THE RAPPER IS ANANA’S BOY AT HEART
PROFESSOR GREEN
His tracks Read All About It and Just Be Good To Green (which he recorded with Lily Allen, the woman he credits with launching his career) may be classics, but these days, Professor Green –aka Stephen Manderson –is probably better known as a mental health activist. We chatted to the rapper, 40, about his nan’s musical influence, and how partner Karima’s pregnancy had the surprising benefit of turning him into a fan of Below Deck…
I was brought up by my nan and she always played Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue, and Engelbert Humperdinck. I actually put most of my PTSD down to that period of my life. Not because of my dad’s suicide or getting stabbed or any of that stuff –it’s all down to the music my nan listened to! After the trauma of that, I was introduced to artists like Chaka Demus &Pliers, Jungle Mania, and DJ Brockie –who is also from Clapton in east London –who were much more my speed.
Casisdead released his debut album Famous Last Words at the end of last year, and it’s been along time coming seeing as he started rapping in 2005. I’ve known him for along time and he’s amazing. I would call him a proper artist –he’s got his very own specific rap sound.
I’m so proud of all of the work I do with that. I was the least likely candidate to join in that conversation and I still continue to do a lot now, as a patron of CALM, as well as with the work I’m doing at the moment with the British Gas Energy Trust, who are helping people who are struggling during this current cost of living crisis.
I worried about so many things –especially being a rap artist, because you have a certain rep –but the support I received from everyone after first my radio documentary and then the TV documentary Professor Green, Suicide And Me was insane. It was bittersweet to see how much engagement there was because I realised that so many people were suffering themselves. It was quite hard to take all that on at some points.
“Qualit
