A Brooklyn block now bears the name of one of hip-hop's most singular figures. On Sunday, July 26, friends, family, and fans gathered on Putnam Avenue in Bed-Stuy to watch a new green street sign go up: ODB Jones Way.
According to Billboard, the crowd erupted in cheers as ODB's family pulled a string to unveil the marker. His 1995 solo classic "Brooklyn Zoo" blasted from speakers. Family members were handed their own ceremonial copies of the sign.
The location carries personal weight. ODB's eldest brother, Ramsey Jones, spoke at the event. "I am very honored to be here because my grandmother's house is on this block on Putnam Avenue, right next to where the mural is," he said, referencing a nearby painting that recreates the cover of ODB's 1995 debut album, Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. That cover featured a replica of a New York City public assistance ID card. Jones attended with his and ODB's mother, Cherry Jones. "I'm so honored, my mother's honored. Thank you," he added.
Fans marked the occasion in various ways. New York photographer Howard Weiss captured video from the event showing people pouring out liquor from 40 oz. bottles, showing off Wu-Tang merchandise, arriving in lowriders, and buying commemorative merch.
Wu-Tang Clan paid tribute on Instagram over the weekend with a throwback photo of ODB standing under the original sign at the corner of Putnam and Franklin avenues. "Ol' Dirty Bastard. Unique Ason. Big Baby Jesus. Call him whatever you want — Bed-Stuy is calling it ODB Jones Way," the post read. "We heard you. We'll keep it raw. This Saturday, join @cmchiosse, the Jones family, and the community for the sign unveiling with music by J.PERIOD. Bring everybody."
Ol' Dirty Bastard, born Russell Tyrone Jones, died from an accidental overdose at a Manhattan recording studio on November 13, 2004, just days before his 36th birthday. He remains one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan and one of the most distinct voices in the history of hip-hop.
