"Talking Saved My Life" - Professor Green | Mo Gilligan's Beginning, Middle & End Podcast

Professor Green has lived a hundred lives in one. From growing up on a Hackney estate and becoming one of the UK’s most respected battle rappers, to scoring a No.1 record with Read All About It, making powerful documentaries, and becoming one of the country’s most important voices on mental health, this is a conversation full of honesty. In this episode, Prof opens up about the early days of battle rap, the pressure of success, addiction, money, grief, losing his dad to suicide, and why talking about our struggles can be life-changing. 00:00 Intro & Professor Green's Battle Rap Legacy 01:21 Growing Up in Hackney & East London Stories 03:21 Skating, Street Culture & Finding Identity 05:33 Green Day, Grunge & Alternative Music 07:27 Meeting Skin from Skunk Anansie & The Masked Singer 09:57 The Jump Off Era & UK Battle Rap Culture 11:27 How Professor Green Started Rapping 13:21 The First Rap Battle & Joining Jump Off 15:06 Why Battle Rap Was So Intense 16:27 The Eminem Comparisons 18:34 Battling Jin & Representing the UK 22:31 From Battle Rap to a Music Career 23:54 Mike Skinner Changed My Life 26:55 "I Didn't Sell a Record Until I Was 28" 27:16 Fame, Money & Going Off the Rails 28:59 Addiction, Trauma & Escaping Pain 31:29 Advice for Younger Artists 32:42 Why He Started Making Documentaries 34:07 Read All About It & Men's Mental Health 35:28 The Documentary About His Dad's Suicide 37:25 Poverty, Housing & Growing Up on Estates 39:43 Gentrification & The Aesop Conversation 43:00 Imposter Syndrome & Life After Music Success 45:03 The Harsh Reality of Record Deals 47:27 Fatherhood, Identity & Feeling Lost 49:43 "How Dare You Be Unhappy?" 52:54 Why Therapy Changed Everything 55:06 Ice Baths & Building Resilience 59:13 What's Next for Professor Green? 1:00:02 Fatherhood & Learning to Sit With Feelings 1:02:10 Authentic Adulthood & Helping Others 1:03:25 "Is Everything Just a Lie?" 1:07:14 Final Thoughts & Legacy 1:09:48 Outro Welcome to my YouTube Channel! Subscribe for brand new stand up, behind the scenes action, sensational podcast content and exclusives from the MOMO G Network. Comment, like, share and tell us what you think. Follow Mo on Twitter/Instagram:   / mothecomedian   |   / mothecomedian   Like the page on Facebook:   / mogilligan   Join the Mo Gilligan mailing list on www.mogilligan.com for updates on shows and events.