Interview: Professor Green > <

Fri, Jan 8 2010

Bringing the substance back into UK urban music...

Interview: Professor Green

Professor Green, or Stephen Paul Manderson as he's known to the government, is a name you are about to hear a lot. Having recently signed to Virgin Records, the East London MC is likely to have a very big year in front of him. And Rivmixx is counting on this talented lyricist to bring some substance back into the recently popularised urban mainstream.

Pro Green has been a well known name in the underground hip hop scene for a number of years.
'Lecture #1' was his first mixtape release, back in 2006. But, following some serious battling success, The Streets front man, Mike Skinner, quickly picked him up and signed him to his label, The Beats.

His career, however, began primarily as a battle MC. Professor Green won the initial 2008 Jumpoff Myspace battle rap tournament, beating off Stig of the Dump, and winning a grand prize of £50,000; and quickly gained a reputation as the hottest battle rapper in the UK. He's won in excess of one hundred battles; claimed the crown of second best MC in the world - second only to Jin - at the Power Summit 50k battle; and is the only rapper ever to have won Jump Off seven weeks in a row - which he did, twice.

Last year (2009) was pretty turbulent for the charismatic MC, though. Having left Skinner's label - because the funding dried up - Pro Green began to forge his own way as an artist. But the release of his single 'Hard Night Out' got set back after he was stabbed in the neck, right through the centre of his 'Lucky' tattoo, after a performance in May at Cargo, London. According to his surgeon he "is alive by only a millimetre".

The latter part of 2009 definitely looked brighter for our favourite horticulturist, however. November saw him signed to Virgin Records and tour with Lily Allen. Now, with a mixtape and an album scheduled for release this year (2010), plus the next single 'I Need You Tonight' due for release any day now, not to mention his support slot alongside Miss Allen on the Australian leg of her tour, Rivmixx is truly excited to see where Professor Green will go next.

Rivmixx: What made you fall in love with hip-hop?

Professor Green: "I was nine or ten. My dad had played me 'Pain', the b-side to 'Regulate' from Tupac's film Juice. Then I heard Biggie and I was hooked."

R: How difficult was it to make the transition from a battle MC into making structured songs?

P.G: "I didn't find it that hard, there's still elements of battling in my music but there's a whole lot more substance."

R: You've just signed to Virgin Records, what difference will this make to your career?

P.G: "Well, it means I've got one, which is a start!"

R: Are we going to see a change in direction with your sound, like we have with Example?

P.G: "No, I won't be making dance music. You will however hear a development."

R: So many urban artists have been signed towards the end of last year, 2010 could be even more massive for urban music, what will make you stand out?

P.G: "The fact that I'm white. Kidding. I don't think anyone else is coming from the angle I am... At least I hope they aren't!"

R: Who are you rating artistically right now?

P.G: "Drake. I can't wait to hear his album. It's good because he doesn't have the stigma attached to him that most rappers do, he escapes it but still gets respect 'cause he's so fuckin' good at what he does."

R: As a big underground name, what is your view on UK urban music going pop?

P.G: "It's a good thing, but I don't think it needs to be so watered down to be there. I think next year is going to see the other side of our [UK urban] music come through and we'll start seeing some substance."

R: How has your transition from underground hip-hop MC to major label recording artist been taken by your peers?

P.G: "No idea. Probably a lot of dislike but in the words of the great Catherine Tate, Bothered."

R: Who will we see you working with next year?

P.G: "Naughty Boy, Fink, Cores, I'd like to do something original with Lily. Hopefully another track with Mike Skinner (the track we did 'Crying Game' is one of my favourite cuts from the album), and there's a few people I'd really like to work with that I may get to but I'm not about to count my chickens before they've hatched!"

R: As Pro Green Twitter followers we have to ask you about Industry Hater. As a battle MC do you rate his parrs?

P.G: "Can't believe you're acknowledging him. Are you the Industry Hater?" [Rivmixx is, most definitely not!]

R: You've just finished touring with Lily Allen, from your Tweets it sounds like you've really enjoyed yourself. Any crazy tour moments you can divulge?

P.G: "I lost my boxer shorts in Berlin, and a bunch of loonies, whose names I won't put out there sniffed hand sanitizer - the kind made mostly out of alcohol."

R: How did touring with such a massive name come about?

P.G: "Facebook. We were just chatting when I mentioned clearing the use of 'Dub Be Good To Me'. I sent my version over and Lily suggested her doing the hook and us performing it live at Bestival. I was taken aback; I half didn't think she was being serious! A week later we were in the studio where Lily suggested I tour with her. She's been amazing. All that aside she's a lovely girl, and very undeserving of the bad press she gets at times!"

R: UK urban music often receives a bad rep and is always connected to youth violence etc. Do you think that will ever change?

P.G: "Nope. The art form is very young and very belonging to the youngers. The problem's not in our music it's in our society, which our music happens to reflect."

R: What is next for Pro Green and what can we expect from you in the future?

P.G: "The second instalment of my Lecture mixtapes, a couple of singles then the album, then more singles...an awful lot. I won't be happy till I'm in Bizarre falling out of a club with one of The Saturday's though."

Written by: Caragh Logan