Music stars have been paying tribute to rapper Dot Rotten, who has been reported dead in the Gambia. The UK rapper and producer is said to be a pioneer of grime.
The family of the 37 years old, who’s real name is Joseph Ellis-Stevenson and produced under the name Zeph Ellis later in his career, confirmed the news of his passing.
Dot Rotten was born on 19 October 1988 in Stockwell, South London. He was instrumental in helping shape the early grime sound.
Dot Rotten was widely regarded as part of the first generation of grime artists in the early 2000s. He started young, releasing mixtapes as “Young Dot” before adopting the Dot Rotten name.
He built a reputation for both rapping and production, working with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Cher Lloyd, D Double E and Chip.
His biggest mainstream success came with the 2012 single “Overload,” which reached the UK Top 20.
His career highlights include early mixtapes such as This Is the Beginning (2007). He was also nominated for BBC Sound of 2012. His albums include Voices in My Head (2013) and Interview (2014)
Following the news, artists and figures from the grime scene have been posting tributes, praising his influence on UK rap and his production talent.
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