Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Son Unique, the album that never came out

Two years after the death of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, his final studio album was finally set to be released. On September 28, 2006, the site reported that A Son Unique was scheduled to hit stores on November 7, 2006, via the Damon Dash Music Group.

Announced guests included RZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, and Method Man from the Wu-Tang Clan, along with Missy Elliott, Macy Gray, N.O.R.E., Pharrell, and Fame of M.O.P. As producers, the post named RZA, DJ Premier, Dame Grease, and Rockwilder.

Planned as “Dirt McGirt”, Stalled by Label Rights

Ol’ Dirty Bastard, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, had died in November 2004. A Son Unique was originally planned as his third solo album. Prior to working on it, he had renamed himself Dirt McGirt, and accordingly, the working title was Dirt McGirt. Following his death, the album was supposed to be released via Damon Dash, but disputes over label rights repeatedly stalled the project.

Halted by Roc-A-Fella: Physically, the Album Never Came Out

The November 2006 date fell through. On the planned release day, the album briefly appeared on iTunes before the label Roc-A-Fella halted the release. A new attempt was scheduled for November 2009 for the fifth anniversary of his death, but that too was postponed.

Physically, A Son Unique was never released. Promo CDs circulated on the collectors’ market, and the album is now available on digital services. As such, it is considered Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s only unreleased studio album. The story recalls many posthumous projects in hip-hop, including Tupac’s: material exists, but rights holders, labels, and heirs have to reach an agreement first.