Professor Green
A sharp-tongued wordsmith from Hackney who channeled a turbulent upbringing into chart-topping rap anthems and candid advocacy for mental health.
Born 1983 (age 43)·English rapper and songwriter·Birthday: November 27·Millennials
Biography
Emerging from the estates of Hackney, Professor Green, born Stephen Manderson, turned a life marked by hardship into raw, narrative-driven hip-hop. His early mixtapes crackled with the gritty realism of London street life, but it was his 2010 major-label debut 'Alive Till I’m Dead' that broke through, marrying his rapid-fire flow with unexpected pop sensibilities. Hits like 'Just Be Good to Green' and the emotionally charged 'Read All About It' with Emeli Sandé made him a household name, his lyrics often dissecting personal trauma, including his father's suicide. This willingness to be vulnerable became his signature. As his music career evolved, he leveraged his platform with a frankness rare in the industry, hosting documentaries and speaking openly about depression, anxiety, and male mental health. His story is one of transformation—from a youth entangled in trouble to a voice that insists on talking about the things we often choose to ignore.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Professor was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Professor Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Professor's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His album 'Alive Till I’m Dead' debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Gold.
- The single 'Read All About It' featuring Emeli Sandé reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
- He won the Best Video award at the 2011 MOBO Awards for his track 'Jungle'.
- Presented the BBC Three documentary 'Suicide and Me', which won a Royal Television Society award.
Did You Know?
He has a prominent scar on his forehead from being slashed with a broken bottle in a nightclub altercation in 2009.
He is a passionate supporter of the football club Tottenham Hotspur.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of East London in recognition of his mental health advocacy.
His stage name was inspired by the slang term for cannabis, 'green', and a friend's suggestion to add 'Professor'.
““It's okay not to be okay. The strongest thing anyone can do is ask for help.””
