Prof Green rocks Hackney Weekend (From Bicester Advertiser)

Prof Green rocks Hackney Weekend

4:20pm Sunday 24th June 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

British rapper Professor Green went back to his childhood stomping ground to open the second day of BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend today.

The 28-year-old took to the main stage at the free music festival in the Hackney Marshes, east London to perform hits like Remedy and Just Be Good To Green.

"Being a Hackney boy, I didn't know I could come back and perform to a crowd of this size," he said.

The rapper - whose real name is Stephen Manderson - added: "I played football here at the marshes but they put me in the goals because I was rubbish."

He was cheered on by his girlfriend Millie Mackintosh, who stars in ITV2 show Made In Chelsea.

Fellow Hackney rapper Plan B - also known as Ben Drew - slipped on the stage several times during the downpour that coincided with his set, but persevered to perform hits including She Said, Ill Manors and a cover of Seal's Kiss From A Rose.

The rain did not deter music fans, however, with around 50,000 people estimated to be attending.

Labrinth opened the 1Xtra Arena while Bombay Bicycle Club played the In New Music We Trust stage.

The first day of the festival saw US hip-hop superstar Jay-Z reunited with his protege Rihanna as well as his Watch This Throne collaborator Kanye West and MIA.

American musicians like Nicki Minaj, Will.i.am and Jack White performed on Saturday, along with homegrown talent like Leona Lewis, Example, Rizzle Kicks, Ed Sheeran and Michael Kiwanuka.