Originally Posted by pitchforkmedia.com

Ol' Dirty Bastard, a founding member of one of hip-hop's best-loved and most influential collectives, Wu-Tang Clan, died tonight, reportedly after collapsing at a recording studio in Manhattan. The accomplished rapper was slated to perform with Wu-Tang last night in New Jersey, but didn't show. He was said to be complaining of chest pains earlier this afternoon. He would have been 36 on Monday.

"This evening I received a phone call that is every mother's worst dream," wrote ODB's mother, Cherry Jones, in a statement released tonight. "My son, Russell Jones, passed away. To the public, he was known as Ol' Dirty Bastard. To me, he was known as Rusty, the kindest and most generous soul on earth. I appreciate all the support I received. Russell was more than a rapper-- he was a loving father, brother, uncle and most of all, son."