Eccentric Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard (born Russell Tyrone Jones) died last Saturday night at 35 years of age from unknown causes after reportedly complaining of chest pains all day. Jones was scheduled to perform with the group that night in New York but didn't show. According to MTV, he collapsed in Wu Tang's Manhattan studio at about 4:35 p.m. and was pronounced dead by paramedics half an hour later. Jones was in many ways the standout member of the Wu-Tang Clan; an impressive feat considering the amount of talent that the group fostered. This garbled, marble-mouth, growling flow was instantly recognizable and leant power both Wu-Tang songs and to other pop hits. Jones' ability to wrap in hazy, stream-of-consciousness spurts made him distinctive in hip hop.

But Jones may end up being best known for his crazy personality. The man who took MTV cameras along with him to cash a welfare check had also crashed the 1998 Grammy stage, while Shawn Colvin was accepting her award, to complainthat Wu-Tang had lost to P. Diddy (or, back then, Puff Daddy) in another category. His antics often got him in to trouble. After several traffic violations, Jones was found to be in possession of cocaine, and was sentenced to three years probation and a one-year stay in a drug rehabilitation facility. After a disagreement with the staff, he walked out after only ten months. And he had only recently emerged in the spring of 2003 after a two year stint in prison for violating the sentence of the above charge.

Out from behind bars, Jones had been optimistic about his life, expressing excitement about being able to return to music and to the studio, and promising fans that a lot of new and exciting music was on the way. He spent time in the studio with Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and Pharrell, and recently had completed several sessions with Macy Gray. He was also developing a new clothing line and a new reality television series.

Adding even more to his optimism was a reunion with the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan. The group reunited for a concert this summer, which was released on video in September and titled Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1. Saturday's show was supposed to be their second performance as a reunited group.

Jones and Wu-Tang Clan, in many ways, defined a generation of hip hop fans. His sudden, unexpected death is a blow to the musical community, and he will be missed.