ODB, would have been 36 years old today (November 15)…the cause of his death is not clear. But possible complications caused by drugs may have played a part according to HHDX sources.

In 2001 ODB completed a jail sentence for drug possession. A part of his sentence was due to the fact that Ol’ Dirty had violated his parole and escaped from a New York addiction rehabilitation clinic. He was also ordered to serve in a mental institution first, due to a suicide attempt.

He was released in 2003, after which he did a show with VH1 called “ODB on Parole”. Throughout his adult life ODB had run-ins with the law, the court system and plenty of “babys-mamma drama” (according to records he had 13 children).

He had been also arrested for driving with a suspended license and in a domestic violence complaint from his then girlfriend, Icelene Jones, who is now his widow. In a statement she said, “We’re suffering. It was a shock ‘cause he had beat all his problems with drugs and the law and was really changing. He always defeated everything… we didn’t think something like this would happen to him. Every time he was trouble he always came out of it.”

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ODB had been was cleared by a NY grand jury of charges alleging that he tried to shoot a NY police officer after a shoot out in Brooklyn. In Los Angeles, he was arrested for making death threats to a police officer and a club security guard. In Berlin in 1998 he was arrested for being nude in the lobby of the Four Season’s Hotel. Also in 1998, he survived a home invasion where he was shot twice.

Members of the Wu-Tang are devastated by the loss of ODB and his new label Roc-a-fella CEO Damon Dash released this statement;

“The world has lost a great talent, but we mourn the loss of our friend. Russell Jone inspired all of us with his spirit, wit and tremendous heart. ODB will be missed dearly, and our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to his wonderful family.”

HHDX will continue to update you on this developing story.