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Brooklyn Co-Names Putnam Avenue ODB Jones Way for Ol' Dirty Bastard

The honorary sign sits beside a mural and the rapper’s family home and represents a local effort to preserve Bed-Stuy’s hip-hop heritage.

Overview

  • On Sunday (July 26), city officials, the Jones estate, and community members unveiled an honorary co-naming that designates a stretch of Putnam Avenue as ODB Jones Way.
  • The green sign was installed at the corner of Franklin and Putnam avenues on the block where Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s grandmother still lives and where a mural replicating his 1995 solo album cover stands.
  • The ceremony was organized by the Jones estate with Brooklyn City Council Member Chi Ossé and drew family, fans, and members or representatives of the Wu-Tang Clan who posted celebratory messages.
  • The street co-naming follows the City Council’s 2023 designation of November 15 as Ol’ Dirty Bastard Day and fits a broader New York City pattern of honoring influential hip-hop artists with local memorials.
  • Neighborhood leaders say the new name anchors ODB’s legacy in place, giving the community a lasting site for remembrance that could increase local recognition and visitor interest.