FBI releases file on Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard
January 11, 2012 11:34 AM   Subscribe

Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard (Russell Tyrone Jones) was "heavily involved" in "murder, car-jackings … and the sale of drugs [and] illegal guns", according to a newly released FBI report. The FBI's 93-page file on ODB, revealed in a Freedom of Information request, connects Mr. The Bastard with a litany of serious crimes in the late 80s and 90s.
posted by porn in the woods (52 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 


He did say "FBI be following me" so this is of course no surprise.
posted by longbaugh at 11:35 AM on January 11, 2012 [4 favorites]


Let's not forget welfare fraud.
posted by Madamina at 11:38 AM on January 11, 2012


Turns out Dirty was dirty. I wonder if Raekwon really went to culinary school?
posted by 2bucksplus at 11:38 AM on January 11, 2012 [4 favorites]




Wait, so the "murder" part is an attempted murder of a police officer...that he ultimately wasn't charged for? Is that the sort of thing people typically get away with, or is it possible no on ewas murdered and he didn't actually attempt it?
posted by Hoopo at 11:41 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


This makes me very curious about Tony Starks' hobbies.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:43 AM on January 11, 2012


I listened to his lyrics.

I was aware of all these activities also, FBI.
posted by gcbv at 11:46 AM on January 11, 2012 [15 favorites]


This should come as no surprise to those familiar with his habit of setting off bombs (albiet small ones) in order to prepare to recite his verses.
posted by Edogy at 11:46 AM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]


Well, this is certainly someone I would not want to fuck with. Good to know.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:49 AM on January 11, 2012 [11 favorites]


What part of "ain't nuthing ta fuck wit" were they unclear about?
posted by Trurl at 11:51 AM on January 11, 2012 [9 favorites]


Shocking.
posted by greta simone at 11:52 AM on January 11, 2012


Yeah, much of the Clan had recently gotten out of prison at the time of the recording of 36 Chambers and were looking to move on. RZA thought he had a second chance at life.

Furthermore, Wu-Tang Clan are portrayed as a criminal organisation, co-ordinating drug-deals and homicides – sometimes with musical rewards. "Once individuals have proved themselves as good and loyal members," officers claimed, "they are offered record contracts to record Rap type music."

Uh, huh.
posted by ignignokt at 11:53 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


What, y'all thought y'all wasn't gon' see him? He's the Osiris of this shit.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:54 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


The ODB couldn't have possibly committed all those crimes. Coolio did some of that shit.
posted by Blue Meanie at 11:55 AM on January 11, 2012 [9 favorites]


rap-type music
posted by Apropos of Something at 11:56 AM on January 11, 2012




... and the illegal possession of body armour

I am not a US citizen but ... why in such a heavily-armed country would body armour be illegal?
posted by iotic at 11:57 AM on January 11, 2012 [5 favorites]


One of his crimes was illegal possession of body armor? How is that a crime?
posted by KGMoney at 11:57 AM on January 11, 2012


Since this is an ODB thread, can someone tell me what these last two lines from Got Your Money is referring to?

They say he had his dick in his mouth
Eddie Murphy taught me that back in the house


Now gimme my money!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:59 AM on January 11, 2012


I kind of assumed this was just how it worked with a lot of hip hop labels of that era. I bet their files on Death Row are gigantic. Probably mostly about how Snoop gets high all of the time, but still...
posted by feloniousmonk at 11:59 AM on January 11, 2012


One of his crimes was illegal possession of body armor? How is that a crime?

Probably a response to that North Hollywood shootout.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 12:01 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


This is my surprised face...
posted by schyler523 at 12:02 PM on January 11, 2012


The most shocking revelation in the file is that he repeatedly pressed RZA to change the title of the song to "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Wit Which ta Fuck."
posted by Ian A.T. at 12:03 PM on January 11, 2012 [4 favorites]


Well since three people have now asked a quick google turns this up...
posted by longbaugh at 12:03 PM on January 11, 2012


In California:

12370. (a) Any person who has been convicted of a violent felony, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, under the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any other state, government, or country, who purchases, owns, or possesses body armor, as defined by Section 942 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, except as authorized under subdivision (b), is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for 16 months, or two or three years.
posted by Huck500 at 12:04 PM on January 11, 2012


They say he had his dick in his mouth
Eddie Murphy taught me that back in the house


I would suspect it had to do with Murphy being caught with a transvestite hooker in his car in 1997.
posted by KGMoney at 12:05 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


"One of his crimes was illegal possession of body armor? How is that a crime?"

In California:


The same prohibition exists at the federal level: 18 U.S.C. § 931.
posted by jedicus at 12:06 PM on January 11, 2012


Have there been any FBI investigations concerning the following ODB lyrics from "Dog Shit"?


I'm Doo Doo Brown! Hehahahaha
Tossed salad, oh you in some shit now
Callin me a dog, well leave a dog alone
Cause nothin can stop me from buryin my bones
in the backyard, of someone else's house
Ol Dirt Dog, but I'm not dog out
Here comes Rover, sniffin at your ass
But pardon me bitch, as I shit on your grass
That means hoe, you been shit-ted on!
I'm not the first dog that's shitted on your lawn


It's not murder, but that would seem to involve a few misdemeanor counts at the least.
posted by naju at 12:08 PM on January 11, 2012 [4 favorites]


So, wait, they're still just playing characters though, right?
posted by unSane at 12:09 PM on January 11, 2012


I would suspect it had to do with Murphy being caught with a transvestite hooker in his car in 1997.

That sounds reasonable--I completely forgot about that.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:13 PM on January 11, 2012


Upon further reading about the body armor law in California, it seems that people v. saleem in 2009 reversed the ban on body armor for felons... I don't see anything about it since. So have at it, convicts!
posted by Huck500 at 12:16 PM on January 11, 2012


I read Drake's FBI file and it said he was straight straight baby thighs, namsayin?
posted by mullacc at 12:17 PM on January 11, 2012 [7 favorites]


Rap-type music, but without all that rap in it.
posted by stargell at 12:22 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


Actually, the most surprising news is that there's a Raekwon biopic in the works. I'm sure this news will continue to perplex me all day.
posted by Toby Dammit X at 12:22 PM on January 11, 2012


Raekwon has also said that he's co-directing a movie called C.R.E.A.M., for those interested in following the full filmography of the Wu-Tang Clan (cf. RZA and Method Man).
posted by argonauta at 12:45 PM on January 11, 2012


Wu-Tang is for the Children
posted by imjustsaying at 12:55 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


I just read the whole thing, and there's nothing really saying he was "heavily involved" in any of those things. Also the attached press clippings are about P.Diddy's gun arrest. Not sure what that has to do with ODB. Way to go, FBI. That's some real detective work right there.
posted by billyfleetwood at 1:00 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


Turns out Dirty was dirty. I wonder if Raekwon really went to culinary school?

Yeah, I recall being sorely disappointed by Dr. Dre's bedside manner.
posted by porn in the woods at 1:45 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


So, wait, they're still just playing characters though, right?

Has there ever been confusion about this? I mean, I always thought rappers speak from some degree of experience, telling first-hand or second-hand stories or things they heard from their friends and people in the neighbourhood. They also make up a lot of stuff and brag and exaggerate. The songs aren't confessions. As for playing characters, no I don't think they're kung-fu masters from "the slums of Shaolin."
posted by Hoopo at 2:12 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


Well.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 2:14 PM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]


no I don't think they're kung-fu masters from "the slums of Shaolin."

You monster! What's next, telling children that there's no Santa Claus?!
posted by Ghidorah at 2:29 PM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]


There's what?!
posted by shakespeherian at 2:32 PM on January 11, 2012




As for playing characters, no I don't think they're kung-fu masters from "the slums of Shaolin."
Well, actually . . .
posted by anansi at 3:41 PM on January 11, 2012


Why that old dirty bastard!
posted by chronkite at 4:52 PM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]


And he was just turning his life around too.
posted by Iron Rat at 7:02 PM on January 11, 2012


Shame on you when you
stepped through to the Ol' Dirty
Bastard Brooklyn Zoo

Anyone else's mind blown that that verse is a Haiku?
posted by Renoroc at 8:46 PM on January 11, 2012


Between what RZA felt compelled to disclose in the Wu-Tang Manual and what they have all consistently remained incredibly cagey about elsewhere or at least buried in slang, I am frankly surprised that any of this is salient news for anyone but dedicated listeners with healthy suspicions and an academic interest in fleshing out the particulars.
posted by Rustmouth Snakedrill at 8:47 PM on January 11, 2012


It seems like the angle here is how people perceive art as artifice. Big news here everyone, some of those rappers who claim to be gangsters were or are in fact gangsters, and some not. Is there some kind of chart somewhere that shows this? Because that would be an interesting thing to look at:

Biggie Smalls: Yes
Tupac Shakur: No
50 Cent: Yes
NWA: Aside from Eazy-E, No
Ice T: Yes
Lil Wayne: Lololoolol No

Maybe go a bit more in depth, but it would be kind of funny with some of the names that end up on the there.
posted by P.o.B. at 2:27 PM on January 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


Ice T was also a Kangaroo.
posted by Artw at 2:58 PM on January 12, 2012


Heh. Unfortunately Ice T would still be a 'no' in the mutant kangaroo category. Although, Tank Girl was his most compelling acting outside of New Jack City and Mean Guns, so I could see the confusion.
posted by P.o.B. at 3:31 PM on January 12, 2012


Dude loves to chill to some Phil Collins.
posted by Artw at 3:32 PM on January 12, 2012


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