Alive Till I'm Dead cover

Alive Till I'm Dead

Professor Green · 2010

44 min · 12 tracks · hip-hop

A vibrant blend of UK garage and hip-hop, infused with energetic beats and candid storytelling that captures urban life.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Kids That Love to Dance Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
  • →
    Just Be Good to Green — This track features a catchy hook and strong collaboration with Lily Allen, blending pop sensibilities with hip-hop flair while addressing themes of respect and self-worth.
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    I Need You Tonight — With its infectious rhythm and emotive lyrics, this song highlights Professor Green's ability to weave personal narratives into accessible music that resonates with listeners.
  • →
    Monster — This track stands out for its darker tone and introspective lyrics, showcasing Professor Green's vulnerability while balancing a hard-hitting production style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases energetic storytelling and genre fusion but lacks strong cohesion in its latter half.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a lively tone, maintaining an upbeat tempo through the first half.
  • The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, creating a reflective mood that contrasts with the earlier energy.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady mid-tempo dance grooves
  • urban energy for social settings
  • feel-good anthems for celebration
  • engaging storytelling in verses

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, reflective music
  • want complex, lengthy compositions

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album established Professor Green's reputation in mainstream music.
Themes
self-worth in London· vulnerability in nightlife
Career context
Released in early 2010, Alive Till I'm Dead marked Professor Green's debut studio album following a series of successful mixtapes. This album positioned him at the forefront of the UK hip-hop scene, showcasing his lyrical prowess and unique sound after gaining attention with tracks like 'I Need You Tonight'.
Stylistic neighbors
Example· Plan B· Wretch 32

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • Falling Down

    The bridge shifts perspective as the singer reflects on past mistakes and consequences, creating a moment of raw honesty in the narrative.

Tracklist

  • 1 Kids That Love to Dance Start here 2:44
  • 2 Just Be Good to Green 3:22
  • 3 I Need You Tonight 3:41
  • 4 City of Gold 3:59
  • 5 Oh My God 3:48
  • 6 Jungle 3:10
  • 7 Do for You 4:19
  • 8 Falling Down 3:50
  • 9 Monster 3:05
  • 10 Closing the Door 4:00
  • 11 Where Do We Go 3:44
  • 12 Goodnight 4:40

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata