Brooklyn Street Renamed for Ol' Dirty Bastard as Wu-Tang Clan Heads to the Rock Hall
A section of Putnam Avenue in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood was officially co-named "ODB Jones Way" following a ceremony on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The new sign sits at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Putnam Avenue, honoring Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard (born Russell Tyrone Jones).
Who was there
The ceremony drew family and friends of Ol' Dirty Bastard, local community members, and New York City Council member Chi Ossé. ODB's older brother, Ramsey Jones, noted that the newly named block is the same street where their grandmother still lives.
Why this block
The street already carries a well-known mural depicting the cover of ODB's 1995 debut solo album, Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. Born in Brooklyn in 1968, ODB co-founded Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s and appeared on the group's foundational 1993 album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). His solo catalog includes the singles "Brooklyn Zoo" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," and he also featured on the remix of Mariah Carey's "Fantasy." He died of an accidental drug overdose in November 2004, two days before what would have been his 36th birthday. The renaming follows a 2023 New York City Council resolution designating November 15 — ODB's birthday — as "Ol' Dirty Bastard Day" in recognition of his influence on hip-hop.
Wu-Tang Clan's bigger year
The street ceremony comes shortly after Wu-Tang Clan wrapped its UK and European tour, "The Final Chamber," which included tribute segments for ODB and other deceased members. According to NME, member RZA said the tour was meant to cement the group's place in music history.
This November, Wu-Tang Clan will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Oasis, Iron Maiden, Sade, Joy Division / New Order, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, and Luther Vandross.
What we don't know yet
The source report does not specify further details of the induction ceremony, such as venue, date, or whether ODB's family will participate in the Rock Hall event. No additional Wu-Tang Clan tour dates are mentioned.