Professor Green - Hard Night Out [Single]

The Beats

July 28, 2009, 12:31 PM

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East London battle rapper, Professor Green, also known as Stephen Paul Manderson, steps up to the plate with a sparkly new single, set to arrest the airwaves with its super sonic flow and languid lyrical assault. Professor Green, Hackney born and bred, sits ever so comfortably into that well known genre - pop/grime/rock/rap. Don’t let Professor Green’s crossover appeal (hey, I just made a rhyme) fool you, at heart he is a born and bred “battle” rapper (so the marketing hype tells me anyway).

The “A” side 'Hard Night Out' begins immediately with a high energy guitar loop and a soulful, groovy drum beat. This is swiftly followed by the voice of Manderson which strongly reminds us a little too fruitfully of a young Marshall Mathers. There is a big lead guitar section on 'Hard Night Out' and, in fairness, the Professor does attempt to tell us a story, albeit with a repetitive chorus line; “radio friendly” and all that.

The “B” side of the single, 'Upper Clapton Dance' shows a slightly more interesting and promising side to Professor Green, with a classical music sample married to a rhythmic beat. It does sound even more like a Eminem/D12 production than 'Hard Night Out' but 'Upper Clapton Dance' has more of a “grime” feel to it rather than the rock/rap of 'Hard Night Out' and features a hint of guest rapping from a “Dizee” sounding “hype” man.


Don’t get me wrong 'Hard Night Out' is not a bad single, its not great, but not awful. The production merits are strong, the musical ideas well thought through, and Professor Green is a very capable vocalist. There will me more to come from Manderson, as I am sure he is young and full of potential. Some though will find his voice a little tinny and harsh, but then again angry young rappers do get noticed these days.

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