Rapper found dead in studio

Rap artist Ol' Dirty Bastard, whose demented rhymes and wild lifestyle made him one of the most colourful characters in hip hop, has died in a recording studio.

The performer - also known as ODB, Dirt McGirt or his legal name of Russell Jones - complained of chest pains before collapsing and dying at the New York studio on Saturday. He would have celebrated his 36th birthday today.

ODB was a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s and later released several solo singles.

His best-known song was Got Your Money, featuring Kelis. It reached the British Top Ten in December 1999.

ODB lived a chequered life - he was involved in shootings and was arrested on a variety of charges including shoplifting, drug offences and threatening a former girlfriend. In 2001, he was jailed for two years for possessing drugs and escaping from a rehab clinic. He had been working on a comeback album when he died.

His mother, Cherry Jones, said: 'To the public he was known as Ol' Dirty Bastard but to me he was known as Rusty - the kindest, most generous soul on Earth.'