Brooklyn Street Renamed After Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Putnam Avenue in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighbourhood has been co-named "ODB Jones Way" in honour of Russell Tyrone Jones, better known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, the late Wu-Tang Clan co-founder. The renaming, marked with an official ceremony attended by his family, friends and city officials, celebrates one of hip-hop's most influential and idiosyncratic figures on the streets that shaped his upbringing.
The new sign was installed at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Putnam Avenue, on the same block where the rapper's grandmother still lives, according to his brother Ramsey Jones. Ol' Dirty Bastard was born in nearby Fort Greene, and the honorary block also features a mural depicting the cover art of his 1995 debut solo album, Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version.
In short
- Brooklyn's Putnam Avenue renamed "ODB Jones Way" for Ol' Dirty Bastard
- Ceremony held near his grandmother's home in Bed-Stuy
- Block also features mural of his debut album cover
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ol' Dirty Bastard was a transformative figure in hip-hop whose artistry profoundly influenced global music, and he remained anchored to Bed-Stuy throughout his life with family still residing in the neighbourhood. This honouring celebrates authentic local heritage and recognises how talent emerging from working-class communities can achieve extraordinary cultural impact. Honouring artists for their creative genius is standard practice, and ODB's singular vision and influence merit public recognition of his connection to the place that shaped him.
The case against
Whilst acknowledging ODB's genuine artistic significance and local roots, naming a public street after someone with a substantial history of arrests, drug addiction and incarceration raises legitimate questions about what character and values we wish to celebrate in shared civic spaces. Street names carry particular weight as formal community honours, and many argue they should recognise figures whose entire lives—not solely artistic output—exemplify the integrity and stability communities aspire to embody.
Explained simply
Ol' Dirty Bastard, born Russell Tyrone Jones, was a co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, an influential hip-hop group that emerged from New York in the 1990s. Known for his distinctive and unconventional style, he became a major figure in the genre before his death.
Jones was born and raised in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and Bed-Stuy neighbourhoods, areas that shaped his identity and his music. His family maintained strong connections to these communities, and he remains an important cultural figure tied to the borough.
Public spaces are sometimes renamed to honour figures with significant cultural impact and deep roots in their communities. This action recognises Jones's influence on hip-hop and the importance of his connection to the place where he grew up.
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