FBI releases files on Ol' Dirty Bastard of the Wu Tang Clan

THE FBI has released its file on legendary rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard of the hip-hop collective Wu Tang Clan, also known as Russell Jones, who died of a drugs overdose in 2004.
 
The 94 pages of police reports, court proceedings and news clippings were obtained by Rich Jones (no relation) after a freedom of information request and posted on his Gun.io blog. They link the rapper to three murders in the 1990s, the notorious Bloods street gang and shed light on his criminal past, dating back to the late 1980s.
 
The documents lift the lid on the FBI's view of Wu Tang Clan, of which ODB was a member. One report from 1999 notes that the Wu Tang Clan is "heavily involved in the sale of drugs, illegal guns, weapons possession, murder, car jackings, and other types of violent crimes".
 
Another file claims that "once individuals have proved themselves as good and loyal members or associates... they are offered contracts to record rap music under one of the WTC's record labels. Numerous recording companies were incorporated and bank accounts established."
 
Wu Tang Clan emerged from Staten Island in New York in the early 1990s. They were groundbreaking not only for their music, which reinvigorated the rap scene, but also their business model which was deliberately based on that of a mafia 'family'. It counts hip-hop luminaries including Method Man, Raekwon and RZA among its members.
 
ODB was the most eccentric of the clan not just because of his unique rapping style, which earned him the sobriquet Ol' Dirty Bastard because it had "no father", but also his run-ins with the law.
 
During his colourful career Jones, who was also known as Big Baby Jesus and Osirus, was arrested 15 times on charges ranging from resisting arrest to attempted murder of a police officer, refusing to pay child support and possession of body armour. He also stormed the stage at the 1998 Grammys, 11 years before Kanye West pulled the same trick. ·