O.D.B., 35; Co-Founder of the Wu-Tang Clan

The rap artist O.D.B., who lived a life as wild as his lyrics, collapsed and died in a recording studio Saturday, his record label said. He was 35.

O.D.B. had complained of chest pains before collapsing at the Manhattan studio, said Gabe Tesoriero, a spokesman for Roc-A-Fella Records. The cause of death was not immediately clear.

“By the time the paramedic had reached him, they had pronounced him dead,” Tesoriero said.

Born Russell Jones in Brooklyn, O.D.B. was also known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Dirt McGirt.

He co-founded the hit rap group the Wu-Tang Clan in 1991 with his cousins Robert Diggs (RZA) and Gary Grice (The Genius/GZA). With his offbeat, unorthodox delivery, O.D.B. segued into a successful solo career and released several hit singles.

“All of us in the Roc-A-Fella family are shocked and saddened by the sudden and tragic death of our friend, Russell Jones,” Roc-A-Fella co-founder Damon Dash said in a statement. “Russell inspired all of us with his spirit, wit and tremendous heart.”

The freewheeling O.D.B. was known for his comic rhymes and stunts, but he was frequently in trouble with the law.

Since 1987, he had been wounded in shootings and arrested on suspicion of a veritable laundry list of offenses, including menacing security officers, illegally possessing body armor, driving with a suspended license, shoplifting and threatening a former girlfriend.

In February 1998, he crashed the stage at the Grammy Awards and hijacked a microphone from singer Shawn Colvin as she accepted an award. He was apparently upset over losing the best rap album Grammy to Puff Daddy. O.D.B. later apologized.

In 2001 he was sentenced to two to four years in prison for drug possession, plus two concurrent years for escaping from a rehab clinic. He was released in 2003 and subsequently signed with Roc-A-Fella.

With hits such as “It’s Yourz,” the Wu-Tang Clan has sold millions of records and has a successful clothing line.

As a solo performer, O.D.B. released hit singles including “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” and “Got Your Money.” He appeared on remixes with such artists as Mariah Carey.

“To the public he was known as Old Dirty Bastard, but to me he was known as Rusty, the kindest, most generous soul on Earth,” said his mother, Cherry. “Russell was more than a rapper; he was a loving father, brother, uncle and, most of all, son.”

O.D.B. would have turned 36 on Monday.