Ol' Dirty Bastard, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan and one of the most eccentric personalities in hip-hop, died of unknown causes on Saturday in New York. He would have turned 36 on Monday.The rapper, whose real name was Russell Tyrone Ol' Dirty Bastard: 1968 - 2004 MTV News Video Report Jones, was having difficulty breathing and complained of chest pains earlier in the day, according to his spokesperson.
Dirty was at Wu-Tang's studio, 36 Records LLC on West 34th Street, when he collapsed in the lounge at approximately 4:35 p.m. on Saturday. EMS workers rushed to the scene but were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at 5:04 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the city medical examiner's office.