Alive Till I'm Dead (sic) is the debut studio album by English rapper Professor Green, that was released on 16 July 2010.[9] The album features guest vocals from the likes of Lily Allen, Example, Labrinth and Emeli Sandé, among others.
Background
"Just Be Good to Green" was originally written and produced back in July 2007 when Green was signed to The Beats, Mike Skinner's record label. The track was composed and produced by Semothy Jones, and at the time featured Neon Hitch on the chorus. When The Beats folded, the track was put on hold, and later purchased by Green for use on his next record. Green spoke about how the collaboration came about between him and Lily Allen, stating that the pair got speaking through Facebook.
Green stated "We got chatting on Facebook and I mentioned the track, which turned out to be one of her favourite songs. She suggested her singing the chorus. I didn't take much persuading! Lily's wicked. She's straightforward and honest, you always know where you're at with her."
[10]
Singles
- "I Need You Tonight" was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as the first single from Alive Till I'm Dead. The song features guest vocals from Ed Drewett. The song was written by Professor Green and was produced by The ThundaCatz, mixed by Steve Fitzmaurice. The single debuted at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and also did well in Ireland, where it charted at number 15. I Need You Tonight samples the 1987 rock/new wave song "Need You Tonight" by INXS.
- "Just Be Good to Green" is the second single from the album. The single features guest vocals from world wide superstar, Lily Allen. The single was officially released on 25 June 2010. The single has been released around the world. The song has charted at number 52 in Australia. Just Be Good to Green also samples the 1983 R&B song "Just Be Good to Me" by The SOS Band.[10]
- "Monster" is the third single from album. The single features vocals from Example and was released on 1 October 2010. Video shooting started on 8 September. The video was released on 17 September 2010.[11]
- "Jungle" is the fourth single from the album. The single features guest vocals from Maverick Sabre. The single was released on 20 December. It peaked at 31 on the UK Singles Chart and 9 on the UK R&B Chart.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.[12]
As of 6 September 2014 the album has sold 250,000 copies in UK.
Reception
Alive Till I'm Dead has received positive reviews from music critics, with BBC Music stating that the album is "As fizzy, dramatic and inventive as pop should be without losing his initial grime edge". Paul MacInnes of The Guardian gave a similar review, agreeging that it was "Pop music, yes, but sparky and cleverly composed pop that still has an ear for the club". He also remarked that Professor Green has a "flow like an estuary Eminem and a humorous sensibility reminiscent of Lily Allen".
Helen Clarke of MusicOMH also praised the album, likewise comparing Professor Green with Eminem, saying that "Alive Till I'm Dead grabs you like the first few times you heard The Slim Shady LP". She also asserts that the album is a "ball of tightly wound bitterness, anger and aggression", while also managing to be "cheeky, playful and almost frighteningly confident and experimental". Jesal Padania of RapReviews gave a positive review, tempered with a feeling that Professor Green is "so much more" than what his record label have allowed him to display thus far.
Track listing
| 1. |
"Kids That Love to Dance" (featuring Emeli Sandé) | Stephen Manderson, Emeli Sandé, Shahid Khan, Harry Craze, Hugo Chegwin | Naughty Boy |
2:46 |
| 2. |
"Just Be Good to Green" (featuring Lily Allen) | Manderson, Terry Lewis, Andrew Hughes, Samuel Harris | Semothy Jones |
3:26 |
| 3. |
"I Need You Tonight" (featuring Ed Drewett) | Manderson, Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence, Fontaine, El Bergamy | The ThundaCatz |
3:45 |
| 4. |
"City of Gold" | Manderson, Lee Bailey, James Murray, Mustafa Omar | Mojam |
4:02 |
| 5. |
"Oh My God" (featuring Labrinth) | Manderson, Timothy McKenzie, Marc Williams | Labrinth, Da Digglar |
3:51 |
| 6. |
"Jungle" (featuring Maverick Sabre) | Manderson, Maverick Sabre, Sukh Knight, Gowers, Blue Bear, Stanza, Chunky | True Tiger |
3:13 |
| 7. |
"Do for You" | Manderson, Hanni Ibrahim | Sunny Productions |
4:21 |
| 8. |
"Falling Down" | Manderson, Bailey, DeLeon Blake, Yogi Tulsiani, Costas Nicolaides | Yogi Tulsiani |
3:53 |
| 9. |
"Monster" (featuring Example) | Manderson, Elliot Gleave, James Murray, Mustafa Omar | Future Cut, Mojam |
3:08 |
| 10. |
"Closing the Door" (featuring Fink) | Manderson, Fink Greenall | Fink |
4:00 |
| 11. |
"Where Do We Go" (featuring Shereen Shabanaa) | Manderson, Alex 'Cores' Hayes | Alex 'Cores' Hayes, 12 Milagram |
3:47 |
| 12. |
"Goodnight" | Manderson, Alex 'Cores' Hayes, Edward Hayes | Alex 'Cores' Hayes |
4:43 |
| 13. |
"Crying Game" (featuring The Streets) | Manderson, Mike Skinner, Kevin Mark Trail, Johnny Drum Machine | Mike Skinner |
3:55 |
| 14. |
"All to Myself" (pre-order only) | Manderson, Hayes | Alex 'Cores' Hayes |
4:25 |
Charts
References
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Studio albums
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