Grime rapper and producer Dot Rotten dies aged 37

"Born and raised in south London, Ellis-Stevenson began producing music in childhood and was still a teenager when he released his debut mixtape This Is the Beginning, in 2007. He became celebrated as one of the core beat-makers in the then flourishing grime scene, with tracks such as Petrol Bomb and Bazooka providing heavy yet spry backings for MCs."

"He crossed over to a wider audience after being signed to Mercury Records in 2011, appearing on Ed Sheeran's No 5 Collaborations Project EP that year as well as an all-star charity record, Teardrop, released to benefit Children in Need. He was nominated for the BBC's Sound of poll in 2012, and later that year released his only solo Top 20 hit, Overload."

"One of his instrumentals, XCXD BXMB, was used by Kano for his hit track Garage Skank, and he also co-produced I See You Shining, a Top 40 hit for Nines. Lady Leshurr was among the British rap names paying tribute, writing: My jaw just dropped rest in perfect peace Dot Rotten, we've lost another GOAT."

Dot Rotten, born Joseph Ellis-Stevenson, was a prominent British grime producer and rapper from south London who began making music as a teenager. He established himself as a core beat-maker in the grime scene with influential tracks like Petrol Bomb and Bazooka, releasing seven volumes of his Rotten Riddims series. After signing to Mercury Records in 2011, he achieved mainstream recognition through collaborations with Ed Sheeran and appearances on charity records. His 2012 single Overload became his only solo Top 20 hit. Following his departure from Mercury Records, he transitioned to production under the name Zeph Ellis, creating instrumentals for successful tracks by artists including Kano and Nines. He died at age 37 in the Gambia.

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