Tributes pour in for grime MC Dot Rotten, dead, aged 37

Grime MC Dot Rotten has died at the age of 37. 

The musician's death was confirmed by his family to the BBC today (9th March). The circumstances of his death have not yet been confirmed, though some online reports say he died in Gambia. 

The MC, born Joseph Ellis-Stevenson in Stockwell, London, had worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Cher Lloyd, Chip, D Double E, Wretch 32, Labrinth, and those from Rinse FM. 

Widely recognised as one of grime's early pioneers, Dot helped shape the scene's sound with his production and lyrical style.

Dot began rapping at seven years old and used an Atari games console to learn music production. He released his debut mixtape, This Is The Beginning, at 19 years old, a self-produced project released in 2007 under the name Young Dot. He changed his name a year later to Dot Rotten, an acronym for "Dirty on Tracks, Righteous Opinions Told to Educate Nubians", and also a nod to EastEnders character Dot Cotton.

Rotten released music under many aliases, including Who's British?, Three-Six, The Spirit, Big Dotti, and Terror Child. 

In more recent years, Rotten traded the mic for production, producing for artists including Headie One and D-Block Europe under the name Zeph Ellis.

View this post on Instagram

Tributes to the rapper poured out, with Wiley among the first to report the MC and producer's death on Instagram.

Producer Rynsa Man also shared a tribute yesterday (8th March), saying: “One of the main reasons I carried on making music from the start… Love you forever bro… Rest in power.”

DJ Michael Hall posted: “we have lost a genuine friend, brother and one of the best to ever do it” 

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest music and events content.