Prof in Concert

A self-made rapper from Minnesota, Prof is a furious force on stage in the mold of Great Lakes microphone greats who came before him. With the introspection of Brother Ali and the off-kilter flow of Atmosphere’s Slug, Prof has come a long way from his infamous “drunk shows” for college crowds at Minneapolis’ Dinkeytowner Bar a decade ago. He’s an upbeat hip-hop staple at festivals (including his own Prof Outdoors) and always a physical presence on stage. So much so, the rapper has undergone back and knee surgeries to patch up the body he sacrificed time and again for the sheer entertainment of his fans, yet he still refuses to let injuries alter his live persona. At 2018’s Soundset Festival, Prof closed his set with the Waka Flocka Flame-featured “Apesh*t,” crowd-surfing on a gigantic pink flamingo, rapping “Apesh*t! Break your neck! Break your spine!” while raining money into the elated crowd. 

Prof Background

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prof (né Jake Anderson) has positioned himself as the heir apparent to the storied Minnesota rap throne. The 34-year-old started the Stophouse Music Group label, where he released his early work, including 2007’s debut ‘Project Gampo,’ establishing his quasi-comedy rap alter ego, Gampo. Prof quickly built a relationship with the stalwart Rhymesayers Entertainment label, collaborating on the Welcome to Minnesota tour in 2010, before signing with Rhymesayers in 2013 and releasing his breakthrough album, ‘Liability.’ With features from Strange Music boss Tech N9ne, Petey Pablo, and Waka Flocka Flame, ‘Liability’ even cracked the Billboard 200. On 2018’s ‘Pookie Baby,’ Prof took a more personal creative leap, opening himself up with visceral singing alongside his brain-stopping rhymes. He features Ashley DuBose, The Voice Season 5 contestant and fellow Minneapolis native, on the tenderhearted “Be Around,” and he can still throw it back to the Gampo days on the tongue-in-cheek “Andre The Giant.”