The Madd Rapper

The Madd Rapper

Raising the stakes and expanding the boundaries of street-honed, hardcore hip-hop with raw roots-R&B flavor and a dose of dual-personality humor, the Madd Rapper — a/k/a multi-platinum producer and Bad Boy Hitman Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie — ends the 90s and enters the Y2K wreaking havoc with his debut solo set Tell ‘Em Why U Madd.

The first release on the rapper/producer/songwriter/CEO’s Crazy Cat Catalogue/Columbia imprint, the album’s illuminating lead single, “Dot Vs The Madd Rapper,” lyrically illustrates the artist’s exceptional mic and writing skills, punctuated by his schizophrenic Madd/D-Dot personae. “The Madd Rapper and D-Dot are two sides of me,” explains D-Dot, who first came to industry prominence as one-half of the consciousness-raising rap duo 2 Kings in a Cipher a decade ago. “When I’m rapping as D-Dot,” he continues, “I’m rapping as a real Brooklyn dude with money, honies and fame. In Madd Rapper mode I’m rhyming about struggle and trying to get put on. See, he represents all the frustrated, unsigned rappers who ‘know’ they’re better than people who’ve already blown up. So instead of sugar-coating shit, the Madd Rapper says what everybody wants to, but are afraid to say. And he does it strictly street and hardcore.”

A serious listen to Tell ‘Em Why U Madd — predominately produced by D-Dot and his Crazy Cat production crew (Kanye West, Charlemagne, Eric “Coptic” Matlock, Garrett “Blake” Smith, and John “JD” Crafton), with additional input from hitmen Ron Lawrence and Yogi — reveals virtually flawless production, mind-blowing interludes and skits, and multifaceted flows. At the heart of the matter is the Madd Rapper’s edgy, uncanny ability to shock you one minute, excite you the next, and have your sides splitting with X-rated laughter a cut or two later. What’s more, everything on the album is rooted in true ghetto experience and record industry angst.

Told in bold, explicit street language, augmented with bomb beats and riveting scenarios, other treacherous tracks include: “You’re All Alone,” a powerful urban right-of-passage joint featuring new Crazy Cat artist Picasso Black; “How We Do,” a student/teacher “How to make it” song, wherein D-Dot and Puff Daddy push the envelopes of both beats and rhyme; “Bongo Break,” an all-the-way-live sounding Latin/hip-hop jam on which the Madd Rapper and Busta Rhymes catch wreck; “Ghetto,” an underground sound delivered in graphic detail by D-Dot and Wu-Tang’s Raekwon; “Esta Loca (She’s Crazy),” a bangin’ Beatnuts-featured song about a buck-wild, miniskirt-wearing sista with no sexual boundaries; and “Stir Crazy,” an insane-in-the-membrane track with Madd and Eminem rippin’ the rhymes raw. “When writing, my inspiration comes from life…what I’ve experienced, what I’ve seen, everything,” notes D-Dot, commenting on the lyrical insights, revelations and motivations that populate Tell ‘Em Why U Madd.

Brooklyn-born D-Dot Angelettie’s Madd Rapper persona originally appeared on the Notorious B.I.G.’s classic Life After Death cd. However, despite producing that album’s biggest hit, “Hypnotize,” and other #1 million sellers including Puff Daddy’s “Been Around The World,” Mase’s “Feel So Good,” and the Lox’ “Money, Power, Respect,” D-Dot has paid his dues to reach his present status as one of the industry’s most brilliant and respected hit makers.

Growing up and surviving on Brooklyn’s mean streets, where hardcore rap was — and still is — Black youth’s soundtrack, D-Dot was drawn to hip-hop like a moth to a flame. And like the moth that flies to close to a candle, he had to experience a career crash-and-burn before realizing substantial subsequent success. Rapping seriously since he was 14, and inspired by the likes of Run-DMC, EPMD, Barry White and Quincy Jones, D-Dot’s early rap skills were exemplary, and led to the formation, rise and unfortunate fall of 2 Kings in a Cipher, and BAHIA, the independent label that released their only hit “For The Brothers Who Ain’t Here.” The demise of 2 Kings was a devastating blow, but down deep D-Dot knew that sooner or later he’d make a comeback. “It was hard, but I never gave up, and even worked at a book store during the day and on my music at night,” Deric recalls. “As bad as it got sometimes,” he continues, “it was a learning experience that made me work harder and appreciate success even more when it came.”

The turning point came when Deric meteorically rose from Bad Boy Entertainment intern, to its Merchandising Director, to booking acts for Notorious B.I.G., and road managing for Mary J. Blige. Then Sean “Puffy” Combs personally chose him to be his label’s A&R Director and finally a primary producer of his infamous Hit Men. “By then everything had changed, raising my confidence and my bank account,” smiles D-Dot, whose subsequent Bad Boy production triumphs also include the chart topping platinum hits “Been Around The World” and “The Benjamins.” As Executive Producer, he helmed blockbuster albums for Mase (Harlem World), the Grammy Award-winning Puff Daddy (No Way Out), The Lox (Money, Power, Respect), Faith Evans (Keep The Faith), Black Rob (Life Story), and the Madd Rapper (Tell ‘Em Why U Madd).

D-Dot’s production credits also include chart winners for LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Foxy Brown, SWV, Tracey Lee, Queen Pen and other A-list urban artists. Expanding his horizons, Angelettie, who also heads Lions Den, a powerful production and management concern, took on his most ambitious endeavor to date when his Crazy Cat Catalogue label was signed to Columbia. “Over the years I had learned how to run a label from people like Puffy, Russell (Simmons), Andre (Harrell), Babyface and L.A. Reid, so I felt it was time for me do the same thing, my way,” says D-Dot. “I’m also real excited about the awesome acts we have coming out on my label like (power rapper) Picasso Black, and Desert Roze (a fierce female hip-hop/R&B duo).”

Although he has many irons on the fire, D-Dot’s present priority is taking Tell ‘Em Why U Madd to the limit, widening the recognition of his alter ego, the Madd Rapper in the process. Ironically, except for a song with DMX and Jermaine Dupri (“Get Your Shit Right, Gotta Go”), the Madd one had never rapped on a record. “The Madd Rapper had only been featured as a skit or interlude character,” says D-Dot. “And since most people didn’t know he was me, I kept it on the down low at first. But interest in him grew so much that once he rapped on Jermaine Dupri’s album, it just made sense for his to be the first Crazy Cat Catalogue album to come out.”

With the hit-bound “D-Dot VS The Madd Rapper” exploding on the major singles charts, and the Tell ‘Em Why U Madd CD following suit, NARAS award winner Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie and his Crazy Cat Catalogue are poised to make a significant impact on the record industry for years to come. Nonetheless, hip-hop’s most down-to-earth Renaissance man (and proud father of two) has no plans to alter his enormously successful course. “It’s about being a leader instead of a follower, staying true to the game, focused on your music, proud of your people, knowing who God is and being aware of where you come from,” says D-Dot. “Like the Madd Rapper says, he concludes, “Stay ghetto, live ghetto, be ghetto.”


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