Professor Green has opened up about how Jamaican culture and music has influenced his own life and tracks despite not having spent much time there. 

The 'I Need You Tonight' rapper was at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange project on Saturday, November 12 and explained that Jamaica's "wicked vibe" can be found in the area of London where he grew up so he feels an affinity with the Caribbean country:

"I think the Jamaicans have a wicked vibe, they always have and they have always influenced even more than the music in England with a huge Jamaican presence, I grew up in Hackney so I've been aware of it since I was born."

The Hackney-born star is also celebrating 10,000 plays of his latest single, 'Read All About It', today and Nielsen Music UK tweeted him the exciting news earlier this afternoon (November 14):

"Congratulations @professorgreen @emelisande for winning a@NielsenMusicUK Award for reaching 10000 plays on UK radio with "Read All About It'."

Watch his performance of 'Astronaut' for The Guardian's 'How I Wrote...' sessions here: