Brooklyn Street Co-Named for Wu-Tang Co-Founder Ol’ Dirty Bastard

On July 26, a ceremony in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) neighborhood officially added a co-name to Putnam Avenue, designating it ODB Jones Way in honor of the late Wu-Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard. The event was attended by the rapper’s friends, family, and local officials, marking the first municipal naming after the artist.

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Ol’ Dirty Bastard, born Russell Tyrone Jones, grew up in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene area but maintained strong ties to Bed-Stuy. He died of an overdose in 2004 at age 35. Since his death, two documentaries have examined his life: an unauthorized 2013 film that the estate attempted to block, and a 2023 A&E documentary released with the family’s blessing. A mural on the same block depicts the cover of his debut solo album, *Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version*.

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During the ceremony, Ramsay Jones, the artist’s eldest brother, told photographer Howie Weiss that the new street sign was installed at the corner of a block where their grandmother still resides. City representatives highlighted the co-naming as a recognition of Jones’s cultural influence and his lasting connection to the neighborhood. The sign now stands beside the mural, linking the visual tribute with the official designation.

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Local residents and fans view the co-naming as a celebration of Bed-Stuy’s hip-hop heritage. The designation provides a permanent, public acknowledgment of Jones’s contribution to music and the borough’s cultural identity, reinforcing the neighborhood’s reputation as a cradle of influential artists.

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The co-named street joins a growing list of New York City thoroughfares honoring musicians and cultural figures, suggesting that additional commemorations may follow as the city continues to recognize contributions from its artistic community.

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