Ol’ Dirty Bastard

Birth Name: Russell Tyrone Jones

Date of Birth: November 15, 1968

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: November 13, 2004

Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American, some Shinnecock Native American

Ol’ Dirty Bastard, often abbreviated ODB, was an American rapper. He was a member of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, along with his cousins RZA and GZA, as well as Masta Killa, Method Man, and Raekwon. He was also known as Ason Unique, Dirt McGirt, Joe Bananas, The Specialist, Dirt Dog, Ossirus, Big Baby Jesus, Knifey McStab, and Old Dirty Chinese Restaurant.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard was the son of Cherry and William Jones. He was also a cousin of rappers 60 Second Assassin, 9th Prince, and Prodigal Sunn, who have all rapped with Wu-Tang Clan affiliates. Ol’ Dirty Bastard had three children with his wife Icelene Jones.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s paternal grandfather was named George Jones. George was born in Virginia.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s paternal grandmother was Mary Evans (the daughter of Horace Evans and Mary Warren). Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s grandmother Mary was born in Virginia.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s maternal grandfather was Frederick Wilson Cuffie (the son of Wilson Freeman Cuffie and Anna Miller). Frederick was born in New York. William was the son of William Washington Cuffee and Mary Green. Ol’ Dirty Bastard had said that he had Shinnecock Native American ancestry. The Shinnecock are a Native American tribe, of mixed African-American descent, based in Suffolk, Long Island, New York. His mother’s surname Cuffie/Cuffee is a common Shinnecock name, and the Cuffie line of his family was based in Suffolk. His great-grandfather Wilson Freeman Cuffie is listed as “Indian” on the 1910 U.S. Census.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s maternal grandmother was Gertrude Middleton (the daughter of Jessie Middleton and Lessie Patterson). Gertrude was born in South Carolina.

Rapper and hype man Flavor Flav has stated that he is a cousin of Ol’ Dirty Bastard through their shared Cuffie/Cuffee line.

Sources: https://www.vulture.com

Genealogy of Ol’ Dirty Bastard – https://www.familysearch.org

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s maternal great-grandparents, Wilson Freeman Cuffie and Anna Miller, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org