RZA explains why ODB jumped on stage at the 1998 Grammys
For some odd reason, it is unsurprising when people crash the stage at award shows. Whether it’s Kanye West at the 2009 VMA’s grabbing the microphone from Taylor Swift or 2Pac suddenly performing during an acceptance speech at the 1993 Source Awards, it’s safe to say that hip-hop is used to these kinds of incidents. That said, few know why Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB) decided to crash the stage at the 1998 Grammy Awards.
The brash, loud, and kooky emcee chose the worst possible stage to crash, as the Grammys are considered the most prestigious of all music ceremonies. Yet, it didn’t deter the Wu-Tang artist from making it known he was present that night.
The 1998 40th annual Grammy Awards were held in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, an iconic venue. Of course, New York is the birthplace of the Wu-Tang Clan, so ODB may have at home there. That said, while Erykah Badu and Wyclef Jean presented the Song of the Year award, ODB jumped onstage and declared, “Wu-Tang is for the children!”
The 1998 competition was hot, and there were many strong contenders. One of the albums waiting to receive its award was the Wu-Tang Clan’s sophomore project, Wu-Tang Forever. However, Diddy’s project, No Way Out, won the award for Best Rap Album, and ODB wanted to express his grievances.
During his impromptu interruption, the ‘Got Your Money’ lyricist told the crowd, “It’s nice that I went and bought me an outfit today that cost a lot of money today, you know what I mean? ‘Cause I figured that Wu-Tang was gonna win. I don’t know how you all see it, but when it comes to the children, Wu-Tang is for the children. We teach the children, you know what I mean? Puffy is good, but Wu-Tang is the best, OK? I want you all to know that this is ODB, and I love you all. Peace!”
During a recent interview, the Wu-Tang Clan’s founder, RZA, reflected on that night, telling GQ, “I actually said to him, I said, ‘Listen, they’re not gonna give us no award, G.’ It’s like, I was very pessimistic in that, at my younger age. I was like, we lack validation. Like, they ain’t gonna give it to us. ‘Look at us. We the real shit. Look at where we at’ And so he misinterpreted that when I said, ‘Look at us.’ So he was like, we lost because we wasn’t dressed for the occasion.”
RZA continued, “So for the Grammys, he went like, ‘Fuck that. I’m gettin’ right.’ Cause he knew and felt that arguably—and they say self praise don’t mean nothin’, and I’m gonna praise myself. But if I was to put it on a scale of measurement of hip hop lyrics and rawness and what hip hop is? Yeah, we was the best.”
It remains one of the most talked about moments in Grammy history and a reminder of the outlandish icon Ol’ Dirty Bastard.