Professor Elemental

Last updated

Professor Elemental
ProfessorElemental2018.jpg
Professor Elemental in 2018
Background information
Origin Ipswich, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2005–present[ citation needed ]
Labels Tea Sea Records (2009–present)
Website ProfessorElemental.com

Paul Alborough (born 1 June 1975), professionally known as Professor Elemental, is a steampunk and chap hop musical artist. [1]

Contents

Career

Professor Elemental began his career as Emcee Elemental. The character of Professor Elemental arose from a planned concept album, which never came to fruition. [2] Professor Elemental has since been seen performing as a solo act or in theatre acts such as Come into My Parlour. He is also popular at steampunk events and has been a headliner at the Steampunk World's Fair and the Waltz on the Wye.

Professor Elemental first gained attention with his music video for "Cup of Brown Joy" (directed by Moog Gravett), which got the attention of Warren Ellis. Since then he has released albums and performed live. He was in a friendly feud with fellow "chap-hop" artist Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer, [3] but eventually had a brief appearance in the latter's music video for "Just Like a Chap", of which Professor Elemental said, "much as I hate to admit it, I bloody love that video and am jolly glad [Mr.B] let me gate crash." [4] Mr.B reciprocated with a cameo on Elemental's video for his song "I'm British" (which also features members of the Eccentric Club, of which Elemental is a member). [5] Finally, the two battle rap on Elemental's 2012 song "The Duel", after which both agree that the other is "jolly good" at what they do.

Elemental performing in 2015 Professor Elemental (23063021136).jpg
Elemental performing in 2015

The short film The Chronicles of Professor Elemental was successfully funded via Crowdfunder in 2012, raising £7,226 – with 155 supporters in 45 days. [6] In the film, the professor is called on to find the statue of the golden frog. The 45-minute musical comedy was directed by Benjamin Field, starting Paul Alborough, Grace Alexander-Scott, and Dan Gingell, created by Hilton Productions Ltd, and released in three parts in 2013 via YouTube. This was later removed, with the whole film available to stream via Amazon Prime Video.

In 2013, Elemental appeared in the "Steampunx" episode of Phineas and Ferb , as well as the episode "The Bewildering Bout of the Astounding Automatons" of Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero . [7] [8] [9]

Elemental collaborated with the steampunk rock group Steam Powered Giraffe on their song "Sky Sharks", from their 2015 album The Vice Quadrant: A Space Opera . [10]

Elemental's 2015 album Apequest: The Search For Geoffrey inspired the Kickstarter-funded board game Apequest, which was expected to be released in May 2023. [11]

Personal life

Originally from Ipswich, [12] Alborough currently lives in Brighton. [3]

Discography

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steampunk</span> Science fiction genre inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by, but not limited to, 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the Victorian era or the American "Wild West", where steam power remains in mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kool G Rap</span> American rapper from New York

Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AZ (rapper)</span> American rapper from New York

Anthony Cruz, better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper known for being a longtime and frequent music partner of East Coast rapper Nas and also a member of hip hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. Online magazine About.com listed AZ as the "Most Underrated [Rapper] of All Time". AZ also made it onto the sites' "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)", where he was reiterated as "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever."

An elemental is a type of magical entity who personifies a force of nature and controls natural powers derived from their element.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Martella</span> American actor (born 1992)

Vincent Michael Martella is an American actor. He is best known for providing the voice of Phineas Flynn on the Disney Channel original animated show Phineas and Ferb (2007–2015). Martella is also known for his role as Greg Wuliger on Chris Rock's hit show Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009), and providing the voice of Hope Estheim in the 2010 video game Final Fantasy XIII and its sequels Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011) and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (2013).

<i>Phineas and Ferb</i> American animated television series

Phineas and Ferb is an American animated musical-comedy television series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh which aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD for four seasons between August 2007 and June 2015. The series follows stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher during summer vacation. Every day, the boys undertake the construction of a grand project, or embark on a spectacular adventure, to make the most of their time on vacation. This annoys their controlling older sister Candace, who frequently tries to expose their schemes to her and Phineas's mother. The series follows a standard plot system; running gags occur in every episode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Olson</span> American director, producer and writer

Martin Olson is an American comedy writer, television producer, author and composer. He is known for his unusual subject matter, and is an original member of the Boston Comedy Scene. He is the father of actress Olivia Olson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaret Reddick</span> American singer, songwriter and actor

Jaret Ray Reddick is an American musician, singer, songwriter, composer, podcaster and actor, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Bowling for Soup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry the Platypus</span> Fictional character from Phineas and Ferb

Perry the Platypus is a fictional bipedal platypus from the American animated series Phineas and Ferb and Milo Murphy's Law. Perry was created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. Perry is featured as the star of the B-plot for every episode of the series, alongside his nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz. A mostly silent character, his lone vocal characteristic is provided by Dee Bradley Baker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Bass D</span> American rapper

Dwight Conroy Farrell, better known by his stage name Count Bass D, is an American rapper, record producer and multi-instrumentalist who resides in Millheim, Pennsylvania. His production style is characterised by layers of short MPC samples and film snippets complemented with live instrumentation, and eccentric lyrics laid atop.

<i>Phineas and Ferb</i> (soundtrack) 2009 soundtrack album by Cast – Phineas and Ferb

Phineas and Ferb is the first soundtrack album for the Disney Channel television series, Phineas and Ferb, which was released September 22, 2009 in the United States by Disney Channel Records, Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records. The album contains 26 songs from season one. It also contains the bonus track "The F-Games" that can only be heard online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Steel</span> Musical artist

Rion Vernon, known by his stage name Doctor Steel is an American musician and internet personality from Los Angeles. He performed on rare occasions with a "backup band", claiming that a fictitious robot band had malfunctioned. Shows incorporated puppetry, multimedia and performances by female members of his street team, The Army of Toy Soldiers. Steel made a brief appearance on The Tonight Show and has had numerous interviews. He was the subject of an article in Wired magazine regarding allegations that Dr. Horrible had copied his style. Steel has frequently been cited as an example of steampunk music.

<i>Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension</i> 2011 television film directed by Dan Povenmire and Robert F. Hughes

Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension is a 2011 American animated science fantasy action-adventure comedy-drama television film based on the American animated TV series Phineas and Ferb. The film premiered on August 5, 2011 in the United States. It was first announced by Jeff "Swampy" Marsh during a January 2010 interview with the Daily Telegraph. The events of the film take place during the third season of Phineas and Ferb. It is the first feature-length film of the Phineas and Ferb series, and the third animated Disney Channel Original Movie, following Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama and The Proud Family Movie.

Jim Burke, known professionally as Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer, is a British parodist who performs "chap hop" — hip hop delivered in a Received Pronunciation accent. Mr.B raps, or "rhymes", about good manners, dressing with style and dignity, sophisticated society, pipe smoking and cricket while playing the banjolele. The character is described as having grown up in Cheam and attending Sutton Grammar School for Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look at Me Now (Chris Brown song)</span> 2011 single by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

"Look at Me Now" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring fellow American rappers Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes released as the second single from Brown's fourth studio album F.A.M.E. on February 1, 2011. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers Afrojack, Diplo, and Free School, with additional writing from Ryan Buendia. Musically, "Look at Me Now" is a "dirty south–inspired" hip hop song that features "thumping bass, spacy synth and horn jam sounds."

Chap hop is music originating from England that mixes the hip hop genre with elements from the Chappist or steampunk subcultures and stereotypical English obsessions such as cricket, tea, and the weather.

<i>Student of the Game</i> 2013 studio album by N.O.R.E.

Student of the Game is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist N.O.R.E.. The album was released on April 16, 2013, under Militainment Business, Conglomerate and E1 Music. The album features guest appearances from French Montana, 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Pharrell, Pete Rock, Havoc, Jeremih, Mick Jones, Large Professor, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon, Tech N9ne, Busta Rhymes and Scarface among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steam Powered Giraffe</span> American musical comedy project

Steam Powered Giraffe is an American musical project formed in San Diego in 2008, self-described as "a musical act that combines robot pantomime, puppetry, ballet, comedy, projections, and music". Created and led by twins David Michael Bennett and Isabella Bunny Bennett, the act combines music and improvisational comedy on-stage, although their studio works focus almost solely on music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASAP Nast</span> American rapper

Tariq Amar Devega, better known by his stage name ASAP Nast, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Harlem, New York. Nast is best known as a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob. As part of A$AP Mob, they released their first project as a group, a mixtape titled Lord$ Never Worry in 2012. His breakout song, "Trillmatic" featuring Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man was released on December 4, 2013.

Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina, better known as iFani, is a South African Hip-Hop/Rap artist, MC and television presenter. Born in Mthatha and raised in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, His first single was "Hola Hater", followed by "Ewe", "Shake", "Milli" released on his album I Believes in Me albums, which was certified Gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) on the day of its release, selling over 20 000 of copies.

References

  1. Moore, Matthew (5 June 2008), Cup of Brown Joy tea rap becomes YouTube hit, UK: The Telegraph, retrieved 9 January 2011
  2. Watkins, Carl (26 November 2010), An interview with Paul Alborough, AKA Professor Elemental, GuerrillaGeek, archived from the original on 2 January 2011, retrieved 9 January 2011
  3. 1 2 Robinson, Frances (4 April 2011), "In 'Chap-Hop,' Gentlemen Rappers Bust Rhymes About Tea, Cricket", Wall Street Journal, retrieved 5 April 2011
  4. Alborough, Paul (22 October 2012), Professor Elemental on Twitter , retrieved 22 October 2012
  5. Meredith Vieira, Inside England's centuries-old 'Eccentric Club', TODAY.com, archived from the original on 11 August 2012, retrieved 28 November 2012
  6. "The Chronicles of Professor Elemental". Crowdfunder.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  7. "Professor Elemental dishes on his "Phineas and Ferb" cameo". Comicmix.com. 19 November 2013.
  8. Viccar, Moriarty (20 November 2013). "Professor Elemental performs on Phineas and Ferb". Steampunkjournal.org. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  9. "Tumblr". Samakaphyllis.tumblr.com.
  10. "Release "The Vice Quadrant". MusicBrainz. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  11. "Developer Crowdfunds Board Game Inspired by Prof. Elemental's 'Apequest'". The Steampunk Explorer. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  12. Professor Elemental (25 April 2019). "WHAT?! How very DARE they? Please update it to say Ipswich ..." Twitter.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. "Professor Elemental-About". Professorelemental.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013.