Russell Jones, Rap Artist, 35

[DGH]

.

It was reported from New York, new York, that the rap artist O.D.B.,
who lived a life as wild as his lyrics, collapsed and died inside a
recording studio Saturday, November 13, 2003, his record label said,
at the age of 35.

O.D.B., whose legal name was Russell Jones, had complained of chest
pains before collapsing at the Manhattan studio, according to a
statement from Roc-a-Fella records. The cause of death was not
immediately clear.

O.D.B., also known as Ol' Dirty Bastard or Dirt McGirt, was a founding
member of the hit rap group the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s. With
his offbeat, unorthodox delivery, he segued into a successful solo
career and released several hit singles.

The freewheeling O.D.B. was known for his comic rhymes and stunts, but
he was frequently in trouble with the law, mostly for drug possession.

In February 1998, he crashed the stage at the Grammy Awards and
hijacked a microphone from singer Shawn Colvin as she accepted an
award. Apparently upset over losing the best rap album Grammy to Puff
Daddy, O.D.B. complained that he spent a lot of money for new clothes
because he thought he was going to win.

The rapper later apologized.

In 2001 he was sentenced to two to four years in prison for drug
possession; plus two concurrent years for escaping from a rehab
clinic. He was released in 2003 and immediately signed with
Roc-a-Fella.

O.D.B. would have turned 36 on Monday.

AP