Talking about life the way he saw it was a big part of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s appeal. The hip-hop legend, born Russell Jones, is the subject of an A&E documentary, “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtysl,” a two-hour film airs on August 25 at 9 p.m.
Ol’ Dirty Bastard, or ODB, was a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan. Other hip-hop performers and record producers respected him because he could quickly heighten a track or make a video even more special and entertaining.
The documentary features comments from ODB’s closest friends and family, including Mariah Carey, Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, ODB’s wife Icelene Jones, son Bar-Sun Jones, his parents, and recording industry executives. It also includes loads of video footage filmed primarily by ODB’s wife.
Icelene Jones’ videos are grainy and jumpy, which makes OBD’s decline even more troubling.
What gives the film value is ODB’s approach to his music. His rap messages may have felt outlandish to some, but he attracted an audience that embraced his truth-telling style. For instance, his collaboration with Carey on the remix of her hit “Fantasy” became an even bigger hit.
When the money started coming in from albums with Wu-Tang and an advance from his first solo album, he went overboard with the fame. The documentary looks at ODB’s life as he acquires success — overspending, infidelity, drug abuse, petty theft, eventually landing in prison.
He died two days before his 36th birthday after collapsing on the floor of the recording studio of his cousin RZA, a fellow Wu-Tang founder.
“Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” is packed with a lot of ODB’s life and problems. The deep love from his family and colleagues could save him. It appears people in the recording industry were focused more on the revenues from his talent.
Sam Pollard directed the film. He has also directed “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes,” “Citizen Ashe,” and “Mr. Soul”
View a trailer for the film, airing on Aug. 25, here: youtu.be.