NY City honours Ol’ Dirty Bastard with his own day
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The New York City Council has memorialized legendary Russell Tyrone Jones otherwise known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard for his contributions to Hip Hop in a special way.
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This makes the rapper, the latest Wu-Tang Clan member to be honored in the Big Apple, with Ghostface Killah receiving his own day in the city last May.
ODB, an American rapper who lost his life due to an accidental drug overdose on November 13, 2004 (two days before his 36th birthday) at the age of 35, was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan, a rap group primarily from Staten Island, New York City, which rose to mainstream prominence with its 1993 debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).”
Before his death, the Grammy-nominated rhymer was responsible for hits like “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” “Brooklyn Zoo” and the Kelis-assisted “Got Your Money,” as well as the platinum-selling album Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version.
However, prior to his memorialization, the NY council announced plans to designate November 15 as Ol’ Dirty Bastard Day “in honor of his legacy as co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan and a legendary MC,” per Gothamist.
Val9ja News learns that November 15 coincides with the late rapper’s birthday, and falls just two days after the anniversary of his tragic death. He would’ve turned 55 this year.
The announcement was made by NYC Mayor Eric Adams at the grand opening of the rapper’s Killah Koffee shop in West Brighton, Staten Island, which was attended by various other community members and elected officials.
“I love each and every one of y’all for coming. God bless,” Ghost said, while also saying he was “grateful and humbled” by the gesture.
The entire Wu-Tang Clan were also celebrated with their own day in NYC earlier this month, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
To mark the occasion, the Empire State Building was lit up in the Wu’s colors of yellow and black.
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