Ol' Dirty Bastard: The Trials and Tribulations of Russell Jones : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Some people get caught up/and some charges brought up." So runs the opening hook on Ol' Dirty Bastard's third solo record -- an appropriate refrain, since the manic MC is currently serving time. Sadly, ODB's incarceration means he doesn't rap much on his own album. Trials and Tribulations cobbles together stray ODB studio outtakes and cameos from the likes of Wu affiliate Buddha Monk, Cali script-flipper E-40 and even Motor City knuckleheads Insane Clown Posse. Some pairings, such as "Dogged Out," an ornery romp with veteran pimp Too Short, work fine. But ICP's grating pro-wrestler bellows are enough to alienate the most ardent Big Baby Jesus devotee. ODB's contributions are solid -- even these second-string (and often familiar) scraps, packed with his signature belligerent yowls and unhinged improvs, outshine his collaborators' scripted verses, not to mention the mostly bland beats. ODB's style is always haphazard and loose, but this slapped-together album doesn't do him justice.

KATHRYN MCGUIRE
(RS 895 - May 9, 2002)