Mark Professor

Photo of Mark Professor
© Mark Professor

Selector & MC

Despite his rep­uta­tion as a formid­able reggae selector and MC, Mark Professor is adept at play­ing in a “round-trip” style, touching on multiple genres of soul­ful Black music. He has a particular love of the 7" 45rpm record format, as evidenced by his “small ones are more juicy” catch­phrase.

Early years

Mark Professor has been collec­ting vinyl since 1979. He says that as a child he would save money to buy tunes by walk­ing home from school in­stead of catch­ing the bus. His vast record collec­tion now numbers well over 20,000 discs.

Professor’s passion for music led him to form the Nightlife Experience sound system. He later joined the Stereocity roots reggae sound system (a subsidiary of the Soca Saga Boys) and cut dub plates with a roster of legendary Jamaican singers including Al Campbell, Errol Dunkley, Marcia Griffiths, Prince Alla, Max Romeo, and Little Roy.

Cover art showing Mark Professor holding a cardboard handwritten sign saying Rent Crisis. Selection Train Record logo appears in bottom right corner.

From Oystah Card to Rent Crisis

A natural on the mic, Professor is also a talented dee­jay known for his positive lyrics and social com­men­tary. In 2013, he re­leased his debut single, Oystah Card, to critical acclaim. Produced by Wrongtom, Oystah Card is an in­genious ode to London’s public transport.

In 2017, Mark Professor featured on DB Cohen’s Find A Way, alongside D’Oxman, and in 2019 he released the timely Rent Crisis, with backing by Songbird and Leroy Horns. Residents of Merton may have also caught his Reggae Recital track re­corded for the borough’s Mega Recycle project.

Promoter & guest DJ

Mark Professor has co-promoted a number of London club nights, such as the Reference Library (with Andrew Ibi), Trojan Knights (with Texas Ranger), Bangarang (as part of the Wreck It Up crew), and more recently Soul System (with Jake The Tailor and Chippy T).

These days, however, he focuses more on DJing than pro­mot­ing. He is in demand across London and beyond, with fre­quent guest spots at events such as the General Echo Reggae Disco, Reggae Cookout, Vinyl Meltdown, Gallery Shabeen, Swing & Dine, and The Cat is Back.