NEW YORK - The rap artist O.D.B., who lived a life as wild as his lyrics, collapsed and died inside a recording studio Saturday, his record label said. He was 35.

O.D.B. had complained of chest pains before collapsing at the Manhattan studio, according to a statement from Roc-a-Fella records.

O.D.B., also known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, Dirt McGirt or his legal name of Russell Jones, was a founding member of the hit rap group the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s. With his offbeat, unorthodox delivery, he segued into a successful solo career and released several hit singles.

But he was frequently in trouble with the law, mostly for drug possession.

In February 1998, he crashed the stage at the Grammy Awards and hijacked a microphone from singer Shawn Colvin (news) as she accepted an award, apparently upset over losing the best rap album Grammy to Puff Daddy. He complained that he spent a lot of money for new clothes because he thought he was going to win. The rapper later apologized. Later in 1998, he was wounded in a shooting during a robbery in his apartment.

In 2001 he was sentenced to two to four years in prison for drug possession; plus two concurrent years for escaping from a rehab clinic. He was released in 2003 and immediately signed with Roc-a-Fella.

O.D.B. would have turned 36 on Monday.

This is saddest person who died this year, a true genius who was underappreciated by fans of both music and culture. If it wasnt for him, my white ass wouldnt listen to hip hop. Nigga please is one of my all time favorite albums and it got me through my toughest year at college. All i can say is im more sad about ODB dying than Tupac and Biggie combined..He deserves the State funeral that that Asshole Republican Regan got. Everyone pour a 40 for Big Baby Jesus and Dirt McGirt.....
RIP ODB
-Ian

What studio did this happen in?

even as a 12 year old i thought "shimmy shimmy ya" was the greatest piece of music of all time, when i first heard it.

Having a discussion last night regarding ODB, the comment was made that in 16 years when one of his many offspring pick up a mic, Hip-Hop as we know it will come to a screeching halt. So, we must be patient!

What's really sad is that Bill Clinton is a big hero of mine or the best president during my life. ODB is the runner up to my all-time favorite person of this era. I am saddened by this loss. ODB was a true American as long as we view America as a greedy piece of shit country where the citizens only think of themselves. Great rapper, though. Mad props for showing how easy it is to screw our unemployment service over. Wait. It's because of people like him that our country sucks. I'm glad that he is dead.

did anyone see him on MTV picking up his welfare check in a limo? my friend mark had a t-shirt of his welfare card...

fare thee well...

'tis the year for all the good people to die... any bets on who's next?

Jon wrote:'tis the year for all the good people to die... any bets on who's next?

Dick Cheney?

Cranius wrote:

Jon wrote:'tis the year for all the good people to die... any bets on who's next?

Dick Cheney?

The man said good people.