Hundreds of fans, family members, elected officials and community members gathered in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Saturday as Brooklyn officially co-named the intersection of Putnam and Franklin Avenues "ODB Jones Way," honoring the legacy of Ol' Dirty Bastard in the borough where he was born.
The ceremony began on Claver Place, near Jefferson Avenue before concluding at the intersection of Franklin and Putnam Avenues, where the new street sign was officially unveiled. Born in the Fort Greene on Nov. 15, 1968, Russell Tyrone Jones, known professionally as Ol' Dirty Bastard or ODB, emerged as one of the most original and unpredictable voices in Hip Hop. The borough’s energy and resilience shaped the artist who consistently challenged expectations and redefined what it meant to be authentic.
While Wu-Tang Clan is synonymous with Staten Island, one of its most authentic voices belonged to Brooklyn. ODB earned his place in Hip Hop history with classics like Shimmy Shinmy Ya, Protect Ya Neck and the classic Brooklyn Zoo.
As a youth, ODB and his cousins Robert Diggs and Gary Grace (better known to the world as RZA and GZA) bonded over their love for martial arts films and Hip Hop. They later formed the group “Force of the Imperial Master,” which later evolving into “All in Together Now.” They eventually expanded in size by adding six rappers to their group to form the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, named after the martial arts movies they watched in their youth.
As the “ODB Jones Way” sign was lifted into view, the crowd erupted in cheers while fans held Wu-Tang flags and shouted lyrics from ODB’s catalog. By placing ODB Jones Way in Brooklyn, the community is ensuring that future generations recognize his contributions not only to music but also to the cultural identity of the borough.
“Long after all of us leave this earth ODB Jones Way will still be standing," said City Council Member Chi Ossé. "The kids on this block will walk past it on their way to school, neighbors will give directions to it, people from across this great city will come to stand where we are standing now. Every one of them will know that a Brooklyn original once called these blocks home and that his city never forgot him."
