Professor Green

Professor Green
Stephen Manderson in 2012
Born Stephen Paul Manderson
(1983-11-27) 27 November 1983
Hackney, London, England
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • television personality
Spouse(s)
Millie Mackintosh
(m. 2013; div. 2016)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2005–present
Labels Virgin (2010-2015)
Relentless (2016-Present)
Associated acts
Website professorgreen.co.uk

Stephen Paul Manderson (born 27 November 1983),[1] better known by his stage name Professor Green or simply Pro Green, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and television personality from London. He is the co-host of Lip Sync Battle UK on Channel 5.

Early life

Manderson was raised by his grandmother and uncles on the tough Northwold housing estate in Clapton, Hackney, London.[1] He sold cannabis as a youngster and smoked it on a daily basis between the ages of 16 and 24.[2]

Career

Professor Green performed as a special guest of Lily Allen in 2009.

2006–10

In 2006 he released his first mixtape, Lecture #1. He was signed to The Beats,[1] a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, when the label terminated. He then self-produced an EP called The Green EP. He rose to success upon winning the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008. Following this in 2009, he worked with Lily Allen on her 2009 concert tour.

2010–11: Alive Till I'm Dead

After touring with Allen, he was signed to Virgin Records. In July 2010, Green released his debut album, Alive Till I'm Dead, which features guest vocals from Lily Allen, Emeli Sandé, Fink, Labrinth and Example, as well as The Streets.

The first single off the album was produced by The ThundaCatz and called "I Need You Tonight", which was released on 12 April 2010, and it samples the 1987 hit from INXS 'Need You Tonight'.[3] It peaked at #3 in the UK,[4] and #15 in Ireland,[5] and was also certificated silver status in the United Kingdom.

He released his second single 'Just Be Good to Green', on 11 July 2010 in the UK, which featured British singer Lily Allen.[6] It became a top 5 hit in the UK, a top 20 hit in Ireland and on the European Hot 100 Singles.[7] It also peaked at #32 in New Zealand and #49 in Australia.[8] The song samples 'Just Be Good To Me' by the SOS Band.

His album was released a week later, and peaked at #2 in the UK[9] and #18 in Ireland.[10] He released Monster on 3 October 2010 as the third single from the album, featuring UK rapper Example (Elliot Gleave).[11] The single became a top 30 hit on the UK Singles Chart, and the album has been certificated Gold with sales of over 100,000 in the United Kingdom.[12]

On 10 September 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'.[13]

On 19 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.[14]

On 8 December 2010, a feud erupted on social networking site Twitter between Professor Green and grime artist Wiley, after Wiley said that Professor Green would not exist if it were not for the success of American rapper Eminem, adding that he himself was a superior artist to Green. In retribution Green responded by saying '"I will always be a fan, but that's not to say I won't s**t all over you. It's not a problem for me." This then escalated into a larger argument before Professor Green attempted to defuse the situation, to little avail.[15]

Since March 2011 Green was the first ever social ambassador for the clothing and footwear manufacturer brand Puma, focusing on the fashion and lifestyle side of the brand.[16]

2011–2012: At Your Inconvenience

Green's second album is titled At Your Inconvenience and was released on 28 October 2011.[17] The title track "At Your Inconvenience" was premiered by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 on 13 July 2011.[18] 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.[19]

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. The winner won a trip to meet and greet Green in Hyde Park on 7 July 2012 at the Wireless Festival.[20]

In May 2012, Green released his own signature beer "Remedy". An American style pale ale, brewed with English ingredients.[21]

The fourth single set to be released is "Avalon" featuring Sierra Kusterbeck, which appeared on an advert for the energy drink Relentless.[22] Pro Green is a brand ambassador for Relentless, and performed for them at a secret gig in his home town of Hackney, London on 15 November 2012.[23]

2013–2014: Growing Up In Public

Green expressed interest to work with Lily Allen, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé and Lana Del Rey, however none of these artists made it onto the album. Possible producers for the album were stated to include Mike Skinner, Sid Wilson of Slipknot,[24] iSHi, Pharrell Williams and Skrillex. A promotional non-album single, titled "Are You Getting Enough?", featured Miles Kane and was released on 21 July 2013.[25] 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.[26] Green also posted clips of new songs "Name in Lights" (produced by Cores and featuring Rizzle Kicks) and "Jealous Girl" on his Instagram. 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.[27]

Green appeared on CBBC show 12 Again, talking about his life at age 12. On 14 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 full on 3 July 2014, and was released on 5 July 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 on 14 September 2014. Growing Up in Public was released on 22 September 2014. The album featured guest appearances from James Craise, Tori Kelly, Mr Probz, Rizzle Kicks, Whinnie Williams, Thabo, Cas and Dream Mclean.[28]

2016–present: Back on the Market

1Xtra was the first radio station to play his new single on 12 September 2016, after which he also uploaded the audio on his YouTube channel.[29][30] In November 2016, Professor Green released "One Eye on The Door" with an accompanying music video.[31]

Politics

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."[32][33][34]

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.[35]

Personal life

On 23 May 2009, Green was attacked with the neck of a broken bottle in the Cargo nightclub in Shoreditch, London. He has a tattoo of the word "lucky" where he was stabbed, but this existed before the attack. His assailant was later convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison.[36]

On 16 October 2012, Puma launched an exclusive apparel collection designed by Green.[37]

On 25 March 2013, Millie Mackintosh announced on her Twitter account that she and Green were engaged.[38] They married at Babington House in Somerset on 10 September 2013.[39] Green and Mackintosh announced their separation on 20 February 2016.[40] They were granted a decree nisi to end their marriage in a hearing at the Central London Family Court on 25 May 2016.[41]

On 24 May 2013, Green was crushed between two Mercedes cars when travelling to perform a live show at Hartpury College in Gloucester. He was thought to have broken his leg, but soon 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.[42][43]

Green's autobiography, Lucky, was published in 2015.[44] Green presented Suicide and Me on BBC Three on 27 October 2015.[45]

In September 2017 Green appeared on Tipping Point Lucky Stars on ITV, he won £4,400 for his charity.

In April 2018 Professor Green launched a regular column in The Book of Man, a support network for men, where he writes about his on-going mental health issues and his ambition to redefine the modern man in the face of toxic masculinity.

On 18 April 2018 Professor Green split from model girlfriend, Fae Williams, after eighteen months together.[46]

Filmography

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Professor Green: Suicide and Me Himself Autobiography
2016 Lip Sync Battle UK Co-Host TV Show
2016 Professor Green: Hidden and Homeless Himself Documentary
2016 Drive Himself TV Show
2016 Professor Green: Dangerous Dogs Himself Documentary
2017 "Professor Green: Living In Poverty" Himself Documentary
2017 "Professor Green: Is It Time to Legalise Weed?" Himself Documentary
2017 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Himself TV Game Show
2018 ”Professor Green: Working Class White Men” Himself Documentary
2018 John Bishop: In Conversation With... Himself Series 4 Episode 1
2018 Celebs in Solitary:Meltdown Himself TV Show/Social Experiment

Discography

Awards and nominations

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Swash, Rosie (20 April 2010). "How Professor Green Gatecrashed the Charts". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Professor Green: Is It Time To Legalise Weed?". BBC Three.
  3. ↑ "Professor Green feat. Ed Drewett's 'I Need You Tonight' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "PROFESSOR GREEN FT ED DREWETT | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track". www.chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Just Be Good to Green (feat. Lily Allen) - EP by Professor Green on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Professor Green - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  8. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "australian-charts.com - Professor Green feat. Lily Allen - Just Be Good To Green". www.australian-charts.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track". www.chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  11. ↑ "Professor Green - Alive Till I'm Dead". Discogs. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. ↑ "BPI Certified Awards". www.bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  13. ↑ Metro Web Reporter (11 September 2010). "Lily Allen Performs With Professor Green at Muse Show". Metro (online). Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  15. ↑ MTV Staff (8 December 2010). "Professor Green & Wiley Involved In Twitter Battle". MTV UK (online). Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Puma signs Professor Green as social ambassador". The Drum. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "At Your Inconvenience by Professor Green on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  18. ↑ Lowe, Zane (13 July 2011). "Hottest Record - Professor Green - At Your Inconvenience" (blog). BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  20. ↑ "Professor Green Remix Competition | RapIreland.com - The Home of Hip-Hop and RnB in Ireland". www.rapireland.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  21. ↑ The Sun (23 May 2012). "Beer's 5.9% Prof". London: The Sun.
  22. ↑ "Coke unveils ad for Relentless starring Professor Green". Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  23. ↑ Mohammed, Syma. "Professor Green wows crowds at St John at Hackney church". hackneygazette.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  24. ↑ "Slipknot's Sid Wilson talks 'dirty and grimy' Professor Green collaboration - NME". nme.com. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "Professor Green - Are You Getting Enough? (feat. Miles Kane) by Professor Green". SoundCloud. 28 May 2013.
  26. ↑ "Glastonbury 2013 - Professor Green". BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  27. ↑ Professor Green (17 October 2013). "Professor Green". Facebook.
  28. ↑ "Professor Green - Growing Up In Public". Discogs. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "Professor Green's new song shout-outs Katie Price's son saying 'c*nt' on live TV". NME. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  30. ↑ professorgreentv (12 September 2016), Professor Green - Back on the Market (audio), retrieved 7 December 2016
  31. ↑ ProfessorGreenVEVO (2016-11-10), Professor Green - One Eye On the Door (Official Video), retrieved 2017-10-07
  32. ↑ "Professor Green urges fans to support Jeremy Corbyn in election". Barhead: Barrhead News. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  33. ↑ "Professor Green urges fans to support Jeremy Corbyn in election". Lancashire: Lancashire Telegraph. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Professor Green urges fans to support Jeremy Corbyn in election". Belfast: Belfast Telegraph. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  35. ↑ Wilkinson, Damon (10 Jan 2018). "When the rapper met the far-right - Professor Green's dramatic confrontation with Britain First in Rochdale". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  36. ↑ "Broken bottle attacker of rap star Professor Green is jailed eight years for stabbing | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  37. ↑ "PUMA x Professor Green Apparel Launch PREVIEW". puma.com. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  38. ↑ "Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh engaged to rapper".
  39. ↑ "Here's to Mr and Mrs Manderson! Millie Mackintosh embraces new husband Professor Green at countryside wedding". Daily Mail. London.
  40. ↑ Rainbird, Ashleigh (10 February 2016). "Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green Separate After Just Two Years of Marriage". Mirror Online. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  41. ↑ Kirk, Tristan (25 May 2016). "Millie Mackintosh ends marriage to Professor Green with 30-second 'quickie' divorce". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  42. ↑ "Professor Green Taken To Hospital With Suspected Broken Leg After Car Accident - Capital FM". Capital FM. 25 May 2013.
  43. ↑ Sheridan, Emily (25 May 2013). "Professor Green Tweets His Surgery Fears After He's Injured in Road Accident... After Managing to Instagram From the Ambulance". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  44. ↑ Professor Green; Stephen Manderson (10 September 2015). Lucky. Blink Publishing. ISBN 978-1-910536-53-7.
  45. ↑ Savage, Mark (26 October 2015). "Professor Green 'can't watch' suicide documentary". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  46. ↑ https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/6083358/professor-green-girlfriend-fae-williams-break-up/

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