A prominent rap artist has passed away at the age of 37. Dot Rotten’s family has confirmed his death, although no specifics regarding the circumstances have been disclosed. The musician, born Joseph Ellis in Stockwell, London, collaborated with various artists including Chip, D Double E, Cher Lloyd, and Ed Sheeran.
Dot Rotten achieved success with the single “Overload” in 2012, a collaboration with Ed Sheeran that reached the top 20 charts. Known for his freestyle approach to music, he expressed gratitude for the positive reception the song received. In recent times, he focused on producing tracks for artists like Kano and AJ Tracey under the alias Zeph Ellis.
Beginning his musical journey at a young age, Joseph released his first mixtape titled “This Is the Beginning” in 2007 under the name Young Dot. He later rebranded himself as Dot Rotten, which stood for “Dirty on Tracks, Righteous Opinions Told to Educate Nubians,” with a playful reference to the character Dot Cotton from EastEnders.
Dot Rotten signed a recording contract with Mercury Records after gaining exposure on Rinse FM and SB:TV. He featured on various artists’ tracks such as Ed Sheeran’s “Goodbye to You,” Mz Bratt’s “Speeding By,” and Cher Lloyd’s “Dub on the Track.” Additionally, he joined Gary Barlow and other artists on the 2011 Children In Need single, a cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop.”
Acknowledged for his prolific songwriting abilities, Dot Rotten revealed that he could write up to four songs a day and complete a hook in approximately an hour. Despite his achievements, he remained humble and focused on collaboration and unity within the music industry.
Following his passing, tributes poured in from fellow MCs in the grime scene, expressing their condolences and acknowledging his talent and impact. Messages of respect and admiration for his contributions to the music community highlighted the deep loss felt by his peers and fans.