Deric Michael Angelettie (born July 31, 1968), also known by his stage names D-Dot, Papa Dot, and the Madd Rapper, is an American record producer. He served as executive producer and A&R for the album No Way Out (1997) by Puff Daddy & the Family, which won a Grammy Award. He has since done so for three other albums nominated for the award, and won the BMI Urban Award in 2001.
While attending Howard University in the late 1980s, Angelettie and Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence formed the hip hop duo Two Kings in A Cipher, who signed with RCA Records to release their debut album, From Pyramids to Projects (1991). He joined Bad Boy Records' production team The Hitmen by 1995, after which he was credited on releases for artists including the Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige, among others. He served as the team's de facto "Captain" by the time he produced the label's 1997 singles "Hypnotize" by Notorious B.I.G. and "It's All About The Benjamins" by Diddy.
As a recording artist, he created an alter ego, The Madd Rapper, to guest perform on B.I.G.'s second album, Life After Death (1997). Angelettie signed with Columbia Records to release his debut studio album as the character, Tell Em Why U Madd (1999), which contained guest appearances from then-unknown rappers 50 Cent (on the song "How to Rob") and Kanye West—the latter of whom Angelettie managed.
Outside of music, Angelettie is the founder of Crazy Cat Catalogue and Crazy Cat Cinemas. He has appeared on and produced the titlular song for MTV's reality show Making The Band 1 & 2. He co-hosted the television series Hip-Hop Hold 'Em on UPN, and served as a consultant for the 2009 film Notorious, due to his personal connection with the film's subject. He was an associate producer for the 2018 film Steps-The Movie, which was executive produced by Shaquille O'Neal.
Career Early career
During his time at Howard University from 1986 to 1989, Angelettie and colleague Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence formed the conscious hip hop duo, Two Kings in a Cipher, in 1988. Two years later, they signed with RCA Records and Bahia, and released their debut single, "Movin 'On 'Em" shortly after. Their debut studio album, From Pyramids to Projects (1991) was met with positive critical reception despite failing to chart, and the duo was dropped from RCA in 1993.
Angelettie began his work with Bad Boy Records in 1993 as an intern, and within five years, was named the unofficial captain of the label's in-house production team, the Hitmen. He has also served as VP of A&R during his time with the label. He was the sole credited producer of label boss Sean Combs' 1997 single "It's All About the Benjamins", and co-produced the Notorious B.I.G's "Hypnotize"—the rapper's final single released before his death—along with Lawrence earlier that year. Outside of the label, he amassed credits for other artists including Lil' Kim, Nas, Jay-Z, Outkast, and Busta Rhymes. During this time, Angelettie met and subsequently managed then-unknown rapper Kanye West during his time with Roc-A-Fella Records in 1999.
Later career Angelettie's "The Madd Rapper" persona debuted with a skit on the Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death in 1997. His debut studio album, Tell 'Em Why U Madd, was released by Angelettie's label, Crazy Cat Catalogue in a joint venture with Columbia Records in 1999; it contained guest appearances from Eminem, Raekwon, Diddy, Ma$e, Busta Rhymes, and then-unknown rappers 50 Cent and West.
On November 19, 1998, Angelettie was charged with participating in the assault of Blaze Magazine editor Jesse Washington. Washington claimed that the assault occurred due to him publishing a photograph, taken with Angelettie's consent, which revealed the Madd Rapper's identity. The editor and Angelettie settled the case out of court.
In 2000, due to legal issues with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the stage name was changed to simply Mad Rapper.
Angelettie later appeared on MTVʼs reality show Making the Band 1 & 2, co-hosted Hip-Hop Hold 'Em on UPN, and served as a consultant for the 2009 film Notorious by Fox Broadcasting Company and Searchlight Pictures. He founded Connect the Dots in 2006, a management and strategy company with clients such as record producer Stevie J. Angelettie has since co-written the film House of Bodies in 2014, served as a producer for the film Steps the following year, and executive produced Complex's documentary, Rules To This Sh!t in 2021.
Personal life Angelettie's background includes being 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-Wallace. He graduated from Samuel J Tilden High School in 1986 and then later attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., but dropped out in 1989 to pursue his music career. He is married to author Lisa Angelettie and is a father to four daughters.
Discography Studio albums (as an artist) Two Kings in a Cipher From Pyramids to Projects (1991), Bahia Entertainment/RCA
Madd Rapper Tell 'Em Why U Madd (1999), Crazy Cat/Columbia
Mad Rapper Appreciate the Hate - Vol #2 (2013) Appreciate the Hate - Vol #3 (2019) Fire Sign - the EP (2020) +Mad Rapper AppearancesYearSongArtistAlbum1997Kick in the Door (skit)The Notorious B.I.G.Life After DeathMad Producer (Interlude)Puff DaddyNo Way OutMad Rapper (Interlude)MaseHarlem World1998Mad Rapper (Interlude)The LoxMoney, Power, RespectGet Your Shit RightJermaine Dupri, DMXLife in 1472Mad Rapper (Intro/Interlude/Outro)Mad RapperBad Boy Greatest Hits1999How to Rob50 CentIn Too Deep OSTMad Rapper (Interlude)Cha ChaDear DiaryMad Rapper (Interlude)Puff DaddyForeverMad Rapper (Interlude)MaseDouble UP2000Mad Rapper (Interlude)Black RobLife Story2009MurderDJ JS-1Ground Original 22011Hip HopFred the GodsonCity of God2019What You Mad AtDave EastSurvival +Production CreditsYearSongArtistAlbum1995What's Up Star?SugaThe Show OST1996I Want You BabyHorace BrownHorace BrownLay Down (Bad Boy Remix)Nalini~ATLiens (Remix)OutKast~1997The Theme; Big Will; Clue (Who Shot JR?)Tracey LeeMany FacezHypnotize; The World Is FilledThe Notorious B.I.G.Life After DeathBeen Around the World; Do You Know?; All About the BenjaminsPuff DaddyNo Way OutEverything You Want (Remix)Ray J~Hot, Hot, HotLL Cool JPhenomenonGive It UpSWVRelease Some TensionWhere I'm FromJay-ZIn My Lifetime, Vol. 1Lately IFaith EvansFaithRock the BodyQueen Pen & Tracey LeeHav Plenty OSTAll 4 the Love; Everybody Wanna RatThe LoxMoney, Power, RespectSitting HomeTotalKim, Keisha, PamGet Your Shit Right; All That's Got to GoJermaine DupriLife in 1472Off the Hook (Remix)Jody WatleyFlowerHot Shit Makin Ya BounceBusta RhymesExtinction Level Event1999Shorty You Keep Playin With My MindImajinImajinMy LifeFoxy BrownChyna DollCali ChronicHarlem WorldThe MovementSunglassesCha ChaDear DiaryJust You & I; Is It You (Deja Vu Remix)Made MenClassic: Limited EditionJoanneTrina and TamaraTrina and TamaraFuck Me, No Fuck YouMaseDouble UpChain Swang; RebuildingGoodie MobbWorld PartyLet Me Get Down; If I Should Die BeforeNotorious B.I.G.Born Again2000You Don't Know MeBlack RobLife StoryHands in the AirDa BratUnrestrictedDon't Mess With MeLil KimNotorious K.I.M.
Awards MTV Video Music Awards +YearNominee/workCreditsAwardResult1998"It's All About the Benjamins" (Rock Remix) Co-productionVideo of the YearViewer's Choice"Come with Me" (from Godzilla)Best Video from a Film
Grammy Awards YearNominee/workCreditsAwardResult1998No Way OutExecutive productionBest Rap Album Life After Death A&RBest Rap Album
NARAS Awards YearNominee/workCreditsAwardResult1998Deric AngelettieProducer of The YearGrammy Naras Governor's New Horizon Award
Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time RankArtistAlbumCreditsYear483The Notorious B.I.G.Life After Death A&R1997
Filmography
Behind the Music (2001) - Angelettie Driven (Lil' Kim) (2003) - Angelettie Making the Band (1 & 2) (2004) - Angelettie, music producer Hip-Hop Hold 'Em (2006) - host E! True Hollywood Story (2006) - Angelettie Life After Death: The Movie (2007) - Angelettie Notorious (2009) - music consultant Rules to This Shit (2019) - executive producer Steps - The Movie (2021) - associate producer Neutralize (2021) - producer
References
External links Mad Rapper bandcamp page