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Notable People from Whitman Houses

1. Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Russell Tyrone Jones)— Rapper / Wu-Tang Clan co-founder

1 Ol’ Dirty Bastard didn’t just make “Brooklyn Zoo” because of a random desire to rep BK — it’s how he characterized where he came from. Dirty grew up in the Whitman Houses, and along with cousins RZA and GZA, formed what would later become the Wu-Tang Clan. ODB became one of the most iconic and unpredictable figures in hip-hop history. Wu-Tang Clan is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop groups of all time. He passed away in 2004.

2. Dana Dane (Dana McLeese)— Rapper, author, radio host

26 Dana was born in the Walt Whitman housing project in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, New York. 25 He is an American hip-hop recording artist renowned for his light-hearted, storytelling rap style and sharp fashion sense during the golden age of hip-hop in the 1980s. Growing up in the Walt Whitman housing projects in Fort Greene, he began his career as part of the Kangol Crew alongside high school friend and fellow rapper Slick Rick. Dane rose to prominence with his 1987 debut album *Dana Dane with Fame* on Profile Records, which peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200 and earned gold certification as the first solo rap album by a Brooklyn artist to achieve that status. 1 He would go on to host a Sirius/XM radio program BackSpin and publish a novel, *Numbers*, which was based on his experience growing up in the Whitman Houses.

3. Bernard King— NBA basketball star

3 Wikipedia’s notable residents list for the Walt Whitman Houses includes Bernard King (born 1956), former NBA player. King became one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, playing for the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Washington Bullets. He was a **four-time NBA All-Star**, led the league in scoring in 1985 (averaging 32.9 points per game), and was inducted into the **Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013**. He is especially beloved by Knicks fans for his legendary scoring performances in the early-to-mid 1980s.

4. Talib Kweli— Rapper, activist, author

4 Whitman Houses has also been home to residents who rose to national prominence, including rapper Talib Kweli. Known for his socially conscious lyrics and deep engagement with Brooklyn’s political and cultural life, Kweli has spoken about how his upbringing in the complex shaped both his identity and his music. However, it should be noted that 16 according to Wikipedia, Kweli grew up in a household in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, so he may have had a connection to Whitman Houses through family or time spent there rather than it being his primary residence. He became famous as 16 one half of the hip-hop duo Black Star, which he formed in 1997 with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def. 19 His popularity was further cemented by his solo breakout hit “Get By,” produced by Kanye West.

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