Deric Michael Angelettie, better known by his stage names D-Dot or Tha Madd Rapper, is an American music producer, songwriter, artist, manager, TV and film producer and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. He is a GrammyNARAS Award winner for "Producer of The Year" in 1998 and a BMI Urban Award winner in 2001. He created the character, Mad Rapper , and released an album, Tell 'Em Why U Madd'', on his ′Crazy Cat Catalogue′ record label distributed by Columbia Records in 2000. The album featured up and coming rapper 50 Cent on the song "How To Rob" and also introduced a young producer/rapper, Kanye West, whom D-Dot also managed and mentored.
Personal life
Born and raised an only child in Brooklyn, New York, to an African-American father Eric Angelettie and a Puerto Rican mother Dr. Noemi Angelettie, he graduated from Samuel J Tilden High School in 1986 and then later attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. He is married to author Lisa Angelettie and has four daughters, Alexis, Autumn, Ali and Ava.
While attending Howard University from 1986 to 1989, Angelettie and his friend Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence formed the conscious rap duo Two Kings in a Cipher. In 1990, the duo signed a recording deal to RCA/Bahia. In 1990, they debuted their first single "Movin 'On 'Em and in 1991, they released their debut albumFrom Pyramids to Projects. The album received critical acclaim but the duo was dropped from RCA in 1993.
After moving back to NYC from D.C., D-Dot joined Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993 and in a 5-year span, Angelettie went from intern, to director of merchandising and management, to booking shows for artists Craig Mack and Notorious B.I.G., to managing R&B diva Mary J. Blige on her My Life Tour, to becoming the head of Bad Boy's A&R Department as Vice-President, and then finally in 1996 becoming the "captain" of The Hitmen — Bad Boy's in-house production team. As a producer and songwriter, D-Dot produced and wrote multi-platinum songs for legendary artists such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Outkast, and Eminem among many others. He produced and wrote mega hits such as Diddy's "It's All About The Benjamins" and The Notorious B.I.G's Hypnotize and has sold over 30 million records as a producer, executive producer, songwriter and artist. In 1997, Angelettie A&R'd and executive produced multi-platinum albums for The Notorious B.I.G., Puff DaddyMaseFaith Evans, The Lox, Black Rob,, Da Band and Black Rob's second LP,. As a producer, Angelettie's credits also include songs for artists: Lil' Kim, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes. Angelettie has managed artists such as Kanye West.
The Madd Rapper
The Madd Rapper made his debut on a skit on The Notorious B.I.G.'s second LP in 1997. Angelettie's alter ego released his debut album, Tell 'Em Why U Madd, on his own Crazy Cat Catalogue Label in 1999. The album featured guest appearances from Puff Daddy, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Jermaine Dupri, Lil' Cease. The album also introduced young rapper 50 Cent and young producer Kanye West. On November 19, 1998, Angelettie was charged with participating in the assault of Blaze Magazine editor Jesse Washington. Washington claimed that the assault was made because he published a photograph that revealed The Madd Rapper's identity, which up until that time had been concealed from the general public but widely known in the music industry. The editor and Angelettie settled out of court.
Business
Angelettie has appeared on MTVʼs reality show Making The Band 1 & 2. He has co-hosted the television show "Hip-Hop Hold 'Em" on UPN and was the "Music Consultant" for the "Notorious" movie on Fox/Searchlight Pictures - 2009. Crazy Cat Catalogue is currently set to release new projects through itʼs Red/Sony Music Distribution. Angelettie also owns and runs Connect The Dots, a management and strategy company. Connect The Dots client list includes Grammy-Award winning and multi-platinum producer, Stevie J. from VH1's #1 cable reality show, and Eddie Harris, a screenwriter whose credits include “House of Bodies”, “Steps”. Angelettie is a producer on the film “Steps”. Presently he is the executive producer of the documentary titled "Rules To This $hit" - distributed through Complex Networks.
