Green within the Courtyard

From Professor Green 2011

The first Friday of the Summer Series at Somerset House and I made sure I was there as early as I could. I wasn't expecting a N-Dubz style turn out, most of the audience queuing many hours before the doors opened – but even so the queue was substantial, over an hour before the doors where due to open. Ed Drewett warmed up an already packed courtyard, by the time Professor Green’s set began the audience where already energized and ready to dance for the rest of the night. The sound could have done with a little more vocal to be able to hear the clever use of words and rhythm that have brought me round to rap as an art form.   Covers of tracks by artists including Beyonce Kowles and Jay-Z, interleaved between material from his upcoming album and well know hits, where the highlights of evening. Professor Green was clearly enjoying himself as much as the audience and defying the Evening Standards description of him as a “cartoon rapper” or Lily Allen collaborator.