Large Professor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Large Professor
|
|
|---|---|
Large Professor performing in 2016
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Paul Mitchell |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | March 21, 1972 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Origin | Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
William Paul Mitchell (born March 21, 1972), known as Large Professor, is an American rapper and music producer. He is also called Extra P. or Large Pro. He grew up in New York City and is famous for being a founding member of the hip hop group Main Source. He also helped and worked a lot with the famous rapper Nas. Many people consider Large Professor one of the top hip-hop producers.
Contents
Early Life and Music Start
William Paul Mitchell was born in Harlem, New York City. He grew up in Flushing, Queens, also in New York City. He went to school there, attending IS 237 and John Bowne High School.
Large Professor began making music beats using simple tools. He started with two turntables, a Casio SK-1 sampler, and even pause-tape cassettes. Later, his mentor, a producer named Paul C, taught him how to use a more advanced music machine called an E-mu SP-1200. Large Professor had unique ways of creating sounds, even with basic equipment.
Career Highlights
Forming Main Source
In 1989, Large Professor joined a hip hop group called Main Source. The group also included K-Cut and Sir Scratch, who were from Toronto. Main Source released their first album, Breaking Atoms, in 1991. This album had popular songs like "Just Hangin' Out" and "Looking at the Front Door".
A very special moment on Breaking Atoms was the song "Live at the Barbeque". This song featured Nas, who was a new rapper at the time. It was Nas's first time appearing on a public music track. Large Professor later said that "Looking at the Front Door" was one of the most emotional songs he ever made. He wrote it when he was just 18 years old.
Producing for Other Artists
Large Professor also produced music for other artists. In 1990, he produced three songs for Eric B. & Rakim's album Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em, including "In the Ghetto". He used ideas from Paul C to create these beats.
In 1992, Main Source recorded a song called "Fakin' the Funk" for the White Men Can't Jump movie soundtrack. After this, Large Professor and Main Source decided to go their separate ways due to business differences. Large Professor then signed with Geffen Records.
He became a very busy producer, working with many well-known artists. He produced tracks for Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Busta Rhymes, Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Working with Nas on Illmatic
One of Large Professor's most important contributions was to Nas's famous album, Illmatic, released in 1994. Large Professor produced three of the ten songs on this album: "Halftime", "One Time 4 Your Mind", and "It Ain't Hard to Tell". This meant he produced the most songs on the album, tied with DJ Premier.
The beat for "Halftime" was originally meant for Busta Rhymes, but Nas ended up using it. Large Professor wanted to create a raw and powerful sound for Illmatic. He was so important to the album that Nas wanted to give him a special "executive producer" credit, but Large Professor humbly declined.
Solo Albums and Reunions
In 1996, Large Professor finished his first solo album, The LP. However, it was delayed and not officially released until 2009. Before that, a bootleg version came out in 2002.
He continued to produce for Nas, creating "You're da Man" and "Rewind" for Nas's Stillmatic album in 2001.
On December 22, 2002, the original members of Main Source performed together in Toronto. This was their first show together in almost 10 years. Large Professor has continued to release his own solo albums, including 1st Class (2002), Main Source (2008), Professor @ Large (2012), and Re:Living (2015). He has also released instrumental albums called Beatz Volume 1, Beatz Volume 2, and Beatz Volume 3.
Discography
Albums
- with Main Source
- 1991: Breaking Atoms
- Solo albums
- 1996: The LP (officially released in 2009)
- 2002: 1st Class
- 2008: Main Source
- 2012: Professor @ Large
- 2015: Re:Living
- Collaboration albums
- 1993: ... Diner (with Akinyele)
- 2014: Mega Philosophy (with Cormega)
- Instrumental albums
- 2006: Beatz Volume 1
- 2007: Beatz Volume 2
- 2022: Beatz Volume 3
See also
In Spanish: Large Professor para niños
