Professor Green firmly established himself as one of the UK’s exciting new talents when his debut album ‘Alive Till I’m Dead’ crashed into the charts at number two in 2011.

Since certified double-gold, the album launched four hit singles including ‘I Need You Tonight, Just Be Good To Green’ and now he’s set to reaffirm his status as an inventive rapper and distinctive lyricist with new single ‘Never Be a Right Time’. With his return to the O2 Academy on April 24th we spoke with the man himself (aka Stephen) to chat about what life has been like since his last visit to Leicester and his recent nomination at the Brits for Best British Male.

You’ve just been nominated for a Brit Award, you must be very proud?
It’s my first nomination, fourth time of going to the Brits. It’s going to be nice going back with a nomination, I’m very flattered.

You’re in the same category as Noel Gallagher and Ed Sheeran what’s that like?
It’s amazing to be surrounded by such people.

You’re friends with Ed, what do you think of the criticism he’s been facing for not being rock and roll enough?
What do people want? That whole kind of facade of being a rockstar, do we all have to be that? When you think of The Rolling Stones and Beatles, they came out and got caught up in drugs but they all had a naivety to it. Back then it was rock and roll! But we know better now, we don’t need to get caught up in all that stuff. It’s quite contrived in a lot of people, whereas with Ed he’s really humble and a nice lad that makes music that people really like. I don’t think it’s fair to call him boring, I don’t think it warrants calling him beige, the music speaks for itself.

You’ve got a new single coming out. Do your lyrics still reflect what’s going on in your life?
I don’t believe that you can talk in a voice of authority unless you talk about something that you know. Everything I write is something that happens in my life or something that I’ve seen. I don’t get caught up in self censorship. If I get a bad review and I start trying to cater for that person then I’m second guessing already and not being true to me. I’m just making the music that comes naturally. There has been so much positive about it all that I am quite happy with it.

We last saw you at the opening night of the O2 Academy, are you looking forward to returning to Leicester?
I’m really looking forward to it, looking forward to getting the band together for it. Its cool, everyone brings their own ideas to the performance and we keep getting better and bigger.

What’s next on the horizon for you after this?
I’ve got performance in Italy, Australia then I come back to do the Future Music Festival, just travelling with the music for now. Then America, just carrying on really

Talking of going back out on tour, you’re pretty close to your fans aren’t you? You’re often found chatting away to them on twitter.
That can be a blessing and a curse, but it gives you the opportunity to be in direct contact with your fans and it’s really immediate. Also, people that would only ever say stuff behind your back they’ll say it behind the computer. There are so many idiots on there though and people think that I get wound up, but I just find it funny.

Finally, I can’t imagine what your inbox must look like, especially with messages from the female population?
Some people get into it for that, I’m not that young though, I’m 28. I respect the challenge (smiles), it’s all about a challenge. I’m more often in a relationship as opposed to not. People know that as much as the attention is there, is I take that with a pinch of salt that it’s not real is it?

Professor Green returns to Leicester on the 24th April at the O2 Academy.

Words by Raegan Oates

Read all articles by Raegan Oates