BBC - Sound of - 2012

South Londoner Joseph Ellis built his first beat on an Atari at the age of seven, not long later he was rapping, and within two years had released his first mixtape This is the Beginning under the Young Dot moniker.

A year later the rapper said goodbye to the name with farewell release R.I.P. Young Dot, transforming himself into Dot Rotten, which stands for 'Dirty on Tracks, Righteous Opinions Told To Educate Nubians' according to the MC. Soon after he formed the OGz Crew alongside the likes of P Money and Little Dee and unveiled a skill in production that would eventually see him work alongside the likes of Ghetts, Tinie Tempah and Wiley.

Counting a diverse selection of influences, which range from Sting to Bob Marley and Lil Wayne, Rotten continued to progress in 2009, with mixtapes S.O.O.N (Something Out of Nothing) and Extra Attention garnering favour from the likes of Mixmag, Mistajam and Westwood. A tour supporting Chase & Status followed and the rapper got his first glimpse of the UK mainstream alongside Tinchy Stryder, Ms Dynamite and Tulisa in this year's Children In Need cover of Teardrop by Massive Attack. A tour with Dappy is sure to set up a triumphant year for the Balham boy.