Days after the announcement of a digital performance of Ol’ Dirty Bastard at this year’s Rock the Bells Festival, Dirty’s wife, Icelene Jones has announced her disappointment.
Jones, the administrator of the estate of ODB says she is the only person that can approve the use of her late husband’s likeness, according to a press release.
“I am disappointed that Rock the Bells would not contact me directly about the use of my husband’s image,” Icelene Jones said in her statement. “I am looking forward to talking to Wu-Tang about this matter and coming up with a positive solution in order to bring my husband to the stage once again.”
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Jones also added that her son, who has performed at Rock the Bells events in the past, also wants to be a part of the festival.
“My son, Young Dirty Bastard, [also known as] Boy Jones has always performed at Rock the Bells and looks forward to working with his Uncle RZA every year.”
The estate has issued a cease and desist order against Rock the Bells organizers. The estate also claims to have sole control of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s lyrics, performances and likeness.
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The announcement of the digital performances was made earlier this week. At the press conference, the head of Guerilla Union, Chang Weisberg said he reached out to various people before making the announcement. He was also accompanied by Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s mother, Cherry Jones, sitting to his left. However, Icelene Jones did not come up in the press conference or post-interview.
“I keep in touch with Cherry all the time,” Chang exclusively explained to HipHopDX soon after the announcement was made. “And she’s got a legacy that she’s trying to keep together for her grand kids and her relatives. So, whatever it is that we can do to help Cherry in her mission, we’re gonna do. Whatever it is that Tomica [Wright] wants to do, we want to be there to support her. She’s Eazy-E’s wife. She’s the estate. She’s N.W.A. and she’s Ruthless Records, man! Anytime someone comes to me that I have that much respect for, you can come to me and I’ll drop everything I’m doing to listen. She dropped everything she was doing to listen to me and I was inspired by her.”
He also talked about what it would take to not do the show, adding that he’ll make sure Guerrilla Union doesn’t “let anybody down.”
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“If Tomica [Wright], Bone [Thugs-N-Harmony], RZA and Cherry [Jones] don’t approve of what we’re doing, I’ll be the first one to tell everybody, ‘I’m sorry. We didn’t do it.’ I can’t do this. ‘If you’re disappointed, let’s not do it.’ But at the same time, knowing who I am and the team of people around me, there’s no fuckin’ way we’re gonna let anybody down. It’s that simple. That’s my vision. Until we get there, my head’s down in the ground. I’m not even gonna look up for air. I’m gonna make sure we change music history those nights.”
Icelene Jones and Cherry Jones have been at odds for years. According to reports from 2004, the two were feuding about the estate of Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Back then, Icelene Jones was prepared for lawsuits because the late rapper reportedly did not leave a written will. Dating back to 2008, Cherry Jones also criticized Icelene Jones’ management of the estate. In 2010, Cherry Jones’ partner and Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s former manager said that Icelene “sold out for peanuts.” No official word has been made from Cherry Jones about the Rock the Bells cease & desist order but HipHopDX will keep you updated as more details emerge between all parties involved.
