Home Read Classic Album Review: Ol’ Dirty Bastard | The Trials and Tribulations of...

Classic Album Review: Ol’ Dirty Bastard | The Trials and Tribulations of Russell Jones

This haphazardly cobbled-together affair does the Wu-Tang rapper no favours.

This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):

 


Well, at least the title is honest.

Wu-Tang Clan member Russell (ODB) Jones — currently serving hard time on various drug and weapons charges — hasn’t had an easy time of it lately. And this disappointing, shallow effort isn’t going to help. Reportedly recorded while Jones was a fugitive from a rehab centre in late 2000, it’s a haphazard, slapdash affair that seems cobbled together mainly to exploit ODB’s notoriety for a fast buck. The mush-mouthed Jones barely appears on some tracks, and when he does, his crude, unfunny rhymes are even more incomprehensible than usual. To compensate, the producers drafted a legion of guest stars including Mack 10, Too Short and Insane Clown Posse, and padded the CD out with tapes of ODB’s pointless ramblings. One segment even captures Jones on the toilet — which is exactly where this CD belongs. And where Jones’ career is headed unless he gets it together.

 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_me8-U91CqiIvTVnD59Xys7lgxmeMM77Zk