Interview with Professor Green

Artrocker.com: I'm about to buy a Wii [the boxing is entirely too great]. Do you have a favourite games console?

Professor Green: I'm not really into games all that much anymore. I don't get the time. My little cousin got a Wii for Christmas though. We played boxing for ages. I felt like I'd been to the gym afterwards! You should ask Ted Mayhem or Magic Millrain that question...they have a PS2 at the studio so instead of doing any work they play Pro Evo all day long! I do have an xbox 360 which I played online once and felt quite nerdy. I was playing with Faith SFX -who’s the best beatboxer in the country- ‘til about five in the morning! Gears Of War is bad.

Artrocker.com: There's a real problem with cocaine in London right now. Since you're the professor of Green; what's it going to take to get the kids back on weed?

Professor Green: I dunno. Whatever floats your boat, I say. Just as long as you don't form a habit. I don't think there's anything positive about the 8th of weed I smoke a day. It’s bad. I don't like cocaine cause its not a creative drug. It makes you think you’re on point when really you’re just being a cunt.

Artrocker.comTony Blair's on his way out. How do you rate his decade of dominance?

Professor Green: Instead of doing what the typical backpacker rapper would and just spout off with some bullshit uneducated rant I'll try and be positive. It’s all about being positive, negative is so old school. Old Maggie Thatcher drove a pretty big wedge between classes. That’s changed slightly in his lead. I don't envy anyone with the job of Prime Minister to be honest, there's always going to be wrongs in the world and I'm sure a lot of his decisions involve having to go with the lesser of the evils. Don't get me wrong its still fucked but in order for that to change all the bums in the country would have to get off their arses and do something about it. There are plenty of opportunities in this country, a lot of people just can't see any further than the end of their nose! People really need to stop fucking complaining about how bad it is and do something about it. Its never easy to make an effort, you can't expect to be a millionaire if you’re 20 with two kids and on the dole! To make any sort of change you'd have to re-educate whole generations, which is never gonna happen. As much as it’s about being positive it is only gonna get worse. We may as well kill ourselves now! Haha.

Artrocker.com:You are signed to Britain's first real "Seminal Hip-Hop label" do you feel the pressure to produce a debut album as good as your boss and your label mates The Mitchell Brothers?

Professor Green: There's a big difference in the two. Apart from Skinner there's only Dizzee who's hit 250,000. Nobody else did half that yet. I'd like to hit 100,000 plus that'd be nice. Obviously I'd like to do a million but with the waters as they are it’s gonna be far from plain sailing! Anything that’s not hip-hop seems to be doing really well at the moment. In my favour, my music is honest and there's stuff everyone can relate to.

Artrocker.com: You seem to be one of a new breed of British rappers who spends more time on the road than you do at home. What are your three favourite things about touring?

Professor Green:You know I can't answer that in complete honesty. I have relationships to uphold! Haha. Okay... 1. Alcohol! Plenty of it. Copious amounts of Jack Daniels. 2. Seeing new places is cool. Not that many places are new now though! 3. Randomness! There's always mad shit happening. I like the spontaneity of it.

Artrocker.com: What are your three least favourite things about touring?

Professor Green: 1. Travelling. We once did Aberdeen to Exeter. Eight hours in a people carrier is never any fun. 2. Alcohol. Ups come with downs. By the end of tour its usually time for a detox. 3. Not seeing my bed. I like my bed. It’s comfortable.

Artrocker.com: How sick are you of answering questions about being an ex-battle rapper?

Professor Green: Oi! Who said anything about ex!? I don't think I'll ever be an ex-battle rapper. It is more likely any battles will be on wax now though...

Artrocker.com: What are the most and least rock and roll things you've done since becoming Professor Green the rap phenom?

Professor Green: A whole load of stuff I can't get into on the record for most! Least would have to be stealing a huge packet of those biscuits they put in your rooms from a trolley outside a room on the way out. Chynaman also got a duvet from the same holiday inn. That was quite impressive actually!

Artrocekr.comI can see the sun trying its hardest to break out in London. What are your plans for the summer months?

Professor Green: Finishing my album’s top of the list. I'm touring Scotland in July with Mike, The Mitchells and Example. That’s gonna be carnage. We're also doing Get Loaded In The Park at Clapham Common together. We have our own tent there, it’s gonna be manic also. There will be a few Beat Stevies of myself and Example being the wreckheads we are I'm sure! I've also heard rumours that we're doing Ibiza as well, three dates or something. I hope that happens. That’s guaranteed chaos. Mike's good at getting mashed... he handed the torch over for a while for a brief detox but I reckon he'll be holding it high in Ibiza!

Check Professor Green out on his MySpace.