Professor Green

Under the name Professor Green, Stephen Manderson has been developing a British rap rooted in East London since the mid-2000s, blending hip-hop, grime and electronic pop production. Born in Clapton and associated with Hackney, he first made his name on the battle-rap scene, notably after the mixtape Lecture #1 in 2006 and his victory in the JumpOff MySpace tournament in 2008, which accelerated his move to a wider format. After touring with Lily Allen he signed to Virgin and released the albums Alive Till I’m Dead (2010), At Your Inconvenience (2011) and Growing Up in Public (2014). His writing, often autobiographical, mixes social observation and personal narrative with more melodic hooks, delivered in a direct flow and diction strongly marked by London rap tradition. Over his career he has collaborated with artists such as Lily Allen, Maverick Sabre, Emeli Sandé, Tori Kelly and Wretch 32, moving between rap venues, mainstream festivals and radio-friendly formats. Alongside his music, Professor Green has also developed documentary and media projects on social issues and mental health, while retaining his identity as a rapper.