Best Of '99: ODB Gets Out Of Jail; Claims 'I Don't Use Guns'
[Editor's note: Over the holiday season, SonicNet is looking back at 1999's top stories, chosen by our editors and writers. This story originally ran on Friday, Jan. 22.]
Clearly relieved to be out of jail for the first time in a week Friday (Jan.
22), Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard refuted allegations that he
shot at police last Friday night, declaring, "I don't use guns."
"I didn't have no gun. I don't use guns," ODB said emphatically when asked if he
had been carrying a gun on the night of the alleged shooting.
ODB was on his way out of the Brooklyn House of Detention, located in
downtown Brooklyn, at about 5:15 p.m. (EST). On hand was his attorney Peter
Frankel, who left the building with his client. Waiting outside were four
reporters
and two television cameramen.
His hair in his trademark braids, ODB left the building looking weary and
dressed in a green parka and jeans.
Asked if he was happy to be released, ODB said, "N---- please, times a
hundred."
When asked if he was carrying a cellphone — as spokespersons for the
Brooklyn district attorney's office say the defense has argued — ODB said only:
"I don't use guns."
Wu-Tang Clan rapper ODB had been behind bars on attempted-murder
charges since his arrest Jan. 15.
According to Roger Parris, a spokesman at the New York Correctional
Department, a bondsman posted $150,000 cash earlier that afternoon, thereby
granting the notorious rapper his freedom while a grand jury waits to decide
whether to indict him on the charges.
"I just want to go home," said ODB before entering a waiting green Yukon GMC
four-door truck parked outside the jail and driven by a friend, whom Frankel
identified only as "Eric." In the front seat sat Bo Glasper, ODB's personal
manager.
Brooklyn police claim the 30-year-old ODB (born Russell Tyrone Jones) shot at
them after they pulled him over for driving erratically with his headlights off.
No
injuries were reported.
ODB's cousin Frederick "60 Sec. Assassin" Cuffie, a member of the Wu-Tang
affiliate Sunz of Man, was with him as they drove from the Wu-Tang Clan's
recording studio to a relative's house. Cuffie fled the scene and was arrested
nearly three hours after ODB, but was later released without being charged.
ODB is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder of a police
officer, and second- and third-degree possession of a weapon. He has yet to
plead to the charges.
Frankel asserts that his client did not have a gun, adding that Cuffie
corroborates his cousin's claim that he was unarmed. No gun has been
recovered.
Frankel said part of the reason that it took so long to secure ODB's release was
that people involved in posting the bail were out of town. Also, Frankel added,
the combination of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the weekend made
gathering the money difficult.
As for the next week, Frankel said that he and his client would just be waiting
to
hear what the grand jury comes up with.
"I'm very glad to have him out," he said.
A grand jury began considering evidence in the case on Wednesday. On
Thursday, Frankel appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court and waived the grand
jury's deadline for reaching an indictment in the case. Frankel said he wanted
the jury to have more time to consider the evidence.
ODB is scheduled to return to court Feb. 5.
After emerging in 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan established themselves as one of
the most revolutionary hip-hop acts of the decade with their murky, menacing
mix of hardcore beats, piano and minimal samples. With ODB as one of the
three founders of the nine-member group, the Clan achieved multi-platinum
success and scored hits with such songs as "C.R.E.A.M."
excerpt).
ODB's own debut, Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, had a
sonic approach similar to Wu-Tang's first album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36
Chambers), but was distinguished by its offbeat humor, more musical
backing tracks and ODB's charismatic vocals.
It produced such hits as "Brooklyn Zoo" (RealAudio
excerpt) and "Baby C'Mon" (RealAudio
excerpt).
