Deric Angelettie

While attending Howard University from 1986 to 1989,[8] Angelettie and his friend Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence formed the conscious rap duo Two Kings in a Cipher.[9] In 1990, the duo signed a recording deal to RCA/Bahia.[10] In 1990, they debuted their first single "Movin 'On 'Em" and in 1991, they released their debut album From Pyramids to Projects.[10] 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 the Notorious B.I.G., to managing R&B diva Mary J. Blige on her My Life Tour (1994-1996), to becoming the head of Bad Boy's A&R Department as Vice-President,[11] and then finally in 1996 becoming the "captain" of the Hitmen[11][12] — 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"[13] and the Notorious B.I.G's "Hypnotize"[13][14] and has sold over 30 million records as a producer, executive producer, songwriter and artist.

Angelettie executive-produced multi-platinum albums for the Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Mase, Faith Evans, the Lox, Black Rob,[15][13][16] Da Band,[17] and Black Rob.[15]

As a producer, Angelettie's credits[15] also include songs for artists: Lil' Kim, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes. Angelettie has managed artists such as Kanye West.[18]

The Madd Rapper persona debuted on a skit on the Notorious B.I.G.'s second LP (Life After Death) in 1997. Angelettie's alter ego released his debut album, Tell 'Em Why U Madd, on his own Crazy Cat Catalogue Label[6] in 1999. The album featured guest appearances from Puff Daddy, Eminem,[19] 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.[20] Washington claimed that the assault was made because he published a photograph (taken with Angelettie's consent) that revealed The Madd Rapper's identity,[21] which up until that time had been concealed from the general public but widely known in the music industry.[21] The editor and Angelettie settled out of court.

Angelettie has appeared on MTVʼs reality show Making the Band 1 & 2.[17] He has co-hosted the television show "Hip-Hop Hold 'Em" on UPN[22] and was the "Music Consultant" for the "Notorious" movie[23] on Fox/Searchlight Pictures - 2009. Angelettie also owns and runs Connect the Dots, a management and strategy company with clients such as multi-platinum producer, Stevie J from VH1's #1 cable reality show, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and Eddie Harris, a screenwriter whose credits include “House of Bodies” (2014) and “Steps” (2015). Angelettie was a producer on the film “Steps”, and executive producer of the documentary "Rules To This $hit", distributed through Complex Networks.

• From Pyramids to Projects (Bahia Entertainment/RCA, 1991)

• Tell 'Em Why U Madd (Crazy Cat Catalogue/Columbia, 1999)