Wu-Tang is still for the children!!!

I was listening to Hot 97 this afternoon and I heard one my favorite DJ's Mr. Cee say it was ODB's birthday. Unfortunately Unique Ason, a.k.a. Big Baby Jesus, a.k.a. Dirt McGirt a.k.a. Osirus a.k.a. Old Dirty Bastard is gone but not forgotten. A lot of thoughts came up and I figured I'd write about it. You got to give props to this man. He and the rest of the crew Wu-Tang Clan are pivotal members in the evolvement of Hip-Hop. (Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to #$% with!!). They started as a group on Loud Records with solo deals for each member on different labels. That’s gangsta. They have sold many many, many millions collectively and in solo ventures. Check the discography

Each had their own personality but none like Ol' Dirty. Who else can take MTV with him to collect his food stamps? Who else can escape from rehab to go to perform at the Hammerstein Ballroom? Who else can interrupt the Grammy’s to explain, "Puffy is good but Wu-Tang is for the children"? Who else can re-invent himself so many times and the crowd just loved him each time? He was known for a lot of things, including the father of over eleven children. But many will remember him as an artist with heart. Whether he was saving a child from a car accident of just putting that same passion in a verse.

Here are my favorites “Brooklyn Zoo”, “Shimmy Shimmy Yam”, “Fantasy (remix)” featuring Mariah, “Gimme my Money”, “Woo Ha (remix) featuring Busta Rhymes and not to forget “Protect your neck”, “Shame On A” “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'” on the Wu-tang Clan albums. Last but not least a classic lost gem “Show and Prove” featuring ODB, Big Daddy Kane, Shyhiem, and Jay-Z. Sometimes his rhymes made no sense but he was funny, serious, spontaneous, live and wild. My fiance met him in Sony Studios sprawled on the floor writing rhymes like a child with his first coloring book.

I remember and interview from Pras of the Fugees, during the making of “Ghetto Superstar” ODB flew to Florida to enter the wrong studio on the wrong date to record for the upcoming then Wu-Tang Clan album. He jumped on the record and the rest was history. (Sidebar: that was Pras’ biggest record ever as a solo artist.)

I met Dirty at GreekFest in NY in the 90's. He was so out of control. We all stood there like WTF. But he had everyone's attention wheter intentionanl or unintentional.

He was a diamond in the rough. No wonder Dame signed him to Roc-a-fella Records. He was never squeaky clean but regardless Dirty, me and many countless others will miss you. If you have not already cop the Enter The Wu-Tang 36 Chambers and Return To The 36 Chambers. You NEED this in your life otherwise you fakin'.

RIP. Dirty.

I also want to say Big up (no Pun intended. Dang I did it again.) to Big Punisher protégé of Fat Joe and member of the Terror Squad. Last week was his birthday too. He was first Latino solo hip-hop artist to go platinum. I still think that Fat Joe must've found Pun’s rhyme book. He too was on the now defunct Loud Records. He died over two years ago due to complications related to his weight. His first album Capital Punishment is classic. You NEED that too!!