He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem from 2006 until 12 February 2008, when the label terminated. He rose to success upon winning the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008. Following this in 2009, Manderson worked with Lily Allen on her 2009 concert tour.
Growing up on the Northwold estate in Upper Clapton, Green's familial situation saw him being raised by his grandmother while he traded up school attendance for just hanging on the estate, like kids do. The Read All About It Songfacts reports that he had a turbulent relationship with his father, who was rarely around during Manderson's childhood and committed suicide in 2008. In his hit single, Read All About It, Green responds to accusations made by his stepmother that his debut album, Alive Till I'm Dead, was "cashing-in" on his death.
While the usual nefarious stories of low budget living played a part in his life, Green's formative years were also characterised by fun: skating was big on the estate, etc. He also had an early inkling that the art of verbal sparring would somehow play a part in his life, confessing how, he always wanted to be a barrister or a lawyer. "I like debates and I've always been argumentative, I think that's helped me in battles a lot."
However, while becoming obsessed with hip-hop at the age of nine "Biggie [[artist]The Notorious B.I.G.] is my greatest hip-hop influence", Green only switched up from passive fan to active participant at a relatively late stage. After turning 18 years old, he coined his first rhyme completely off-the-cuff when put on the spot at an impromptu freestyle jam session round a friends house. Passing the test with aplomb and impressing his music making peers, the underground rap battle scene suddenly opened up before him.
After seeing a poster advertising a rap battle at the Lyric Pad night in London, Green turned up and won. From that he graduated to competing at the prestigious Jump Off events, performing at venues like The Scala and Sound in Leicester Square, and becoming the first ever contestant to win six straight weekly finals in a row. While his seventh showdown ended in defeat, he returned undeterred, put together a second run of consecutive victories and became the first string seven wins together. Throw in a further series of seven straight wins and a dalliance with pay battles, and Green became a man to fear on the battle circuit.
Cue a change of scene and a flight to the exotic climes of the Bahamas to spar for $50,000.
Entering the Power Summit battle against America's finest freestyle icons (think 8 Mile but with no holds barred), the crowd may have first viewed Green as this white English kid who's not going to do anything, but his gift of gab and ability to coin scathing punchlines saw him through to the final where he faced Jin, a member of DMXs much amped Ruff Ryders camp. The judges decided in Jin's favour, although with the Ruff Ryder man having been given a bye to the final and Green having already been through seven prior knockout bouts (including taking out representatives from Eminem's Shady Records camp), by his own admission it was "more a case of me losing it as opposed to Jin winning it."
Still, with a crowd featuring US big rap guns like Busta Rhymes and Saigon, Green made a name for himself and in September went off to Hawaii to compete in the battle again.
A performance at the B-Boy Championships last summer ultimately paid greater dividends and opened him up to a new audience in Mike Skinner of The Streets fame.
"Mike approached me after the B-Boy Championships and wanted to bring me on tour with The Streets" he recalls. I ended up doing an opening battle on the tour and we formed a great relationship from that. At first it wasn't about me looking for a record deal though it was more a case of us deciding to lay down some tracks and seeing where it went.
At the end of April 2006 he signed on the dotted line to release his debut album on Skinner's The Beats label. And while UK hip-hop's profile is certainly in the ascendancy thanks to acts like Skinnyman, Sway and Kano, Green has his eyes on breaking out beyond the usual urban tag affixed to British rappers.
Name-checking Portishead, Radiohead, Tracy Chapman and Suzanne Vega as song-writing influences, Green is well aware of the importance of adapting his lyrics from the immediacy of the live battle circuit to cater to the depth of the album format.
"The thing with hip-hop is if you take a lot of rap songs outside of rap then they aren't great songs, whereas with something like country if you take them outside of the genre then the song-writing skills are still incredible, he rationalises. And I'd like to take those skills into rap."
So while never completely leaving behind the entertaining punchlines that have characterised his battle persona, the album will take in everything from songs about his estranged parents to wish lists of things to do before he passes away and the plight of the average stereotypical man in the eyes of the average stereotypical female (see Stereotypical Man, complete with the catchphrase "'Til my breathings done I'll be reading page three of The Sun").
As Green concludes of his new goals "I wouldn't be happy to sell just 30,000 copies of my album. I don't think that there's anything wrong with aiming above that, giving people an album they can relate to, and wanting to be successful."
Read all about it
Professor Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna scream till the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I'm not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
Nothing to hide
Stife and I smother
Suffered and cried
Never mumbled or shy
The trouble I rise above all
Expectations to get rep
Ain't never begged yet
When I wanted to get pence, hustle
To be, I'm exactly what my neck says
That sket said I tried to cash in on my Dad's death
I wanted to vent 'stead I said nothing at all
After all you were never kin to me
Family is something that you never been to me
In fact making it harder for me to see my father was the only thing that
You ever did for me
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I'm not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
Dear dad,
As a kid I looked up to you
Only thing was I never saw enough of you
The last thing I said to you was I hated you
I loved you and now it's too late to say to you
Just didn't know what to do or how to deal with it
Even now deep down I'm still livid
To think, I used to blame me
I wonder what I did to you to make you hate me
I wasn't even bad, life's a journey and mine wasn't an easy ride
You never even got to see me rap
I just wish you woulda reached out
I wish you woulda been round when I been down
I wish that you could see me now
Wherever you are I really hope you found peace
But know that if I ever have kids
Unlike you I'll never let them be without me
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I'm not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
I write songs I can't listen to
Everything I have I give to you
In every one of these lines I sing to you
My job's more like public service
My life just became yours to read and interpret
If you heard it will come across a lot different at times
I throw fits when I read how they word things
You see me smile
Now you're gonna have to see me hurt
Coz pretending everything is alright when it ain't, really isn't working
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I'm not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
I ain't censoring myself for nobody
I'm the only thing I can be
All that is good, all that is bad, all that is, me
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I'm not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
In Professor Green's emotional and powerful song "Read All About It," he expresses his desire to reveal his innermost thoughts and feelings to the world. He wants to sing, shout, and scream until his words dry out, and he's unapologetic about wanting his story to be told in the newspapers. Green talks about his struggles with family conflict and his relationship with his father, who was absent from his life. He reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings through the song's lyrics, telling his father how he felt about the lack of attention he received growing up, and how he wished that his father had been more of a presence in his life.
Throughout the song, Green's powerful lyrics express his feelings of wanting to be heard and understood. He's unafraid of exposing his vulnerability and pain to the world in the hopes that his story can inspire others. The song's chorus, which repeats the phrase "read all about it" over and over, invites people to pay attention to his words and take note of his story.
Overall, "Read All About It" is a powerful and emotional song that addresses important issues surrounding family conflict and the power of voice and expression. The song reminds listeners that it's crucial to speak out about our struggles and the pain that we often keep hidden.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I am passionate about expressing myself through music and lyrics.
I wanna scream till the words dry out
I want to convey my emotions and experiences so forcefully that I exhaust all the words in my vocabulary.
So put it in all of the papers, I'm not afraid
I want my message to be spread far and wide, no matter who sees it or what they might think of it.
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
My story is worth telling and I want it to be heard by as many people as possible.
Nothing to hide
I have nothing to be ashamed of in my past or my present.
Stife and I smother
I have experienced many struggles in my life, but I have always fought through them.
Suffered and cried
My hardships have brought me great pain and sadness.
Strife made me tougher
Facing adversity has made me stronger and more resilient.
Never mumbled or shy
I have always been confident in myself and my abilities.
The trouble I rise above all
I have been able to overcome all the obstacles that have been put in my path.
Expectations to get rep
I want to become successful in the music industry.
Ain't never begged yet
I have never begged for anything in my life and I won't start now.
When I wanted to get pence, hustle
In the past, I have worked hard to make money when I needed it.
To be, I'm exactly what my neck says
I am true to myself and my identity, no matter what anyone else thinks or says about me.
That sket said I tried to cash in on my Dad's death
Someone accused me of exploiting my father's death for personal gain.
I wanted to vent 'stead I said nothing at all
I wanted to express my frustration and anger, but I held back and didn't say anything.
After all you were never kin to me
You were never really my family, even though we were related by blood.
Family is something that you never been to me
You have never fulfilled the role of a family member in my life.
In fact making it harder for me to see my father was the only thing that
The one thing you did for me was make it more difficult for me to spend time with my father.
Dear dad,
I'm addressing my father directly in this letter.
As a kid I looked up to you
When I was young, I admired and respected you.
Only thing was I never saw enough of you
However, I didn't have as much time with you as I would have liked.
The last thing I said to you was I hated you
The final words I spoke to you were filled with hate and anger.
I loved you and now it's too late to say to you
Despite our differences, I still had love for you and I regret not expressing it before your passing.
Just didn't know what to do or how to deal with it
I didn't know how to process my emotions about our relationship and the grief of losing you.
Even now deep down I'm still livid
To this day, I still feel anger and resentment towards you.
To think, I used to blame me
I used to believe that I was the cause of our strained relationship.
I wonder what I did to you to make you hate me
I am grappling with the question of what caused my father to feel animosity towards me.
I wasn't even bad, life's a journey and mine wasn't an easy ride
I was not a bad child and faced many challenges and obstacles over the course of my life.
You never even got to see me rap
You never had the opportunity to witness my passion for music and see me perform.
I just wish you woulda reached out
I wish that you had tried to connect with me and repair our relationship.
I wish you woulda been round when I been down
I needed your support during difficult times in my life.
I wish that you could see me now
I'm proud of where I am today and I wish my father could witness my growth and success.
Wherever you are I really hope you found peace
I hope that my father has found peace and happiness in the spiritual afterlife.
But know that if I ever have kids
If I have children of my own one day, I will be a loving and present father to them.
Unlike you I'll never let them be without me
I will do everything in my power to be there for my children and provide for them.
I write songs I can't listen to
Some of my music is so personally emotional or difficult that I can't bear to listen to it again.
Everything I have I give to you
I am completely transparent and honest in my music, giving my all to my audience.
In every one of these lines I sing to you
Through my songs, I am speaking directly to my father and sharing my innermost thoughts and feelings.
My job's more like public service
My position as an artist is more about connecting with and serving my fans than about achieving fame or wealth.
My life just became yours to read and interpret
Through sharing my experiences and emotions in my music, my life has become open for the world to engage with and draw their own conclusions about.
If you heard it will come across a lot different at times
People may interpret my music or my story in different ways depending on their own perspectives or experiences.
I throw fits when I read how they word things
I become upset and angry when people misrepresent what I've said or done.
You see me smile
I try to put on a happy face in public, but...
Now you're gonna have to see me hurt
...in reality, I am also deeply troubled and affected by negative events or circumstances.
Coz pretending everything is alright when it ain't, really isn't working
I know that hiding my pain or problems isn't a sustainable coping mechanism.
I ain't censoring myself for nobody
I refuse to compromise my voice or message for anyone's sake.
I'm the only thing I can be
I am true to myself and my unique experiences and perspectives.
All that is good, all that is bad, all that is, me
I accept and embrace all aspects of myself, even the flaws and the struggles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Emeli Sande, Shahid Khan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iel1750
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I’m not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
[Verse 1: Professor Green]
Nothing to hide, stifle or smother
Suffered and cried, strife made me tougher
Never mumbled or shy to trouble I rise above all
Expectations forget rep
Ain’t never begged yet
When I wanted to get pence hustle
To be I am exactly what my neck says
That sket said I tried to cash in on my Dad's death
I wanted to vent but I never said fuck all
After all you were never kin to me
Family is something that you never been to me
In fact making it harder for me to seemy father
Was the only thing that you ever did for me
[Hook: Emeli Sandé]
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I’m not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
[Verse 2: Professor Green]
(Dear Dad)
As a kid I looked up to you
Only thing was I never saw enough of you
The last thing I said to you was I hated you
I loved you and now it's too late to say to you
Just didn't know what to do and how to deal with it
Even now deep down I'm still livid
To think I used to blame me
I wonder what I did to you to make you hate me
I wasn't even 5, life's a journey and mine wasn't an easy ride
You never even got to see me rhyme
I just wish you woulda reached out
I wish you would have been round when I been down
I wish that you could see me now
Wherever you are I really hope you found peace
But know that if I ever have kids
Unlike you I'll never let them be without me
[Hook: Emeli Sandé]
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I’m not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
(I write songs I can't listen to
Everything I have to give to you
And everyone of these lines I sing to you)
[Bridge: Professor Green]
My job's more like public service
My life just became yours to read and interpret
If you heard it and come across a lot different at times
I throw fits when I read how they word things
You see me smile
Now you're gonna have to see me hurting
Cause pretending everything is all right
When it ain't, really isn't working
[Hook: Emeli Sandé]
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I’m not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
[Outro: Professor Green]
I ain't censoring myself for nobody
I'm the only thing I can be
All that is good, all that is bad, all that is, me
[Hook: Emeli Sandé]
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers, I’m not afraid
They can read all about it, read all about it, oh
@extrachannel3450
You know when the lyrics of a song randomly comes back to you and remember the song , you instantly need to listen to to the song
@Artaniis_
True
@ningombambidya7994
+Tokyo Kurio :)
@extrachannel3450
Ningombam Bidya :D
@ranialovesyou6728
same
@fannycraddick8984
yes!!!! 😄xx
@stephenmerton
Respect to all the kids out there who sadly feel this song, rather than having the privilege of just hearing it..
You have an inner core strength that will get you through your journey, and what feels bad now won't last forever...
@davebarrett5709
Unfortunately it do last forever 32 years later and still hurts like it was just yesterday
@stephenmerton
@@davebarrett5709 sorry to hear that, hope you can find true peace in your life.
@davebarrett5709
@@stephenmerton I'm not sure peace will ever come from it bro but it made me promise I'll always be there for my children