Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – British rapper and producer Dot Rotten, who rose to prominence in the grime scene before achieving wider mainstream recognition, has died in The Gambia at the age of 37.
The musician, whose real name was Joseph Ellis-Stevenson, reportedly died in The Gambia. His family confirmed the death to the BBC, ending early uncertainty that followed a wave of tributes from fellow artists online. The circumstances surrounding his death have not been disclosed.
Born and raised in South London, Ellis-Stevenson developed an interest in music production at a young age.
While still a teenager, he released his debut mixtape, This Is the Beginning, in 2007, marking the start of a career that would make him one of the most recognizable producers in grime’s formative years.
As the genre flourished in the late 2000s, Dot Rotten became known as one of its key beatmakers, producing tracks such as “Petrol Bomb” and “Bazooka,” which provided energetic and hard-hitting backdrops for MCs.
He also released seven installments of his influential Rotten Riddims series, alongside several other mixtapes that helped cement his reputation within the scene.
In addition to producing, Ellis-Stevenson was an accomplished MC and was known for his confrontational lyrical style. Over the years, he engaged in high-profile clashes with fellow grime figures, including Wiley, P Money, JME, and Stormzy.
His profile expanded beyond the underground after he signed with Mercury Records in 2011. That same year, he appeared on Ed Sheeran’s No. 5 Collaborations Project EP and contributed to Teardrop, an all-star charity single released in support of BBC Children in Need.
In 2012, he was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2012 poll, which highlights emerging music talent. Later that year, he released his only solo Top 20 single, “Overload,” a dubstep-influenced track that sampled Robert Miles’ trance classic “Children.”
However, his debut album with Mercury Records failed to achieve strong commercial success. Ellis-Stevenson subsequently left the label, adopted the name Zeph Ellis, and shifted his focus more heavily toward production.
Among his later work, the instrumental “XCXD BXMB” was used by Kano for the hit track “Garage Skank.” He also co-produced “I See You Shining,” a Top 40 single for Nines.
Tributes poured in from across the British rap scene following news of his death. Rapper Lady Leshurr wrote on social media: “My jaw just dropped… rest in perfect peace Dot Rotten, we’ve lost another GOAT.”
Leave a Reply