A&E presents “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” the first official documentary about the iconic Grammy®-nominated musician and legendary founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Co-directed by Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning Director Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Black Art: In The Absence of Light) alongside his son Jason Pollard (Get Me Roger Stone, Bitchin’ The Sound and Fury of Rick James), the two-hour special premieres Sunday, August 25 at 9pm ET/PT on A&E.
Produced by Pulse Films (Beastie Boys Story, Meet Me in the Bathroom), Four Screens, and the Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment, “Ol Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” features access to his closest friends and family, including Mariah Carey, Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, ODB’s wife Icelene Jones, his son Bar-Sun Jones, his parents, recording industry executives, and more. With never-before-seen personal archive shot by his wife, Icelene, this culture-defining special humanizes ODB as a man, a father, and a husband like never before. This definitive documentary provides an intimate picture of ODB’s life and reflects on the lasting impact he had on music and culture.
“Part of A&E’s DNA is telling the stories of iconic people who have left a lasting impact on culture and the world,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E. “‘Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys’ does just that with intimate, never-before-seen footage and interviews with the people who knew him best. The documentary tells his story while celebrating his life and his lasting impact on hip-hop and the music industry.”
Born Russell Jones in 1968 in Brooklyn, NY, ODB developed a unique persona and rhyme style that set him apart from his contemporaries. In his short 35 years of life and long after his passing, ODB has had a significant influence on a whole generation of fans and performers. The documentary centers on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004. Charting his meteoric rise and heart-breaking fall, the film interweaves a modern narrative that looks back at his trauma-filled childhood to examine how it influenced the man and artist he would become. A celebration of his artistry and legacy, the documentary is an unflinching look at the complexities of his life including addiction, adultery, fame, mental illness, sudden wealth, race and criminal justice, and asks the question of just how complicit the media and music industry were in hastening his demise.
“I am so happy to have brought this documentary about my husband’s life to the screen. He was and is an inspiration to my family, children, and fans across the world. It’s been amazing to work on this project with my partners at Four Screens, as well as Pulse and A&E,” says administrator of the Estate of ODB and wife Icelene Jones. “Like all of hip-hop, I have missed his energy. This project has let me know that he is alive and well in all of our hearts.”
“Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” is produced for A&E by Pulse Films, Four Screens, and the Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment. The film is directed by Sam Pollard and Jason Pollard. Sam Bridger, Nelesh Dhand, and Alice Rhodes serve as executive producers for Pulse Films. Chet Fenster and Richard Foster serve as executive producers for GroupM Motion Entertainment. Messiah Jacobs, Nicole Beckett, Icelene Jones, and Bar-Sun Jones serve as executive producers representing Four Screens and the Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate. Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson serve as executive producers for A&E.
