New York is the mecca of hip-hop. What better way to honor its legends than to rename some of its many streets after iconic rappers? In Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Putnam Avenue is officially going to be known as ODB Jones Way in honor of wily Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol\u2019 Dirty Bastard. <\/p>\n
In mid-July 2026, family and fans gathered together<\/a> on the street as family pulled a string to reveal the great surprise. Then, the crowd cheered on as they were handed copies of the street marker while \u201cBrooklyn Zoo\u201d played.<\/p>\n In a video posted on TikTok<\/a>, ODB\u2019s oldest brother Ramsey Jones expressed immense joy over the occasion. The fact that it was put on the same block as a mural for Ol\u2019 Dirty Bastard put a smile on his face. The mural depicts ODB\u2019s fantastic debut album Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, which featured a replica of his NYC public assistance ID card. Moreover, his grandmother\u2019s house isn\u2019t too far down the street either. \u201cI\u2019m so honored, my mother\u2019s honored. Thank you,\u201d Jones said. <\/p>\n Similarly, Wu-Tang Clan<\/a> themselves commemorated the occasion. They posted a throwback picture<\/a> on Instagram before the event, where ODB is posted in front of Putnam Avenue. Then, they shared with fans how they could join the proceedings at the time.<\/p>\n Wu-Tang Clan Fans Celebrate Ol\u2019 Dirty Bastard as Brooklyn Renames Street After Him<\/p>\n \u201cOl\u2019 Dirty Bastard. Unique Ason. Big Baby Jesus. Call him whatever you want \u2014 Bed-Stuy is calling it ODB Jones Way,\u201d they wrote. \u201cWe heard you. We\u2019ll keep it raw. This Saturday, join\u00a0@cmchiosse, the Jones family, and the community for the sign unveiling with music by\u00a0J.PERIOD. Bring\u00a0everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n Ol\u2019 Dirty Bastard tragically passed away from an accidental overdose at a recording studio in Manhattan in 2004. Witnesses noted<\/a> that he complained about chest pain at the time, while the autopsy revealed he had a lethal mixture of cocaine and tramadol in his system. He was 36 years old at the time.<\/p>\n