Russell Tyrone Jones

Background

Russell Tyrone Jones was born on November 15, 1968, in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood of New York City. Cherry Jones, his mother, referred to him as Rusty. He enjoyed watching martial arts-style movies and listening to rap music, just like his cousins Gary Grice and Robert Diggs. Jones, Diggs, and Grice founded the band Force of the Imperial Master, which became known as All in Together Now after their popular underground track of the same name. They were eventually known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard, RZA, and GZA, respectively. The group ultimately grew to include six more members, and they gave it the name Wu-Tang Clan.

In 1993, the group released ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),’ which was a commercial and critical success. Jones’s solo career started on March 28, 1995, when he was 26 years old. ‘Brooklyn Zoo’ and ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya,’ two popular singles from his debut solo album “Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version,” helped the record reach platinum sales status. He worked with Mariah Carey on the remix of her hit ‘Fantasy’ in the same year. He made an appearance on Wu-Tang Clan’s second and most popular album, “Wu-Tang Forever,” which was released in 1997. His second studio album, “Nigga Please,” which was written and released in 1999, enjoyed significant financial success. The single ‘Got Your Money’ from this album achieved worldwide chart success. He entered into a contract with Roc-A-Fella Records in 2003. His final songwriting partnership was with Jon B. on the single ‘Everytime from the album “Stronger Everyday” in October 2004, one month before his passing. He made a posthumous appearance on the song ‘Blah-Blah-Blah’ by Brooke Valentine on her debut album, “Chain Letter,” in 2005, five months after his passing.

On July 25, 1991, Jones wed producer Icelene Jones. Young Dirty Bastard, Shaquita Jones, and Taniqua Jones are his three children.