Customer Reviews

Alive Till I'm Dead

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Rapper Professor Green has had two top 5 hits in his native UK; "I need you tonight" (featuring Ed Drewett and sampling INXS's "Need you tonight" - "It should be me that wants to get rid of you, instead it's you that don't give a d**n..." he raps as he tells us of an ended relationship) and "Just be good to Green" (featuring the airy vocals of Lily Allen and sampling The SOS Band's "Just be good to me", though it's actually closer to the Beats International Dubby cover "Dub be good to me"). Real name Stephen Manderson and aged 26, he's been compared to UK acts The Streets or Lily Allen. With his nasal whiny vocals and aggressive lyrics, he's also earned comparisons to Eminem.

He mines a rich well of sound; skittery Funk on opening cut "Kids that love to dance" (featuring Emeli Sande), gritty Rock on "City of gold" or the more sublime "Oh my God" (featuring Labirinth and snarling swirling guitars), while the haunting synth-driven "Jungle" (featuring Maverick Sabre) wouldn't sound out of place on an Eminem album.

"Do for you" tells us he used to sell drugs for a living till he changed his career, "Falling down" juxtaposes downbeat verses to a Disco-ish chorus to good effect, while "Monster" features Example and is Techno-ish set to a staccato of beats. Closing the album are a trio of downbeat songs; the echoey Dubby "Close the door" (featuring Fink and harrowing strings), "Where do we go" (featuring Shereen Shabanaa and some Jazzy trimmings), and the heartfelt piano-driven "Goodnight", an ode to his grandmother who raised him and the albums highlight.

Aggressive, catchy, and playful all at once.

British rap should not be confused with American rap. The two are entirely disparate. American rap is almost all gangster rap, featuring ostentatious displays of wealth, boasts of involvement in illicit activities, and an offensive and degrading attitude towards women. British rap is far closer to the genre's original form - brutally honest and understated. Professor Green falls firmly into this latter category. He is straightforward and unafraid. His songs are not merely excuses to flaunt his wealth, but rather paint a raw picture of his past and hometown. Professor Green is alternately funny and fresh, enraged and sorrowful, cocky and self-deprecating. One of the UK's rising young artists, Professor Green may be just what rap needs. He bears far greater resemblance to original rappers like Run DMC and NWA than modern ones like Kanye West and 50 Cent. This album is truly excellent. Highlights include: Monster, Jungle, Oh My God, and City of Gold. Not suitable for children.

Glad to see Pro Green making it big. I remember mail ordering his CD's from skate shops in the UK and having it shipped to the states.

This is really, really good stuff. British Eminem? No way, way too funny, and a hell of a lot nicer. I guess they're both white, so...

The production values are good, the lyrics are hilarious and brilliant, and the beats have the inspiration that American Hip Hop used to have before Auto-tune and FruityLoops got ahold of it.

If you've come this far, then it's probably because you heard either Track 2 (Just Be Good to Green) or 3 ('I Need You Tonight'), or like me you watched the video for the former 5 times and decided "I definitely got to get this!"

And believe you me, you will not regret it for these tracks alone, although there might be a nagging doubt in your mind that maybe Professor Green is the next Vanilla Ice and that he has nothing but rap cover versions to offer.

Some of the first tracks on this album may give this impression and songs such as 'Oh My God'] and 'Jungle' were definitely weak and make you realise how difficult Eminem's job is (though he makes it seem easy).

That said, like Slim Shady Lp, this album was never going to be seminally brilliant from the off, but what it does show is a great deal of lyrical talent and that all important ingredient: Promise.

Tracks such as Monster and 'Where Do We Go' show great lyrical ability combined with a producer who knows what he's doing. There are also surprises such as 'City Of Gold' and Goodnight which reveal a talented performer who can equal the compelling edge of well-made American Hip-Hop.

I especially remember lyrics such as "I wanna thank Peter Andre*/ for looking after my kids..." " and "Five foot four and three quarters/ Half Italian Half Japanese/ And she can make cars crash in them jeans", and I strongly got the impression that Prof Green is no MC Hammer as his lyrics are soulful and compelling, rather than pop.

Which brings me to a point that must be considered when listening to the album: get past the first 3 tracks and listen to the remainder at least twice before coming to a decision. There may be only 12 tracks on the album (compared to the normal 18-odd of an Eminem album), but the lyrics he uses are lyrically d0pe in the same way as Eminem's & really grow on you with listening.

So, if you've stumbled across this album & are wondering if he's the next Mike Skinner, then the answer is yes: he is. Ironically enough though, this album is produced by The Streets' record label and hence displays two traits.

One, like A Grand Don't Come for Free, the best tracks are not the singles & the album should be taken as a whole.

Two, although this album is good, Professor Green gives the impression of needing a little more evolving before he's on top form.

If you are looking for the next big thing in British Music then, by all means, get this album. However, if you only have $10 in the whole world, then wait for the next album. I guarantee: you won't be disappointed.

* - Pop-star hubby (who allegedly had six-pack implants) who was married to a rather loose ex-wife porn star.

I am in love with Professor Green. He shares so much about himself in this album, especially in the songs Goodnight and Where Do We Go. It's incredible how much he's been through. Because of this album I admire Professor Green so much and I can't wait for the next one to come out in April!

i had been looking for this cd quite awhile, and found it on amazon for a good price. professor green is one of my favorite artists.