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  Professor Green Interview
interview 0363 added 11.01.06 words: Ben Spurr
technical:
QED
Professor Green is one of the UK’s most talented freestylers.
Having won the Jump Off battle at the 2005 Urban Music Festival he narrowly missed out on the $50,000 that was eventually awarded to Ruff Ryder Jin in the Bahamas. However, not one to be deterred, the Prof is lining up his biggest year yet with a mixtape dropping very soon and a debut album that may, or may not be released on Mike Skinners label ‘The Beats’.
Ben Spurr conversed with the freestyle king on his plans for the future, making the transition from battle rapper to artist and his plans to shag Jessica Alba (well, spend the night with her at least!). So UK heads, stop hating and support a genuine tried and tested talent.
BS: Fill us in on the rise of Prof. Green- where you grew up, what got you in to the art of freestyle/ your influences?
 PG: I grew up on Northwold estate in upper Clapton. My mum was very young when she had me (16), and kicked out when I was a year old because she couldn’t handle the pressures. My dad was only ever in and out of my life and if it wasn't for my gran (my mum's mother) and two uncles (my mum's brothers) I would probably have been brought up in a home.
From the age of 9 or 10 I started listening to hip-hop; Biggie was the first artist I was really into. Before hip-hop I was into jungle but was too young to really catch on to it and I never really got into the garage scene so it was all about hip-hop for me. I never wanted to be a rapper; it was never something I felt drawn to do. A load of friends were making music from the ages of 13 and 14, some even younger but I was still not into it. I was more academic than practical. I was 18 and at core's house (he's produced a couple of tracks on my mixtape 'the green files' and featured on one of the tracks as well). There were a few people from haunted house productions there and a few people were freestylin’ and I got put on the spot and it worked and just continued from there really.
It was freestyling that got me started though, I got to writing raps quite a while after, I wasn't taking it seriously for quite a while. I entered a couple of battles, fell off a stage, won 7 weeks at the jump off, went on tour with The Streets, won 7 weeks at the jump off again, went to the Bahamas, came back, made a mixtape and now here I am.
BS: For somebody who wants to get in to the freestyle game what advice would you give- is it a case of practicing and becoming familiar with words that best rhyme or a natural gift?
PG: I’d definitely say it’s a natural gift, but it’s like any gift, you have to train it hard to make the most out of it so in some ways it’s both. It’s like a muscle, the more you work it the stronger it gets.
“...Most battle rappers can't do nothing but spit punchlines...”
BS: What sort of money have you made from these battles as I know that some prize money awards are quite high?
PG: I done alright still, the most in one occasion is 2g's but I did a lot of the pay2battle jump off battles and came away with other peoples money more than a few times. I did alright out of it I guess although the $50,000 in the Bahamas would have been nice.
BS: Do you think you will find the transition from battle emcee to artist a difficult one?
 PG: Not at all. Most battle rappers can't do nothing but spit punchlines, away from battling they have no substance. I don't have that problem, I’m cool with track making, writing hooks, and sticking to subject. My mixtapes about to drop but there’s already stuff for my album being worked on... to name two tracks, before I die and talk to frank. I’m talking about normal things that normal people can relate to, if you can define normal. I try and make a lot of what I do conceptual, but at the same time I like to just rap sometimes too, but I’m trying to incorporate rhyme skills with equally as good song writing.
I reckon it also depends on how much people are going to hang on to the fact that I battle. I won't say battled either because I haven't retired from battling. Most of the best artists have been in battles, they weren't just battle rappers though. Biggie battled, Jay-Z battled, DMX battled, Eminem battled, KRS battled and the list goes on, but it’s something that’s stuck through the ages. I guess it’s to be expected in a sport where everyone seems to think they’re the best.
BS: Are you going to have an official album release any time soon, and if so what can we expect?
PG: At some point this year. Expect me, its going to be an introduction to my world.
Don't expect back pack, sun, moon and stars hip-hop, don't expect anything overly political or self righteous cause that’s not me. Don't expect it all to be funny cause its not all jokes but I don't over saturate my music in meaningless talk about shooting you so don't expect that either. Expect to worry about my mental health when you hear ‘Talk to Frank’. Expect to feel sorry for me when you hear me winging about not having a relationship with my dad, expect to feel like telling me to shut up and stop winging when you hear the same thing. Expect to hate me when I say something that offends you. Last but not least, expect the over analytical (no longer fans as everyone's a rapper or producer now a days) English fans to say it's either too commercial or too this or too that or anything they can to avoid supporting their own.
“...My album might, maybe, come out on The Beats...”
BS: What are the links between yourself and Mike Skinners label The Beats, I know you have been on a mixtape with the label?
PG: Well Mike saw me battle at the b boy championships last year ('05) and wanted to get me on the tour. Subsequently the jump off got to do a battle at each stop of the tour. I won a majority of the tour dates and we kept in touch after that. One of the tracks on that mixtape was recorded in my bedroom, ‘Routine Sket’. Mike wanted to hear me over that tempo so he e-mailed me the beat and I wrote that verse and recorded it in 20 minutes or so. Then I found it on the mixtape... The Beats were kind enough to sort out getting a video for ‘Stereo Typical Man’ (another track on that mixtape and mine) made as well which should hit screens end of Jan. I’m doing more work with them and my album might, maybe, come out on The Beats.
BS: Do you think Jin deserved to beat you in the recent final as I know a lot of the crowd were on your side?
 PG: Yes he did. Definitely. After I was stopped half way through a round with Serius Jones I more than lost my vibe... its the first time I battled in that kind of environment as well so I was feeling the pressure. You also have to remember despite their being a 50g prize; he was still given the advantage of only having to battle whoever got to the final. I went 7 rounds before I got to my first round against him... its all good though, he's one of the best at what he does and I respect his talent. I also have an invite to the next power summit battle so I’ll be back there this year.
BS: Any plans for a rematch with him in the near future?
PG: Hopefully this year at the power summit.
BS: Is there going to be another UMF this year and if so will you be battling to keep your Jump-off title?
If there is another UMF's I don't think I’ll battle... I’m really concentrating on work
in the studio and making a career out of this. If I battle someone now there has to be
something for me to gain from it to, I’ve got a lot to lose so it’s only right my
opposition should have as well.
“...My future plans are to milk enough money out of music for a house and a car and then live a happy life...”
BS: Any final messages you want to voice to the readers like future plans, thoughts on current issues in Hip Hop and general philosophy from the Prof?
PG: Big up haunted house productions, my DJ Samurai, Core, big up everyone at The Beats, Josh and Spencer, big up everyone on the 6 month detox and everyone that’s gonna’ be at the end of 6 months retox, big up Sway, Skinnyman, Nasar, Moesy, Muss, Kurt, Sunken Heads and everybody else, big up all the DJ's playing my tracks.
 The Green Files vol. 1 and a limited edition green vinyl press of stereo typical man are going to be available from the end of Jan. I'm performing with the Mitchell Brothers and the streets at the NME show on the 18th of February at Astoria. For information and updates check ‘www.myspace.com/professorgreen’ for the time being. There will also be competition's for freebee's soon.
My future plans are to milk enough money out of music for a house and a car and then live a happy life. Anything else is a bonus. A Brazilian wife and Puerto Rican mistress wouldn't go a miss, or a night with Jessica Alba, a Ferrari 360 spider... I'll stop there because that list could go on forever.
I think hip-hop is now more like WWF, and is in a pretty bad
state.
As for general philosophy... live every day like your last, and every night like your first...or is it the other way around?
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Ben Spurr
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