Revisiting ODB

Hehlew tableau,

For this blog post, I would like to revisit the career of a true hip hop pioneer: Ol' Dirty Bastard. Me and my buds got to talking about crazy rap characters, and the ODB naturally was a topic. Many contest whether the ODB was for real or not. Believe me. The ODB did not f&@@#^ around. At times, he was quite horrible. He rode in a limo to collect his welfare check. He made this song with Macy Gray (possibly the worst/funniest cover in the past ten years). He interrupted the 1998 Grammys, confused Shawn Colvin with Sean "P. Diddy/Puffy/Poppa Diddy Pop" Combs, and even butchered ebonics ("I went and bought a outfit today that costed a lotta money today...") all in one fell swoop.

That withstanding, there has never been another rapper like Ol' Dirty Bastard. Surprisingly, its a lot harder than you would think to sound like you have no idea what you're doing. His schizophrenic half rap/half sing style kept fans listening, wondering what wild lyrical potions would come out of the ODB crack lab for rhymes. His unpredictability broke new ground for hip/hop artists. You knew when he came on the speakers or on TV that you would be entertained. He'd take you places that he didn't even know about, because he either really drunk or really high. In a world of auto-tune and ringtone rap, listening to Ol' Dirty Bastard is truly refreshing to the ear. Screw Lil' Wayne, ODB is the original Martian.

Unfortunately, that same unpredictability became his demise, as he died of a drug overdose in November of 2004, two days shy of his 36th birthday. For his best works, check out Enter the Wu Tang with the Wu Tang Clan (best rap album ever. period.) and Return to the 36 Chambers.

So, the next time you have a forty in your hand, pour a little bit out for the Ol' Dirty Bastard. Because Wu Tang is for the children. They teach the children.

Post written by Rob Molster.