Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s everlasting presence and complex identity is the subject of a new audio series set to hit the public domain next week.
On Tuesday (November 7), the first three episodes of ODB: A Son Unique will go live across all streaming platforms, after which two installments will drop every week. Narrated by photographer and filmmaker Khalik Allah, the eight-part podcast will feature interviews with Popa Wu, Raekwon, Buddha Monk and several others close to the Wu-Tang wildcard.
To me, Ol’ Dirty Bastard is a legend and a prophet of Hip Hop,” Allah said about the upcoming production. “To lend my voice as a host to this podcast has been a true honor and a way of praising the life of one of the most unique geniuses in music. Our lives intersected in many ways, from having mutual friends to both having been enrolled in the curriculum of the Five Percent Nation.
“Working on this podcast has been a privilege and now I hope the world gains a new perspective on the short but profound life of Ason Unique, also known as the Ol’ Dirty Bastard.”
ODB’s legacy has been bundled into several such projects before. A few months back, a documentary titled ODB: A Tale Of Two Dirtys premiered at New York City’s Apollo Theater. Released as part of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the film was screened free of cost at the historic venue in mid-August followed by a panel event.
“Through archival footage — including never-before-seen outtakes, home videos and personal photos — and firsthand accounts from ODB’s family, business managers and the film’s producers, this panel event will inspire and educate, illuminating aspects of the entertainment industry and giving audience members an inside look into how the definitive ODB documentary went from concept to reality,” the Apollo wrote in a statement. “It’s an unprecedented level of access to one of Hip Hop’s most enigmatic figures.”
Dirty passed away in 2004 from a drug overdose. In a recent interview with AllHipHop, his son, Weather Park, discussed the role RZA played in his life following his father’s death and how his presence has helped him navigate life’s challenges.
“I would call RZA and just ask him questions about anything like meditation, thinking, breathing skills, just things to keep the mental health in order,” Park revealed. “As we both know, I lost my dad. So without my dad, I would say that I had to figure out a lot of things on my own.
But having a great mind like RZA just available to speak to me is super helpful to my life. Just keeping my head on the swivel, even though I was maybe facing things that an average person from New York City is facing.”
