The Dirty Story: The Best of Ol' Dirty Bastard [PA]

Performer: Ol' Dirty Bastard
Artist: Chris Rock; Mystikal; Method Man; Mariah Carey; Kelis; Killah Priest; Raekwon; Lil' Mo; 12 O'Clock; 60 Seconds; Lord Buddah Monk; Murdoc; Prodigal Sun; Shorty S*** Stain; Zoo Keeper
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: This is a Hyper CD which contains regular audio tracks and provides a link to the artist's website with the help of an internet browser. Personnel includes: Ol' Dirty Bastard, Chris Rock, Kelis, Method Man, Raekwon, Lord Buddah Monk, Prodigal Sun, Zoo Keeper, Murdoc, Killer Priest, 12 O'Clock, Shorty S*** Stain, 60 Second Assassin, Mariah Carey, Lil' Mo, Mystikal. Producers include: RZA, Irv Gotti, The Neptunes, Dat Nigga Reb, Flavahood. Engineers include: Ethan Ryman, Jack Hersca, Kevin Thomas. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel: Dominick Maybank (guitar); Mike "Suga" Allen (drums). Audio Mixers: Jack Hersca; Richard Travali. Recording information: 36 Chambers Studio; Chung King Studios; Fire House Studios; Quad Recording, New York, NY; The Hit Factory, New York, NY. Unknown Contributor Roles: Pharrell Williams; Chad Hugo. Usually a two-album career doesn't warrant a best-of collection, but, then again, Ol' Dirty Bastard isn't your usual artist. The Dirty Story hit the streets in 2001, just as Ol' Dirty was in the headlines yet again for ongoing drug/legal problems. This is far from a mandatory addition to the troubled rapper's catalog, and feels more like an exploitative attempt to bank on the news headlines. You get the better moments from Ol' Dirty's debut, Return to the 36 Chambers -- "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," "Brooklyn Zoo," "Raw Hide," "Proteck Ya Neck II in the Zoo" -- and a few of the highlights from Nigga Please: "I Can't Wait," the Neptunes-produced tracks "Got Your Money" and "Recognize," and Ol' Dirty's Rick James cover, "Cold Blooded." Furthermore, since this album only features 11 songs and no interludes, it's a pleasant listen -- no lulls, no filler, and refreshingly brief. Of course, anyone with one or more of Ol' Dirty's albums will find little justification for buying this. In essence, The Dirty Story is a distillation of two albums with the Mariah Carey collaboration "Fantasy" thrown in as a bonus. As such, The Best of Ol' Dirty Bastard is the perfect one-stop listen for anyone curious about the Ol' Dirty story, particularly those who don't already have the otherwise excellent Return to the 36 Chambers album. ~ Jason Birchmeier There was never anyone quite like Russell Jones, AKA Ol' Dirty Bastard (AKA Big Baby Jesus, Dirt McGirt, etc.), the squarest peg in the Wu-Tang Clan. On the group's first single "Protect Ya Neck," ODB's uniquely deranged delivery immediately captured the attention of the hip-hop world. In 1995, Dirty's beloved debut, RETURN TO THE 36 CHAMBERS: THE DIRTY VERSION, became an instant classic, with the unforgettable "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" (and its "I like it raw" hook) and the focused, clever "Brooklyn Zoo." While he would also become well known for his bizarre antics and legal problems, ODB possessed an immense personality, and his presence remained a sought-after commodity, as he appeared on records by artists ranging from pop diva Mariah Carey to comedian Chris Rock. THE DIRTY STORY, ODB's 2001 greatest-hits collection, compiles songs from his first solo album and its peculiar follow-up, NIGGA PLEASE, along with his many heralded guest shots. Interspersed with tracks like "Got Your Money" (which featured both Kelis and the Neptunes before they were huge) and "Dirty Dancin'" are little bits of introduction from Dirty himself. After "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," ODB uncorks the remarkably revealing quote, "I want to be able to control that [stuff] I say," an apt summing-up of his chaotic, yet willfully bold, style. THE DIRTY STORY captures the essence of a truly unique voice in the world of rap.

Q (12/01, p.162) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...This is premier-class lunacy....George Clinton-esque pile-ups of sex and scatology..." Mixmag (12/01, p.61) - 5 out of 5 - "...A fair canvas of his compelling lunacy..."

Old Dirty Bastard (aka Dirt McGirt, Big Baby Jesus, Osirus, and the ODB) is one of the most outrageous and beloved figures in hip-hop history. As a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, ODB was instrumental in that outfit's unique identity, offering a bizarre, often humorous antidote to the Wu's hardcore lyrical sword play. As a solo artist, however, Dirty took his vision to a whole new level, utilizing his own howling version of a croon on songs as much as his already unique flow. Sadly, his volatile personality and a hefty drug habit led to numerous run-ins with the law, and eventually his death from an overdose in 2004.

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