Giving Prince a run for his money in the name-changing stakes, Zeph Ellis, fka Dot Rotten, previously Young Dot, has spent the last eight years executing an extravaganza of grime production classics, paralleling his point-blank lyrical assassinations on every track he puts his assured voice box to. Aside from his many mixtapes, as both an MC and producer, Dot has also blessed us with an intense internet footprint of freestyles—from radio and specials, to infamous battles.
This 2007 freestyle shows the former OGz member staring blankly at the camera spraying fire for days. A year later, Dot was found tearing Logan Sama's youngers set to shreds, throwing out lines like: "Try eat me in E3? I'll pull out the streezy and make you Es-ki-mo dance." And, who could forget his skippy freestyle over "Gucci Mane's "Lemonade"? Or his memorable Volume Control murkage? A few wrong turns with major labels hasn't tarnished Dot Rotten's legacy; to this very day, his old work still amazes.
"Dirty South Salute" (2007)
"Real Talk" (2007)
Any track that samples Sega's Shinobi III: Return Of The Ninja Master is a winner. "Real Talk" demonstrated Dot Rotten's evolving production abilities—as well as his distinctive storytelling. You'll rarely hear the emcee discussing any gossip or sticky topics in interviews; instead, he puts all of his views and opinions into the music. This particular cut is the first time Dot fully opened up about the incident with his old crew members, Essentials' Remerdee and DJ Bossman. And, for good measure, he even throws a little jab at Wiley.
"I don't wish I could find me a spaceship and fly, that's a waste man ting
I wish that I could finally make it and say goodbye
But I can’t do that until grime blows
I produce better than Wiley and all those other producers
With my eyes closed"
"I'm Talking The Hardest" (2008)
"I'm A Proffesional" (2009)
"Wooo Report" (2010)
2010 was the year of S-X's "Wooo Riddim", so it was only right Dot got in on the action with his confident narratives. On "Wooo Report", the MC addressed his dispute with Wolf from Hoodstars, sending sly shots at P Money and Wiley (again) in the process.
"Thought I got rushed by 10 of your EN-emies
Then I found out they were 10 of your friends
That’s some snakey shit
After that experience with the man dem being in Hoodstars made me sick
Man watched me get rushed, pulled out the popcorn and watched me get up
I was major pissed"
"Young Dot Resurrected" (2011)
"Brudda man, I beg you don't get rude
You're only mad cos you found out your dad's a wanker
And you come from a test tube
Bootleg my tunes, you'll get slewed
Wearing a hoodie don't made you hood
So don't come to me with your bad boy attitude
Chances are I'll rip you in two
Leave you in a grave like Tutankhamun"
Need we say more?
"Microphone" (2011)
Above The Waves EP was a mature and focused Dot Rotten. While the beats were more subdued, this was some of his most balanced work yet. From "People You Know" through to "Normal Human Being", he shared himself with his fans like never before—"Microphone" being a clear standout.
"Everybody talks to me
Tells me their opinion and basically reports to me
About how they think things ought to be
Because I bring people in
When I'm around, I bring the vibes and I’m like sing people sing
But I don’t say a word
And some express themselves to me and lie so much
But their waste of breath ain't helping me"