Ol’ Dirty Bastard has been honored with a ceremonial street renaming in the Brooklyn community he long called home.

On Saturday (July 25), family, friends, fans, and community members gathered at the intersection of Putnam Avenue and Franklin Avenue in the borough’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood to unveil ODB Jones Way, a new co-naming for a section of Putnam Avenue in tribute to the late Wu-Tang Clan member.

The location holds special significance for the rapper, who grew up in the area and whose legacy remains deeply connected to Bed-Stuy. Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s brother, Ramsey Jones, reflected on the personal importance of the occasion.

“I am very honored to be here because my grandmother’s house is on this block on Putnam Avenue, right next to where the mural is,” Jones said in a clip shared on TikTok, referencing the famed painting of the public assistance card featured on ODB’s 1995 debut solo album Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version.

Accompanied by he and ODB’s mother, Cherry Jones, Ramsey also acknowledged his late father, William Jones, and sister, Dionne Jones, who both passed away on the same day, several years apart. “I’m so honored, my mother’s honored,” he said while expressing their gratitude for the gesture and outpouring of support. “Thank you.”

Wu-Tang Clan also marked the occasion on social media, celebrating the tribute to their late bandmate and inviting the public to attend the ceremony.

“Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Unique Ason. Big Baby Jesus. Call him whatever you want — Bed-Stuy is calling it ODB Jones Way,” they captioned a photo of Ol’ Dirty Bastard standing under the original street sign marking the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Putnam Avenue. “We heard you. We’ll keep it raw. This Saturday, join @cmchiosse, the Jones family, and the community for the sign unveiling with music by J.PERIOD.Bring everybody.”

Born Russell Tyrone Jones, Ol’ Dirty Bastard emerged as one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan, helping to redefine East Coast hip-hop through acclaimed releases such as Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Wu-Tang Forever.

He also found solo success with the albums Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version and Nigga Please, while earning widespread recognition through collaborations including “Fantasy (Remix)” with Mariah Carey and “Got Your Money” featuring Kelis.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard died on Nov. 13, 2004, after suffering an accidental drug overdose at a recording studio in New York City. He was 35 years old at the time of his passing. More than two decades later, the street bearing his name stands as a tribute to his influence on hip-hop and the community that helped shape his career.

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