| Birth name | Jacob Lukas Anderson[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | April 29, 1984 (age 42)[2][3] |
| Birth place | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genre | Midwest hip hop · Twin Cities hip hop · underground hip hop · alternative hip hop · experimental hip hop · progressive rap · comedy rap · dirty rap · conscious hip hop |
| Occupation | Rapper · singer · songwriter · record producer |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Label | Stophouse Music Group · Rhymesayers Entertainment |
| Website | https://www.profgampo.com |
Jacob Lukas Anderson (born April 29, 1984), better known by his stage name Prof, is an American rapper, singer, and record producer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He released his first full-length album, Project Gampo, in 2007[4] and has since released six additional albums and three EPs. In 2012, City Pages named Prof on their list of Minnesota's 20 best rappers.[5] He was formerly signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Early life
Jacob "Jake" Anderson[5] grew up in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis, an area that would later be referenced in his musical works.[6] His mother, Colleen, had a rocky relationship with his father, who suffered from bipolar disorder and was physically abusive.[7][8] She would later divorce Anderson's father and move away, taking Anderson's three older sisters with her.[6]
During his formative years, Anderson developed a "comedic, dirty-mouthed rap persona" that he named "Gampo," after a childhood friend.[6] Anderson graduated from Minneapolis South High School in 2002.[6]
Career
Prior to achieving broader recognition, Prof cultivated a substantial local following through consistent independent music releases and energetic live performances. In the mid-2000s, he frequently performed at the Dinkytowner bar alongside his partner and hype man, Rahzwell. It was a period crucial for refining his performance skills and establishing a direct connection with audiences.[6]
It was during this time that he met Mike Campbell, who would become his manager. Together with Dillon Parker, Anderson and Campbell co-founded Stophouse Music Group, an independent record label and studio based in northeast Minneapolis that would serve as Prof's primary creative and distribution platform for much of his career.[6] Through Stophouse, Prof released early projects, including the 2006 collaborative album Absolutely with Rahzwell, followed by his first solo album, Project Gampo, in 2007. Other independent works from this period include 2009's Recession Music with St. Paul Slim, 2011's King Gampo (2011), and the Kaiser Von Powderhorn EP series (2008, 2010, 2012), which further solidified his local reputation.[6]
His growing prominence in the local scene was formally acknowledged in 2012 when City Pages included him among Minnesota's top 20 rappers, noting his musical versatility, vocal ability, and capacity to engage audiences.[5] Conversely, musician and critic Dwight Hobbes of the Twin Cities Daily Planet asserted that Prof's 2011 album, King Gampo, was "asinine, narcissistic self-indulgence run completely riot, without a shred of redeeming artistry" and "rap at its worst".[9]
Rhymesayers
The success of his independent endeavors eventually drew the attention of Rhymesayers Entertainment, a prominent independent hip-hop label known for artists such as Atmosphere. In 2010, Prof was part of Rhymesayers' "Welcome to Minnesota" tour.[10]
Prof signed with Rhymesayers on December 3, 2013, representing a pivotal moment in his career -- providing him with a larger platform while allowing him to maintain creative control.[11] The announcement, which coincided with the release of his single "The Reply," signaled increased national attention for his work.[10]
In May 2015, Prof announced his debut record on Rhymesayers, entitled Liability. Prof released a single called "Ghost" from the album.[12] Liability was released October 16, 2015,[13] and peaked at 141 on the Billboard 200 chart November 7, 2015.[14]
On February 20, 2018, Prof announced he would be releasing a new album, titled Pookie Baby, on April 13, 2018.[15] The themes within Pookie Baby reflected a new perspective influenced by injuries sustained from extensive touring, leading to a more nuanced sound. On September 6, 2019, Prof premiered a music video for his song titled "Cousins" featuring Saint Paul, Minnesota rapper, Cashinova.[16][17]
On April 29, 2020, Prof released his first single, "Squad Goals", from his newly announced album Powderhorn Suites that was due to be released on June 26.[18]
However, on June 25, 2020, Rhymesayers dropped Prof from their label, stating that they "failed to not only vet the signing of Prof but also calling into question the intentions behind his music, messaging, and content more strongly". The label's statement specifically referenced "misogynistic lyrics and social media posts" and "accusations of sexual misconduct" as factors in their decision.[19] Rhymesayers further intended to cease the release of Powderhorn Suites to the extent that they could given the imminent release date.[19]
This event generated considerable discussion within the hip-hop community. Prof publicly addressed the situation in subsequent interviews and through his music, acknowledging past behaviors, expressing remorse, and indicating a commitment to personal growth and accountability.[20]
Independent again
On October 22, 2020, Prof announced the re-release of Powderhorn Suites by his Stophouse Music Group record label and premiered a music video for the song "Animal Patrol" from the album.[21][22] Powderhorn Suites was released by Stophouse Music Group on November 13, 2020.[23] Prof premiered a music video for his Powderhorn Suites song "Outside Baby" the same day of the album's release.[24] On November 20, 2020, Powderhorn Suites peaked at 36 on the Billboard 200, marking a significant achievement for an independent artist.[25]
Prof's most recent album, Horse, was released via Stophouse Music Group on April 14, 2023, and achieved notable independent chart success, ranking as the #2 Current Rap Album, #1 Heatseekers Album, #1 Emerging Artist Album, #8 Top Billboard Album, and #17 Independent Album on the Billboard charts.[26] Horse includes collaborations with artists such as Method Man, Kevin Gates, and Redman.
Live performances
In May 2013, he performed as a last-minute substitute for Busta Rhymes at the Soundset Music Festival with only an hour's notice.[10] Prof has been one of the few Minneapolis rap acts (in addition to Doomtree and several Rhymesayers artists) who are capable of selling out the city's famed First Avenue Mainroom,[6] and the only to do so without the backing of Minnesota Public Radio station 89.3 The Current.[27]
In 2015, to further enhance his touring capabilities, Prof secured the representation of William Morris.[28]
Personal life
Prof has a daughter.[20]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US [29][30] | ||
| Absolutely (with Rahzwell) |
| — |
| Project Gampo |
| — |
| Recession Music (with St. Paul Slim) |
| — |
| King Gampo |
| — |
| Liability |
| 141 |
| Pookie Baby |
| — |
| Powderhorn Suites |
| 36 |
| Horse |
| 111 |
| Good Time Boy |
| — |
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Prof/Ra EP |
|
| Kaiser Von Powderhorn |
|
| Kaiser Von Powderhorn 2 |
|
| Kaiser Von Powderhorn 3 |
|
Live Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Live From Powderhorn Suites |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album/EP |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Rocket Man" | Project Gampo |
| 2010 | "Animal" | Kaiser Von Powderhorn 2 |
| 2011 | "Gampo" | King Gampo |
| "Peep Show" | ||
| "Need Your Love" | ||
| "Myself" | ||
| 2012 | "Me Boi" | Kaiser Von Powderhorn 3 |
| "Moron" | ||
| "Super Scary Monster" (with Grieves) | rowspan="3" | |
| 2013 | "Zoo" | |
| "The Reply" | ||
| 2014 | "Farout" | Liability |
| 2015 | "Ghost" (featuring Tech N9ne) | |
| "Bar Breaker" | ||
| "Motel" | ||
| "Gasoline" | ||
| 2016 | "Standout" | |
| "Windows" (with Atmosphere) | rowspan="1" | |
| "Time Bomb" | Pookie Baby | |
| 2018 | "Andre The Giant" | |
| "Criminal" | ||
| "No" (featuring Cashinova) | ||
| "Light Work" | ||
| "Eulogy" | ||
| 2019 | "Fuck You It's Christmas" | rowspan="1" |
| 2020 | "Animal Patrol" | Powderhorn Suites |
| "Outside Baby" | ||
| 2021 | "Squad Goals" | |
| "Cousins" (featuring Cashinova) | ||
| "Numbers" (featuring Muja Messiah,Taylor J) | ||
| "Chitty Bang" (featuring Devin The Dude, Jarren Benton) | rowspan="7" | |
| "Tarzan" | ||
| "Dodo Birds" | ||
| "Neighborhood" (with Tropidelic, Krayzie Bone) | ||
| "Cutthroat" | ||
| "Treat You Right" (featuring Dizzy Wright) | ||
| 2022 | "Pay Day" (featuring Jon Ray) | |
| "Creek Boy" | Horse | |
| "Devils Gate" (featuring Kevin Gates) | ||
| "Big Hungry Monster" | ||
| "Louisiana" | ||
| "Vulnerable God" | ||
| 2023 | "Pack a Lunch" (featuring Redman) | |
| "Soupy" (featuring Cozz) | ||
| "Subpar" (featuring Method Man) | ||
| "Judy" | ||
| "High Priced Shoes" | ||
| "Tombstones" | ||
| "Horse" | ||
| 2024 | "Feed The Dogs" | rowspan="5” |
| "errybody know" (with Futuristic) | ||
| "Pain Salesmen" (featuring Ren) | ||
| "Gone Fishin" (with Grieves) | ||
| "Butter" (featuring Baby Tate) | ||
| "Dynamite" | Bad Time Boy | |
| scope="row" rowspan="5” | 2025 | "Bad Time Boy" (featuring Zombie Juice and Meechy Darko) | rowspan="1” |
| "Destiny" (featuring Sauce Walka) | Bad Time Boy | |
| "OH SHIT!!!" (with SonReal) | rowspan="1” | |
| "Dirty Work" | Bad Time Boy | |
| "Lionhearted" (with Kota the Friend) | rowspan="1” | |
| scope="row" rowspan="2” | 2026 | "Big Dog" (with That Mexican OT & 2 Chainz) | Bad Time Boy |
| "Jewelry Duty" (with T-Pain) |
External links
References
- ^ "ACTION". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Prof's 27th Birthday and More! (Short). Minneapolis: Stophouse Music Group. May 4, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2014. – via YouTube.
- ^ Prof (April 29, 2013). "Happy birthday to the most injured man in rap, PROF!". Facebook. Prof. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
- ^ "Project Gampo, by Prof". Prof. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
- ^ City Pages staff (May 25, 2012). "Top 20 best Minnesota rappers: The complete list". City Pages. Archived September 3, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Fischer, Reed (April 9, 2013). "Off the deep end with Prof". City Pages. Archived July 29, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (April 11, 2013). "3 serious sides to Prof". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
- ^ "Prof". Stophouse. Stophouse Music Group. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
- ^ Hobbes, Dwight (September 5, 2011). "Prof's "King Gampo" is rap at its worst". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (December 3, 2013). "Prof joins Rhymesayers as only Prof can do". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Diep, Eric (December 3, 2013). "Prof Signs To Rhymesayers Entertainment". XXL. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Maxwell, Ryan. "Prof ft Tech N9ne – Ghost". Hip-Hop Kings. Hip-Hop Kings. Archived December 1, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
- ^ "PROF". Rhymesayers.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ "Prof - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Archived May 5, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
- ^ "Prof Announces New Album "Pookie Baby" & Video for "Andre the Giant" | Scenester.tv". Archived February 22, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ "Prof Releases Music Video for New Song "Cousins" feat. Cashinova". Music in Minnesota. September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ "Prof - Cousins feat. Cashinova (Official Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ Gonda, Christopher (April 29, 2020). "Prof Confirms New Album 'Powderhorn Suites' and Debuts 'Squad Goals' Video". V13. Archived May 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (June 25, 2020). "Rhymesayers issue statement, drop Prof and Dem Atlas following allegations". BrooklynVegan. Archived June 25, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Hornung, Sabrina & Lacroix, Jr (October 18, 2021). "The Evolution of Prof". High Plains Reader. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "PROF - Animal Patrol (Official Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ Anderson, Jacob (Prof) (October 22, 2020). "Prof announces re-release of Powderhorn Suites and drops Animal Patrol music video". Instagram. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "Powderhorn Suites Stophouse Music Group Release". Stophouse Music Group. November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "PROF - Outside Baby (Official Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ Anderson, Jacob (Prof) (November 20, 2020). "Powderhorn Suites on Billboard Chart". Twitter. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "ABOUT // PROF". Stophouse. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (April 12, 2013). "Getting naked with Minneapolis trash-rap king Prof". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Fischer, Reed (May 22, 2015). "Prof Releases Title and Date of Rhymesayers debut". Go 96.3. Archived June 24, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200...". No. 1716505380400906510. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Billboard 200: Week of October 28, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "Prof (5)". discogs. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Coleman, C. Vernon II (April 16, 2018). "Prof Drops 'Pookie Baby' Album". XXL. Archived June 23, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Anderson, Jacob (Prof) (November 13, 2020). "Powderhorn Suites Release". Retrieved January 4, 2021. – via Instagram