A street corner in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood has been officially renamed ODB Jones Way, honoring the legacy of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late co-founder of Wu-Tang Clan.
The sign now stands at the intersection of Putnam and Franklin Avenues, adjacent to a long-standing mural of the rapper, born Russell Tyrone Jones, taken from the cover of his 1995 solo debut ‘Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’.
The renaming, a collaboration between the Estate of Ol’ Dirty Bastard and NYC council member Chi Ossé, was marked by a ceremony on Sunday, July 26. Family members including his eldest brother Ramsey Jones and mother Cherry Jones attended the unveiling.
“I am very honoured to be here because my grandmother’s house is on this block on Putnam Avenue, right next to where the mural is,” Jones said. “I’m so honoured, my mother’s honoured. Thank you.”
Ossé wrote on Instagram:
“ODB was brilliant yet hilarious. Above all, he stayed unapologetically true to himself. Through Wu-Tang and as a solo artist, he created a sound that redefined what hip-hop could be. His impact is felt here in Bed-Stuy, across New York City, and around the world. We can’t thank the family and estate of Mr. Jones enough.”
Ol’ Dirty Bastard died on November 13, 2004, from an accidental overdose. He was born and raised in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood and maintained close ties to the borough throughout his life.
In 2024, a documentary about Ol’ Dirty Bastard, ‘A Tale of Two Dirtys’, directed by Sam and Jason Pollard, premiered on A&E.
Wu-Tang Clan is currently concluding its extended international farewell tour, The Final Chamber. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this past April, alongside Sade and Joy Division/New Order.
Wu-Tang co-founder and executive producer Oliver “Power” Grant passed away this February at the age of 52.
