losing Best Rap Album to Puff Daddy & The Family’s No Way Out. Unfortunately for some, OBD didn’t make it on stage until Shawn Colvin was on stage making his acceptance speech for winning Song of the Year, much after the after Diddy was awarded his Grammy. In a few short moments, ODB expressed his frustration by saying,

“I went and bought me an outfit today that costed me a lot of money today because I figured Wu-Tang was going to win. I don’t know how y’all see it, but when to comes it to the children, Wu-Tang is for the children. We teach the children. Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best. I want you to know that this is ODB, and I love you all.”

Giving an Interview for the Children with No Shoes on Outside

In one of his best interviews, ODB goes on a rant about being only for the children on the streets of Brooklyn, while barefoot. At first glance, it may seem strange, but if you think about it, the prophets of old were more than likely shoe-less. Trying to picture Jesus speaking to his disciples in a pair of crisp white Air Force Ones just isn’t right, maybe Big Baby was on to something.

Made video with Mariah Carey “Fantasy”

Just when you thought that there was only a “dirty version” to ODB, he opened up his soft side and collaborated with legendary songbird Mariah Carey for her “Fantasy” remix. Carey ended up being one of Dirty’s closest confidants, writing him letters of support during his two-year incarceration in upstate New York.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday Ol’ Dirty Bastard! Top Five Most Memorable Ol’ Dirty Bastard Moments first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday Ol’ Dirty Bastard! Top Five Most Memorable Ol’ Dirty Bastard Moments appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Drops His Sophomore ‘N***a Please’ LP 24 Years Ago

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On this day in 1999, the late great Ol’ Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan released his second LP Ni**a Please on the Elektra label. Before it’s release, ODB was quoted saying that the then-untitled album had two contenders for its name; God Made and Dirt Don’t Hurt and The Black Man Is God, White Man Is The Devil. Ni**a Please was decided on after the original two were considered too outrageous.

Known for his controversial nature, ODB’s idea of promoting this project was to get his name in the headlines as much as possible, whether it be positive or negative. In the time in between his debut and sophomore release ODB was all over entertainment news and tabloids. His antics included a bail money fundraiser, surviving a shootout with police, interrupting the 1998 Grammy Awards, and even popping up at the welfare office in Brooklyn in a limousine to pick up his food stamps.

Obviously, all press is good press because the album debut on the Billboard 200 at #10 and sold 93,000 copies in the first week. The album went on to be certified gold by the RIAA in the year of its release.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Drops His Sophomore ‘N***a Please’ LP 24 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Drops His Sophomore ‘N***a Please’ LP 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Steve-O Reflects On Raekwon Confronting Him Over “Disrespectful” ODB Tribute

Steve-O recently reflected on the time Raekwon confronted him over his “disrespectful” tribute to the late Wu-Tang Clan rapper, Ol’ Dirty Bastard. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Tuesday, the Jackass star recalled the first time he watched ODB perform in New York City and took note of his on-stage antics.

“[ODB] was the king of not giving a fuck, way before Kanye did it,” the comedian said. He recalled ODB “on stage with his pants down, dick out, smoking a huge blunt of PCP… I just thought, ‘That is my hero.’”

Read More: Steve-O Says He’ll “Never Give Up On” Bam Margera, Amid Alcholism Struggles

Steve-O Holds Up His Memoir

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 07: Steve-O attends the Blu-ray and DVD release of Paramount Home Entertainment’s “Jackass 3” at the Paramount Studios on March 7, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Years later, Steve-O convinced Method Man to let him make an appearance during Wu-Tang Clan’s headlining performance at Rock The Bells festival in 2006. He explained that his plan was to “get butt dirty-ass naked and flip my balls back” before doing a “perfect back flip and land with a standing mangina.” It would be in honor of the late ODB. Method Man apparently advised against doing so, but Steve-O said, “Dirty would love that!”

“All of a sudden, Raekwon stops the show completely,” Steve-O recalled. “He grabs me by my neck and drags me to the front of the stage.” From there, Steve shares never-before-seen footage from the incident. Raekwon says: “I didn’t appreciate that, and I’ma tell you right now in front of all these people, you gonna apologize or I’ma knock you out in front of all these people. ‘I’m not playing, straight up, that was disrespectful. I’m ready to fuck you up, so you better apologize right now. And I’m going to jail, straight up.’”

“I’ve never considered myself a tough guy, but even I was surprised by what a bitch I was in that moment,” Steve-O then joked. “After that, I was allowed to go. And security told us that I really should go because I was definitely not safe.”

Steve-O Reflects On The Incident

Steve-O added that he tried to make things right with the group to no avail. He explained: “I’ve reached out to Raekwon to try to make it right with him as well, but Raekwon is not interested in talking to me about it. If I ever get the chance to meet Raekwon, I hope that we can be cool. But if he makes me apologize again, I absolutely will, very quickly.”

[Via]

The post Steve-O Reflects On Raekwon Confronting Him Over “Disrespectful” ODB Tribute appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today In Hip Hop History: ODB Released His Debut Solo Single “Brooklyn Zoo” 28 Years Ago

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On this date in 1995, Russell Jones aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard dropped the premier single from his debut album Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version on Elektra Records. Produced by in-house Wu producer True Master, this track was Dirty’s second highest-charting single, only to be topped by “Got Your Money” from his N***a Please album.

With the name of the song originating from his crew, who were aptly called Brooklyn Zu, there was a well-known Brooklyn gang, who at the time, used the name which prompted ODB to get shot in the Brevoort Housing Projects in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

As one of the borrough’s most memorable anthems, Brooklyn will forever remember ODB as a “native son” that definitely repped BK to the fullest.

#RIPODB

The post Today In Hip Hop History: ODB Released His Debut Solo Single “Brooklyn Zoo” 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

SZA’s ‘S.O.S.’ Tracklist Features Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, And Ol’ Dirty Bastard

It’s all happening, y’all: SZA’s sophomore album S.O.S. is right around the corner. The “Broken Clocks” singer revealed the release date during her Saturday Night Live performance this past weekend and S.O.S. is dropping this Friday, December 9th. It’s been a long-time coming since the brilliant Ctrl established SZA as a bona fide force back in 2017 and SZA has had her share of delays for the new album in the years since. Now that we’re finally, officially on the home stretch, SZA has now shared the S.O.S. tracklist and it has its share of surprises (Phoebe Bridgers!) and familiar faces.

For starters, both the previously released first single, “Shirt” and the SNL-debuted “Blind” are among the album’s 23 tracks. Yes, that’s right, 23 tracks! Travis Scott is set to appear on another collaboration with SZA on a track called “Open Arms.” There’s a posthumous appearance from Ol’ Dirty Bastard on the album-closing “Forgiveness,” Don Toliver will appear on “Used,” and then perhaps the most unexpected featured guest, Phoebe Bridgers, is on the album’s 12th track, “Ghost In The Machine.”

SZA also reached out to fans to ask which of two back cover designs they liked. The more minimal layout of the tracklist which better showcases a photo of SZA won out.

Check out the full tracklist for S.O.S. below.

1. “S.O.S.”
2. “Kill Bill”
3. “Seek & Destroy”
4. “Low”
5. “Love Language”
6. “Blind”
7. “Used” Feat. Don Toliver
8. “Snooze”
9. “Notice Me”
10. “Gone Girl”
11. “Smoking On My Ex”
12. “Ghost In The Machine” Feat. Phoebe Bridgers
13. “F2F”
14. “Nobody Gets Me”
15. “Conceited”
16. “Special”
17. “Too Late”
18. “Far”
19. “Shirt”
20. “Open Arms” Feat. Travis Scott
21. “I Hate U”
22. “Good Days”
23. “Forgiveless” Feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard

S.O.S. is out 12/9 via Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records. You can pre-save it here.