Professor Green | |
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Born | Stephen Paul Manderson 27 November 1983 |
Occupations |
|
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2005–present |
Labels |
|
Website | professorgreen |
Stephen Paul Manderson (born 27 November 1983), [1] better known by his stage name Professor Green or simply Pro Green, is an English rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, television personality and mental health activist from London. [2] [3]
Growing up on a council estate in Clapton, east London, Green went on to become a multi-platinum artist, with 3.5 million combined sales in the UK. He is the former co-host of Lip Sync Battle UK on Channel 5. [4] His autobiography featured on the Times bestseller list, and he is a supporter of the suicide prevention charity CALM. [5] [6]
Manderson's mother gave birth to him when she was 16 years old, splitting with the boy's father shortly after. At six weeks old he required a pyloromyotomy operation to his stomach. [7] Manderson was raised by his grandmother, great-grandmother and uncles in a two bedroom flat on the Northwold housing estate in Upper Clapton, Hackney, London, in a home which he describes as chaotic. [8] Green expressed how the passing of his great-grandmother Edie when he was 13 had a great impact. [9]
He sold cannabis as a youngster and smoked it on a daily basis between the ages of 16 and 24. [1] Although he was a bright student and dreamed of being a lawyer, he suffered from depression at the loss of his parents and he left Stoke Newington School in Clissold Road without any qualifications. [10] [11] [12]
When Green was 24 years old his father died by suicide. Green went to identify the corpse in the morgue. He stopped using any drugs from that point to allow himself to process the death fully. [12] [13]
In 2006, Green released his first mixtape, Lecture #1. [14] He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in 2008. [15]
After touring with Lily Allen, Green was signed to Virgin Records. In 2010, Green released his debut album, Alive Till I'm Dead . His first pop single, "I Need You Tonight", peaked at number 3 in the UK, [16] and number 15 in Ireland, and was certified silver in the United Kingdom. [17]
He released his second single 'Just Be Good to Green', in 2010 in the UK, which featured British singer Lily Allen. [18] It became a top 5 hit in the UK, a top 20 hit in Ireland and on the European Hot 100 Singles. [19] It also peaked at #32 in New Zealand and #49 in Australia. [20] His album was released a week later, and peaked at #2 in the UK [21] and #18 in Ireland. [22] He released Monster on 3 October 2010 as the third single from the album, featuring UK rapper Example (Elliot Gleave). [23] The single became a top 30 hit on the UK Singles Chart, and the album has been certificated Platinum with sales of over 300,000 in the United Kingdom. [24]
In 2010 Green joined Lily Allen on stage at Wembley Stadium whilst supporting Muse, to perform her number one hit 'Smile', and 'Just Be Good To Green'. [25] In October 2010, Green released the video for his next single "Jungle", which features Maverick Sabre. It was released on 3 January 2011 and reached #31 in the UK Singles Chart. [26]
In 2011 Green was the first social ambassador for the clothing and footwear manufacturer brand Puma, focusing on the fashion and lifestyle side of the brand. [27] In October 2012, Puma launched an exclusive apparel collection designed by Green. [28]
Green's second album, At Your Inconvenience , was released in October 2011. [29] The title track "At Your Inconvenience" was premiered by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 on 13 July 2011. [30] That track was released as a promotional single only, as an instant download upon preorder of the album on iTunes. The first official single, "Read All About It" (with guest vocals from Emeli Sandé), was released on 23 October 2011. On 30 October 2011, it reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart. [31]
The second single released from the album was "Never Be a Right Time", with guest vocals from Ed Drewett. The EP featured remixes from Document One and Drums of London, and a remix of "How Many Moons" featuring fellow UK rappers Dream McLean and Rinse. The "How Many Moons" remix premiered on Mistajam's show on 1Xtra in January 2012. The third single released was "Remedy", featuring Ruth-Anne Cunningham. A remix contest was hosted where producers could download the stems for the track and use them to create a remix. [32]
The fourth single was "Avalon" featuring Sierra Kusterbeck, which appeared on an advert for the energy drink Relentless. [33] Pro Green is a brand ambassador for Relentless, and performed for them at a secret gig in his home town of Hackney, London. [34]
A promotional non-album single, titled "Are You Getting Enough?", featuring Miles Kane and was released in July 2013. [35] After the single failed to chart even in the UK top 100, Green announced that the first "proper" single from the album would be released in January 2014 and the album would follow shortly.
Green performed new tracks titled "I Need Church" and "Little Secrets" in his 2013 live sets. [36] Tweets and Instagram posts also revealed a collaboration with Wretch 32 and iSHi titled "Gross" and another track titled "The Middle". Green also posted a short clip of a collaboration with iSHI and Ella Eyre which didn't make the album. [37] [ self-published source? ]
Green appeared on CBBC show 12 Again , talking about his life at age 12. In April 2013, he released a 54-second teaser of the album's first promotional single "Not Your Man", which features vocals from Thabo.
In 2014, he appeared on a remix of "German Whip" by Meridian Dan, also featuring Skepta, Bossman Birdie and Jordan Stephens. "Not Your Man" premiered in July 2014, and was released as an "instant grat" download on iTunes when you pre-ordered the album. The album's second "instant grat" promotional single, "I Need Church", was released on 16 July. The lead single from the album, "Lullaby" featuring Tori Kelly, was released in September 2014. Growing Up in Public was released in September 2014. The album featured guest appearances from James Craise, Tori Kelly, Mr Probz, Rizzle Kicks, Whinnie Williams, Thabo, Cas and Dream Mclean. [38]
In November 2016, Professor Green released "One Eye on the Door" with an accompanying music video. [39]
In June 2019, Green announced that he would be releasing the title track of his second EP, Matters of the Heart in July, with the 6-track EP set to be released in September. He will be touring the album. [40] In 2020, the track "Bad Decisions" was released featuring NAHLI. [41]
In August 2021, Green was signed to a worldwide artist services deal with British independent record label Cooking Vinyl. [42]
In June 2017, Green endorsed Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election. He told fans to stop "listening to the slander and attempted media blanket" of Corbyn, adding: "He is for peace and not war, that doesn't make him weak, nor does it mean he's spineless or without a backbone – quite the opposite." [43] [44] [45] In November 2019, along with 34 other musicians, he signed a letter endorsing Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election with a call to end austerity. [46] [47]
In July 2017, while visiting Rochdale to film a documentary, he confronted the leaders of far right political group Britain First, as reported in the British media, filming an anti-Muslim march he witnessed taking place in the Northern town, interviewing co-leader Jayda Fransen. [48]
Green is the patron of the anti-suicide charity CALM. [40]
In 2020, Green was one of the 100 celebrity contributors to the book, Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You, of which all proceeds went to NHS Charities Together and The Lullaby Trust. [49]
In 2023, Green gave his support to the British Gas Post Office Pop-Ups campaign, where pop-up advice centres, funded by the British Gas Energy Trust, opened in post offices across the UK to offer free money and energy advice, and mental health support. [50]
In May 2009, Green was attacked with the neck of a broken bottle in the Cargo nightclub in Shoreditch, London. His assailant was later convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison. [51] In May 2013, Green was crushed between two cars when travelling to perform a live show at Hartpury College in Gloucester. He was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg, but returned to appear at Harper Adams University in Shropshire after just three weeks, followed by a long set at Glastonbury during the last weekend in June, which included him running along the front row of the audience. [52] In 2019 Green fractured his neck during a seizure, just before leaving for a UK tour. [53]
Green married Millie Mackintosh at Babington House in Somerset in 2013. [54] They divorced in 2016. [55]
Green's autobiography, Lucky, was published in September 2015. [56] It was a Times bestseller. [40] Green presented Suicide and Me on BBC Three on 27 October 2015. [57] Green also contributed to the book, Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You. [49]
Green is a supporter of Arsenal F.C. [58]
In 2021, his son with his partner, actress Karima McAdams, was born. [59] The family lives in London. [60]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Professor Green: Suicide and Me | Himself | Autobiography |
2016–2018 | Lip Sync Battle UK | Co-Host | TV show |
2016 | Professor Green: Hidden and Homeless | Himself | Documentary |
Drive | Himself | TV show | |
Professor Green: Dangerous Dogs | Himself | Documentary | |
2017 | "Professor Green: Living In Poverty" | Himself | Documentary |
"Professor Green: Is It Time to Legalise Weed?" | Himself | Documentary | |
Tipping Point: Lucky Stars | Himself | TV Game Show | |
Murder in Successville | Himself | TV show | |
2018 | Professor Green: Working Class White Men | Himself | Documentary |
John Bishop: In Conversation With... | Himself | Series 4 Episode 1 | |
Celebs in Solitary: Meltdown | Himself | TV show/Social Experiment | |
2019 | Top Gear | Guest | TV show |
My Famous Babysitter | Himself | ||
Freeze the Fear with Wim Hoff | Himself | TV show |
Albums
Kane Brett Robinson, better known as Kano, is a British rapper, songwriter and actor from East Ham, London. His fifth album, Made in the Manor was shortlisted for the 2016 Mercury Prize and won Best Album at the 2016 MOBO Awards. On screen, he played the role of Sully in Top Boy.
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"I Need You Tonight" is a song by British rapper and singer Professor Green, featuring vocals from British singer-songwriter Ed Drewett and produced by The ThundaCatz. The song samples "Need You Tonight", originally written and performed by Australian rock band INXS. The song was released as the lead single from his debut album Alive Till I'm Dead on 9 April 2010 as a digital download and was released physically as a CD single the following day. It reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
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"Game Over" is a song by Tinchy Stryder, released as a promotional single from his third studio album Third Strike. The song features vocals from Example, Giggs, Devlin, Chipmunk, Professor Green and Tinie Tempah, who each have their own verse. It was released on 15 November 2010 via digital download. An official remix featuring Ghetts, Slix, Griminal, Dot Rotten, Fuda Guy, Wretch 32, Roachee, Maxsta & Tinchy Stryder, can be found with a video on YouTube.
The discography of British rapper Professor Green consists of three studio albums, three extended plays, twenty-three singles and thirty-one music videos.
"Just Be Good to Green" is a reworked cover of "Dub Be Good to Me" by British recording artist Professor Green from his debut studio album, Alive Till I'm Dead. Featuring pop singer Lily Allen, the song was released as the second single by Virgin Records in Australia on 25 June 2010, and in the UK on 11 July 2010.
Alive Till I'm Dead is the first studio album by the English rapper Professor Green, released on 16 July 2010. The album includes guest vocals by Lily Allen, Example, Labrinth and Emeli Sandé, among others.
"Monster" is a song by British rapper Professor Green. This is the third single from his second album, Alive Till I'm Dead, featuring uncredited vocals from British singer and rapper Example. It was released on 1 October 2010 by digital download and on 4 October 2010 by CD single. The song was added to the BBC Radio 1 A-List.
"Jungle" is a song by British rapper Professor Green, released as the fourth and final single from his debut studio album, Alive Till I'm Dead. The track features vocals from Irish singer Maverick Sabre. The single was released was on 3 January 2011. The track won an award for "Best Dancefloor Filler" at the 2011 NME Awards. The music video for "Jungle" was shot in Green's hometown of Hackney, London. Green revealed that, in the video he hired locals instead of actors. The video was released on 9 November 2010.
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Camo & Krooked are an electronic music duo from Vienna, Austria with their musical roots embedded in drum and bass, consisting of Reinhard "Camo" Rietsch and Markus "Krooked" Wagner.
At Your Inconvenience is the second studio album by British rapper Professor Green, released on 28 October 2011. "At Your Inconvenience" was released as a promotional single on 26 July. The first official single "Read All About It" was released on 21 September 2011. Some guests from his debut album appear on the album, including Ed Drewett, Fink and Emeli Sandé; new guests include Slaughterhouse and Bad Meets Evil member Royce da 5'9", Kobe, Luciana, Ruth Anne, Sierra Kusterbeck and Haydon. Upper Clapton Dance originally featured on Green's debut mixtape Lecture #1. As of 6 September 2014, the album has sold 280,000 copies in the UK.
"Read All About It" is a song by British rapper Professor Green which features vocals from British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. The track served as the lead single for Professor Green's second studio album, At Your Inconvenience and was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2011. The track debuted at number-one in the UK with sales of over 153,000 copies and spent two consecutive weeks at the peak. "Read All About It" is a hip hop and R&B song.
"At Your Inconvenience" is a song by British rapper Professor Green. It was released as a promotional single from his second studio album of the same name. It was released on 26 July 2011 in the United Kingdom.
"Remedy" is a song by British rapper Professor Green, taken from his second studio album, At Your Inconvenience. The track features vocals from Irish singer-songwriter – Ruth-Anne Cunningham. The track serves as the album's third official single, and was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 14 May 2012. For its single release, the track has been heavily remixed by TMS, completely changing the backing instrumental, for a heavier, club sound.
Growing Up in Public is the third studio album by British rapper Professor Green. It was released on 19 September 2014 through Virgin Records. The album features appearances from the likes of Tori Kelly, Example, Mr Probz, Rizzle Kicks and James Craise among others. The album continues the themes covered on his second studio album, At Your Inconvenience (2011).
"Real Friends" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featuring vocals from fellow singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released as a promotional single from West's seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo, on January 8, 2016, The song includes West rapping about his trust issues around friends and family, with Whodini's song "Friends" being directly recalled.
Ché Wolton Grant, known professionally as AJ Tracey, is an English rapper and record producer from Ladbroke Grove, London. Tracey rose to popularity in 2016 and was listed by The Guardian in a list of "best new acts to catch at festivals in 2016".
The multi-platinum recording artist – who also happens to be a mental health activist and a pretty mean cook – is currently holed up in northern Morocco.
Musician and mental health activist Professor Green said: "Music has always been cathartic for me... But what initially gave me such release by way of expression would later, by way of schedule and sleep deprivation, lead to a place of unhappiness and isolation."
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