You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service, with me, Stephen Sacker. Today I'm in the BBC

radio theatre in front of an audience to meet one of the most successful British

rap artists of the last decade, Stephen Manderson, much better known to millions of fans

as Professor Green. The beat and the rhymes of rap and hip-hop are urban, its street music

that had its origins in poor black neighborhoods of New York and

Los Angeles some four decades ago. It gave voice to young people fed up with being ignored.

And Stephen Manderson could relate to that. He was raised by his grandmother in a tough East London

neighborhood. He didn't settle at school.

He fell into drug dealing and very nearly saw his life unravel.

Rap was a saviour.

He was spotted rapping in London clubs and became an international star.

But success didn't ease serious mental health problems.

And in the end, Professor Green chose to

confront his demons rather than hide them away. He made powerful TV documentaries about his father's

suicide, about drugs and the class divide. He has become a very public advocate for breaking

down the taboos around mental health.

So maybe there is plenty we could all learn from Professor Green.

Well, I'm delighted to say he joins me now.

Stephen Manderson, Professor Green.

Welcome to Hard Talk.

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