Professor Green

Stephen Paul Manderson (born 27 November 1983),[1] better known by his stage name Professor Green or simply Pro Green, is a British rapper, songwriter and television personality from London.

This article is about a musician. For the professor of history, see Judith Green (historian). For the solar energy researcher, see Martin Green (professor). For the professor of physics, see Michael Green (physicist). For the professor of statistics, see Peter Green (statistician). For the professor of mathematics, see Ben Green (mathematician).

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
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2005–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websiteprofessorgreen.co.uk

Growing up on a council estate in 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.[2] His autobiography featured on the Times bestseller list, and he is the patron of the suicide prevention charity Calm.[3]

Early life

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.[4] Manderson was raised by his grandmother, great-grandmother and uncles in a two bedroom flat on the Northwold housing estate in Clapton, Hackney, London, in a home which he describes as chaotic. Green's great-grandmother Edie taught him to read, and fed his intellectual curiosity as a child. When she died it had a great impact on him as they were so close.

He sold cannabis as a youngster and smoked it on a daily basis between the ages of 16 and 24. 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. [1][5][6][7]

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.[7][8]

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

2006–2010

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 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 2008. Following this he worked with Lily Allen on her 2009 concert tour.

2010–11: Alive Till I'm Dead

After touring with Allen, Green was signed to Virgin Records and in 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. It peaked at #3 in the UK,[9] and #15 in Ireland,[10] and was also certificated silver status in the United Kingdom.

He released his second single 'Just Be Good to Green', in 2010 in the UK, which featured British singer Lily Allen.[11] It became a top 5 hit in the UK, a top 20 hit in Ireland and on the European Hot 100 Singles.[12] It also peaked at #32 in New Zealand and #49 in Australia.[13] 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[14] and #18 in Ireland.[15] He released Monster on 3 October 2010 as the third single from the album, featuring UK rapper Example (Elliot Gleave).[16] 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.[17]

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'.[18] 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.[19]

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.[20] In October 2012, Puma launched an exclusive apparel collection designed by Green.[21]

2011–2012: At Your Inconvenience

Green's second album, At Your Inconvenience, was released in October 2011.[22] The title track "At Your Inconvenience" was premiered by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 on 13 July 2011.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25]

The fourth single was "Avalon" featuring Sierra Kusterbeck, which appeared on an advert for the energy drink Relentless.[26] Pro Green is a brand ambassador for Relentless, and performed for them at a secret gig in his home town of Hackney, London.[27]

2013–2014: Growing Up In Public

A promotional non-album single, titled "Are You Getting Enough?", featuring Miles Kane and was released in July 2013.[28] 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.[29] 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.[30]

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.[31]

2016–present: Matters of the Heart

In November 2016, Professor Green released "One Eye on The Door" with an accompanying music video.[32]

In June 2019, Green announced that he would be releasing the title track of his fourth studio album Matters of the Heart in July, with the 6-track E.P set to be released in September. He will be touring the album. [2]

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."[33][34][35] In November 2019, along with 34 other musicians, he signed a letter endorsing the Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election with a call to end austerity.[36][37]

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.[38]

Personal life

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.[39] In May 2013, Green was crushed between two Mercedes 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.[40] In 2019 Green fractured his neck during a seizure, just before leaving for a UK tour.[41]

Green married Millie Mackintosh at Babington House in Somerset in 2013.[42] They divorced in 2016.[43]

Green's autobiography, Lucky, was published in 2015.[44] Green presented Suicide and Me on BBC Three on 27 October 2015.[45] It was a Times bestseller. [2]

Green is the patron of the anti-suicide charity CALM. [2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Professor Green: Suicide and Me Himself Autobiography
2016–present 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
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

Discography
Main article: Professor Green discography
Albums
Mixtapes
EPs

Awards and nominations

See also

References
  1. Swash, Rosie (20 April 2010). "How Professor Green Gatecrashed the Charts". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  2. "Rapper Professor Green announces Leeds show", Yorkshire Evening Post 30 July 2019
  3. Calm team.
  4. Kay, Adam (2020). "Professor Green". Dear NHS 100 Stories to say Thank You.
  5. "Professor Green: white working-class boys becoming more disengaged" 7 January 2018, Guardian
  6. "Professor Green: Is It Time To Legalise Weed?". BBC Three.
  7. "Professor Green: My family values", Guardian, 25 January 2015
  8. "Professor Green: ‘My roast dinner Instagram posts get more likes than my music ones’", Guardian 27 July 2019
  9. "PROFESSOR GREEN FT ED DREWETT | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  10. "GFK Chart-Track". www.chart-track.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  11. "Just Be Good to Green (feat. Lily Allen) - EP by Professor Green on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  12. "Professor Green - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  13. Hung, Steffen. "australian-charts.com - Professor Green feat. Lily Allen - Just Be Good To Green". www.australian-charts.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  15. "GFK Chart-Track". www.chart-track.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  16. "Professor Green - Alive Till I'm Dead". Discogs. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  17. "BPI Certified Awards". www.bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  18. Metro Web Reporter (11 September 2010). "Lily Allen Performs With Professor Green at Muse Show". Metro (Online). Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  20. "Puma signs Professor Green as social ambassador". The Drum. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  21. "PUMA x Professor Green Apparel Launch PREVIEW". puma.com. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  22. "At Your Inconvenience by Professor Green on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  23. Lowe, Zane (13 July 2011). "Hottest Record - Professor Green - At Your Inconvenience" (blog). BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  25. "Professor Green Remix Competition | RapIreland.com - The Home of Hip-Hop and RnB in Ireland". www.rapireland.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  26. "Coke unveils ad for Relentless starring Professor Green". Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  27. Mohammed, Syma. "Professor Green wows crowds at St John at Hackney church". hackneygazette.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  28. "Professor Green - Are You Getting Enough? (feat. Miles Kane) by Professor Green". SoundCloud. 28 May 2013.
  29. "Glastonbury 2013 - Professor Green". BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  30. Professor Green (17 October 2013). "Professor Green". Facebook.
  31. "Professor Green - Growing Up In Public". Discogs. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  32. ProfessorGreenVEVO (10 November 2016), Professor Green - One Eye On the Door (Official Video), retrieved 7 October 2017
  33. "Professor Green urges fans to support Jeremy Corbyn in election". Barhead: Barrhead News. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  34. "Professor Green urges fans to support Jeremy Corbyn in election". Lancashire Telegraph. Lancashire. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  35. "Professor Green urges fans to support Jeremy Corbyn in election". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  36. "Musicians backing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour". The Guardian. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  37. Gayle, Damien (25 November 2019). "Stormzy backs Labour in election with call to end austerity". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  38. Wilkinson, Damon (10 January 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.
  39. Anna Matheson (10 June 2018). "Professor Green opens up about the night he was stabbed". NME. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  40. "Professor Green Taken to Hospital with Suspected Broken Leg After Car Accident - Capital FM". Capital FM. 25 May 2013.
  41. "Professor Green: Rapper fractures neck during seizure", BBC News, 12 February 2019
  42. Rachel Morgan. "Congratulations to Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green!". Wedding Ideas. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  43. Kirk, Tristan (25 May 2016). "Millie Mackintosh ends marriage to Professor Green with 30-second 'quickie' divorce". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  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.
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