Professor Elemental

Under the name Professor Elemental, Paul Alborough has been developing since the mid-2000s a universe positioned between British hip-hop, chap hop and steampunk imagination. Born in Ipswich and active in Brighton, Professor Elemental builds his tracks around a highly narrative English rap, often absurd, nourished by references to Victorian culture, nonsense and a form of satire of British class codes. His first wide exposure came with the track “Cup of Brown Joy”, followed by a steady discography that includes The Indifference Engine (2009), More Tea? (2010), Father of Invention (2012), The Giddy Limit (2014) and Apequest: The Search for Geoffrey (2015). On stage, Professor Elemental appears as frequently at steampunk festivals and conventions as in formats closer to spoken word and musical cabaret. His path regularly intersects that of Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer, another name associated with chap hop, in a playful rivalry extended by the track “The Duel” in 2012. Professor Elemental has also collaborated with Steam Powered Giraffe and continued releasing music with Good Dad Club and Nemesis! in 2021, then Topsy Turvy with Victor Ghastly in 2022.