Ol Dirty Bastard’s Estate Stops Brooklyn Screening of ODB Documentary

(AllHipHop News) Last night (November 15th), some of the founding members of Wu Tang, family members, close affiliates and droves of fans attended the NuHo Film Festival’s screening of “Dirty: Platinum Edition.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

Chris Kanik, NuHo’s owner and managing partner, informed the crowd that the film could not be screened due to a cease and desist order from the attorney of Ol Dirty Bastard’s estate.

Ol Dirty Bastard’s estate is under the control of his widowed wife Icelene Jones.

Cappadonna, Masta Killa, 9th Prince of Killaarmy, numerous relatives of ODB and others came out to support the film. Raison Allah, who was the filmmaker behind “Dirty” was noticeably absent.

As the event wound down, RZA spoke to the audience about lawyers and art, as it related to the event.

“You gotta protect yourself legally, but a film is something that can be portrayed in home, in public places like libraries and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAMS), where art is given to the people,” RZA explained via Skype. “I can’t see how a lawyer can stop culture from being spread. This film is a documentary. That’s one of the biggest problems we have in this country – the problems of lawyers.”

“I don’t understand how ODB, who passed away nine years ago, who has children, who has family members who are sitting right there in that audience, he has fans who have supported his music, he’s a part of the Wu Tang Legacy…I can’t see how a lawyer, who never met him personally, can stop this film from being shown to the public.

Chris Kanik countered, “Its not a lawyer, its the estate…the widow.”

Many in the crowd became upset and frustrated and the police were even called in to settle things.

AllHipHop was unaware of the cease and desist order until minutes before the scheduled screening time. At the event, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur offered an apology to those in attendance, including members of the family and Wu Tang. Below is a formal statement.

“AllHipHop would like to extend their sincerest apologies to those that came out to see and support the film “Dirty: Platinum Edition.” As a sponsor of the event, we sought only to offer attendees a means to see Ol’ Dirty through the eyes of those that knew him personally. We will continue to support Hip-Hop as a movement, and also ensure that our audience will have an enjoyable experience. In closing, we remain respectful fans of Ol Dirty and the Wu Tang Clan as a whole.”

This is the second time this year that the estate has stopped Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s likeness from being shown to the public. In mid-May of this year, Mrs. Jones filed a cease and desist order on the scheduled hologram of Ol’ Dirty Bastard for Wu Tang Clan’s Rock The Bells performance.

She revealed why she stopped the hologram from being shown and possibly gives a reason for why Dirty Platinum received a similar cease and desist order in an interview with HipHopDX.

I’m the administrator [of ODB’s estate] and the only authority to give anyone permission to do anything like this—any likeness, any music. They need to come to me. I’m so available. I’m accessible. I’m easy to contact. I just want to make that understood. I’m a nice person. It’s just that people are doing things without my knowledge.