Growing Up in Public is the third studio album by British rapper Professor Green. It was released on 19 September 2014 through Virgin Records. The album features appearances from the likes of Tori Kelly, Example, Mr Probz, Rizzle Kicks and James Craise among others. The album continues the themes covered on his second studio album, At Your Inconvenience (2011).
The album's first promotional single, "Not Your Man", was released as an "instant grat" through the iTunes Store on 7 July 2014. The album's second promotional single, "I Need Church", was released as an "instant grat" on 16 July. The album's lead single, "Lullaby", featuring singer-songwriter Tori Kelly, was released on 14 September 2014. The song received its radio debut on BBC Radio 1 on 28 July 2014, but was premiered at the Leicester Music Festival at Welford Road Stadium on 25 July. The album's third promotional single, "Dead Man's Shoes", was released on 19 September 2014. "Little Secrets", featuring Mr Probz, is the album's second single. It was released on 7 December 2014, peaking at number 83 on the UK Singles Chart.
Background Green expressed interest to work with artists such as former collaborators Emeli Sandé and Lily Allen, as well as Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey on the album, however, no collaborations featuring any of the listed names are featured. Green announced that production on the album would come from the likes of Mike Skinner, Sid Wilson of Slipknot, iSHi, Pharrell Williams and Skrillex. However, Example doesn't feature on the album version. A promotional non-album single, titled "Are You Getting Enough?", featuring Miles Kane, was released on 21 July 2013. After the single failed to chart in the top 100, Green announced that the first "proper" single from the album would be released in January 2014 and the album would follow shortly. These were later delayed to July and September 2014 respectively. He has also delayed his planned UK tour twice, firstly from November 2013 to May 2014, and then May 2014 to December 2014, to coincide with the release of the album.
Green also performed new tracks entitled titled "I Need Church" and "Little Secrets" in his 2013 live sets. Green has also posted clips of new songs "Name in Lights" (produced by Cores and featuring Rizzle Kicks) and "Jealous Girl" on his Instagram. Tweets and Instagram posts have also revealed a collaboration with Wretch 32 and iSHi titled "Gross" and another track titled "The Middle". Green also posted a short clip of a collaboration with iSHI and Ella Eyre which didn't make the album. On 14 April 2014 Green released a 54-second teaser of the album's first promotional single, "Not Your Man", which features vocals from Thabo. In 2014, he appeared on a remix of "German Whip" by Meridian Dan, also featuring Skepta, Bossman Birdie and Jordan Stephens. "Not Your Man" premiered in full on 3 July 2014, and was released on 5 July as an "instant grat" download on iTunes when you pre-ordered the album. The album's second "instant grat" promotional single, "I Need Church", was released on 16 July. The lead single from the album, "Lullaby" featuring Tori Kelly, was released on 14 September 2014. "Dead Man's Shoes" was released as the third and final instant grat single on 19 September 2014. Growing Up in Public was released on 22 September 2014.
Critical reception
Track listing
Notes "In the Shadow of the Sun" samples vocals and production from "Shadow of the Sun" by Max Elto (f.k.a. Taped Rai)
Personnel
Richard Adlam – drum programming Samuel Agard – drums Erik Alcock – songwriter Harley Alexander-Sule – songwriter Lily Allen – songwriter Matt Allen – guitar Iyiola Babalola – engineer Lorraine Barnes – choir/chorus Tom Barnes – songwriter, drums Awsa Bergstrom – choir/chorus Jules Buckley – string arrangements Wez Clarke – mixing, programming James Craise – songwriter, featured artist, vocals DJ Khalil – engineer, instrumentation, producer, programming Mark O. Everett – songwriter Future Cut – vocal producer The Futuristics – keyboards, producer, programming John Gibbons – choir/chorus Rick Guest – photography Wendy Harriott – choir/chorus Stuart Hawkes – mastering Alex "Cores" Hayes – additional production, songwriter, engineer, executive producer, keyboards, producer, programming, vocal engineer, vocal producer Edward Hayes – songwriter, guitar Warren Huart – vocal engineer Tom Hull – songwriter Ken "Duro" Ifill – mixing Pranam Injeti – songwriter, engineer, instrumentation, producer, programming Felix Joseph – songwriter, engineer, producer, programming Pete Kelleher – songwriter, keyboards Tori Kelly – featured artist, vocals Joe Khajadourian – songwriter Kid Harpoon – engineer, guitar, producer, programming Ben Kohn – bass, songwriter KZ – keyboards, percussion, producer, programming Jenny LaTouche – choir/chorus Darren Lewis – engineer Tom Liljegren – songwriter Chris Loco – songwriter, engineer, keyboards, percussion, producer, programming Stephen Manderson – songwriter, executive producer Patsy McKay – choir/chorus, choir arrangement Beverlyn McKinson – choir/chorus Metropole Orkest – strings Mr. Probz – featured artist, vocals Mojam Music – engineer, producer, programming James Murray – songwriter, guitar Mustafa Omer – songwriter John Parish – songwriter Adam Prendergast – bass Professor Green – primary artist, vocals Khalil Abdul Rahman – songwriter Alex Reeves – drums Hal Ritson – sample organization Rizzle Kicks – featured artist, vocals Alexander Ryberg – songwriter Alex Schwartz – songwriter Aaron Sokell – choir/chorus Diana Stanbridge – choir/chorus Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing Jordan Stephens – songwriter Geoff Swan – mixing assistant Thabo – featured artist, vocals TMS – engineer, producer Jack Vasiliou – choir/chorus James Walsh – songwriter, guitar Whinnie Williams – featured artist, vocals Ina Wroldsen – songwriter, vocal arrangement
Credits adapted from AllMusic.
Charts +Chart performance for Growing Up in PublicChart (2014)Peakposition
Release history +Release history and formats for Growing Up in Public Country Release date Format(s) Ireland 19 September 2014 United Kingdom 22 September 2014 Japan 24 September 2014
References