George the Poet explained

George the Poet
Birth Name:George Mpanga
Birth Date:1991 1, df=y
Birth Place:Neasden, London, England
Occupations:Poet
Years Active:2006–present
Associated Acts:Benbrick, Mikill Pane
Module:Awards: 2019 Peabody Award

George Mpanga (born 14 January 1991), better known by his stage name George the Poet, is an African spoken-word artist, poet, rapper, and podcast host with an interest in social and political issues.[1] [2] [3] Mpanga came to prominence as a poet, before progressing to spoken word and hip hop. This led to him being signed by Island Records, culminating in the release of his debut EP The Chicken and the Egg to critical acclaim. However, Mpanga felt constrained by the art form,[4] quit rapping,[5] and left his record label prior to the release of his debut album.[6] He moved on to performing poetry and created a podcast entitled Have You Heard George's Podcast?[7]

In 2018, Mpanga was elected to be a Member of the National Council of Arts for Arts Council England. Have You Heard George's Podcast? won five awards at the 2019 British Podcast Awards, including "Podcast of the Year".[8]

In 2019, Have You Heard George's Podcast? won a Peabody Award, becoming the first podcast outside of the US[9] to win the award.[10] [11]

Life and career

Mpanga was born to Ugandan parents on the St Raphael's Estate in Neasden, north-west London. His paternal grandmother is Ugandan politician and former cabinet minister Joyce Mpanga.[12] He began performing rap and grime when he was 15 years old. He attended Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, an elite selective grammar school, from 2002 to 2009.[13] He subsequently studied Politics, Psychology and Sociology at King's College, Cambridge (2010–2013),[14] where he decided to adapt his rap output into poetry so as to communicate more effectively with his audience.[15] Mpanga said, "I think rappers are primarily expected to make money for the industry and provide party soundtracks, but obviously there are exceptions and grey areas. The poet's 'role' is usually to provide thoughtful social commentary."[16]

During his studies, Mpanga won a social enterprise competition organised by Barclays and Channel 4 called The Stake, which asked entrants how they would spend £100,000. He used his £16,000 prize to fund The Jubilee Line, a series of secondary school poetry workshops for underprivileged children in London.[1] [17] In May 2012, he premiered the piece "My City", about his hometown London.[18] Subsequently, BBC Radio 1 selected him as the face of their Hackney Weekend (in June 2012),[19] and Sky Sports F1 commissioned him to write poems for their coverage of the 2012 Formula One season and the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix.[15] [20] In July 2014, the consumer watchdog group Which? released the track "It's Yours", a collaboration between Mpanga and producer Jakwob, as part of a campaign lobbying the UK Government to improve their response to complaints about public services.[21] "My City" was adapted as a music collaboration with dance producers Bodhi, and released as a single in August 2014.[22] In October 2014, Mpanga released the EP The Chicken and the Egg and the single "1,2,1,2" (once again with Bodhi), describing the former release as "about premature parenthood. Through the story of a rocky relationship, it outlines the cycle of fatherlessness in seven tracks."[23] Vice magazine wrote that the EP "showcases perhaps the tightest lyricism of the year to date".[24]

In November 2014, it was announced that Mpanga had been shortlisted for the Critics' Choice category at the 2015 BRIT Awards.[25] He came fifth in the BBC Sound of 2015 poll.[26] As of late 2014, Mpanga was writing a debut album and working on theatre and film projects. He released the single "Cat D" in February 2015.[27] His first collection of poetry in book form, Search Party, was published by Virgin Books in 2015.[28] [29]

In March 2018, it was announced that Mpanga had been elected as a member of the national council of Arts Council England.[30] Shortly afterwards, in June 2018, it came to media attention that Mpanga had been stopped and searched by police in an incident that was video-recorded.[31] Mpanga opened the BBC coverage of the royal wedding, between Prince Harry and Megan Markle, by reading a love poem. He has also appeared twice on the television programme Question Time. In 2019, Mpanga turned down an offer to become an MBE, citing the British Empire's treatment of his ancestral homeland, Uganda.[32]

, Mpanga was studying for a PhD in economics at University College London, focusing on the potential for black music to catalyse social power and economic progress.[33] [34]

Artistry

Mpanga's influences include rappers Nas, Dizzee Rascal, and Tupac Shakur, and poets including Maya Angelou, Black Ice, and George Watsky.[26] [35] [36]

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

Guest appearances and collaborations

Podcast discography

Have You Heard George's Podcast Chapter One (2018)

Have You Heard George's Podcast Chapter Two (2019)

Awards and nominations

YearOrganisationAwardResult
2015BRIT AwardsCritics' Choice[56]
MTVBrand New for 2015[57]
BBCSound of 2015[58] Fifth
2019British Podcast AwardsAudioboom Podcast of the Year[59]
Best Arts & Culture
Best Fiction
Best New Podcast
Smartest Podcast
Lovie AwardsArtist of the Year[60]
2020Peabody AwardsPodcast/Radio Award[61]
Webby AwardsBest Podcast Series[62]
Visionary ArtsInfluencer of the Year[63]
Broadcasting Press GuildPodcast of the Year[64]
NMEBest Podcast[65]
Audio Production AwardsBest Presenter – Speech[66]
2021Audio and Radio Industry AwardsBest Speech Presenter [67] Won
Best Factual Single Programme
Best Fictional Storytelling
The Creative Innovation Award

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rare Rising Stars 2012. Rarerecruitment.co.uk. 5 January 2015.
  2. Web site: Ian . Youngs. BBC Sound Of 2015: George the Poet interview. BBC News. 1 December 2014. 5 January 2015.
  3. News: George the Poet: 'If I accepted an MBE, what would my descendants think?'. Arts. Lanre Bakare. 30 November 2019. The Guardian. 7 December 2019. correspondent. culture. 0261-3077.
  4. Web site: Series 3, Episode 11: George the Poet. Channel 4 News. 24 July 2019 . 7 December 2019.
  5. Web site: From rap to representation with George the Poet. 27 August 2019. Financial Times. Roula . Khalaf. 7 December 2019.
  6. Web site: The big themes shaping culture in London and New York. Financial Times. 7 December 2019.
  7. News: George the Poet: 'My manifesto was in poetry when I ran for student union chair'. Thapar. Ciaran. 21 October 2018. The Guardian. 7 December 2019. 0261-3077.
  8. News: Sturges. Fiona. 26 May 2019. Why George the Poet swept the board at the British Podcast Awards. Financial Times. 8 February 2021.
  9. News: George the Poet on why ending racism shouldn't be on 'special' Black people CBC Radio. en-US. CBC. 2021-02-08.
  10. Web site: Podcast award winners revealed. 19 May 2019. BBC.
  11. Web site: Williams. Tommy. Meet George The Poet: Spoken Word Artist Partnering With Leading Investment Firm Sweet Capital. 2021-02-08. Forbes. en.
  12. 31/12/2019 . Today. Today (BBC Radio 4) . George the Poet . . 31 December 2019 . 2:17:45. We're gonna meet my grandma, Joyce Mpanga, who was the first Women's Minister of Uganda..
  13. Web site: A very happy new year for George the Poet. Qebarnet.co.uk. 28 July 2020.
  14. Web site: Security Verification | LinkedIn. linkedin.com.
  15. Web site: George the Poet: 'Rappers have so much power to do good and they squander it'. Kate . Mossman. The Guardian. 3 February 2013 . 5 January 2015.
  16. Web site: Q&A With George The Poet. Raymondantrobus.blogspot.co.uk. Shapes And Disfigurements Of Raymond Antrobus. Raymond . Antrobus. Raymond Antrobus. 17 October 2012. 5 January 2015.
  17. Web site: Interview: George the Poet . Rebecca . Diamond . The Tab Cambridge . 5 January 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141205035238/http://cambridge.tab.co.uk/2013/02/06/interview-george-the-poet/ . 5 December 2014 .
  18. Web site: George The Poet's 'My City' Reminds Us There Is More To London Than The Jubilee (VIDEO). Sam . Parker. The Huffington Post UK. 1 June 2012. 5 January 2015.
  19. Web site: George The Poet: By Royal Appointment. Dionne . Grant. The Voice. 22 January 2013. 5 January 2015.
  20. Web site: George The Poet delivers Monaco Grand Prix inspired poem over James Blake's "Retrograde" [Video] ]. SoulCulture. 28 May 2013. 5 January 2015.
  21. Web site: Which? partners with Jakwob and George The Poet for Government campaign. Coral . Williamson . Music Week. 16 July 2014. 5 January 2015.
  22. Web site: Bodhi VS George The Poet – My City .
    1. 5 Magazine
    . 5 January 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141206122853/http://5mag.co/culture/music/bodhi-vs-george-the-poet-my-city . 6 December 2014 .
  23. Web site: George The Poet – 'The Chicken and the Egg' EP – SB.TV – The UK's leading online youth broadcaster.. Sbtv.co.uk. 5 January 2015.
  24. Web site: PREMIERE: Listen to George The Poet's Latest EP. Noisey. Luke . Morgan Britton. 24 September 2014. 5 January 2015.
  25. Web site: Brits announce 2015 Critics' Choice shortlist. Nesta . McGregor. BBC Newsbeat. 27 November 2014. 5 January 2015.
  26. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/229DTVzPlwsFVNrtYb6ZHHs/5-george-the-poet 5. George The Poet
  27. Web site: News. Clash Magazine.
  28. Web site: George the Poet pens poetry collection | The Bookseller. thebookseller.com.
  29. News: George the Poet review - a lesson in rhyme and reason. The Observer. Ben. Thompson. 19 April 2015.
  30. Web site: Introducing our new National Council Members Arts Council England. www.artscouncil.org.uk. 3 July 2018.
  31. News: George the Poet is strip-searched by police after gig. Siddique. Haroon. 29 June 2018. The Guardian. 22 October 2019. 0261-3077.
  32. News: George the Poet: I rejected MBE over 'pure evil' of British empire. Rawlinson. Kevin. 25 November 2019. The Guardian. 7 December 2019. 0261-3077.
  33. George the Poet. Profile. BBC Radio 4. 24 July 2021. 24 July 2021.
  34. Web site: George the Poet: Live from the Barbican. Barbican Centre. 24 July 2021.
  35. Hannah Ellis-Petersen, "I'm from a community that doesn't often get to represent themselves", The Guardian, 14 December 2014.
  36. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/11/george-the-poet-protesting-with-poetry "George the Poet on protesting with poetry"
  37. Listen Closer. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/listencloser, aCast, April 2019.
  38. Popcorn. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/popcorn, aCast, April 2019.
  39. A Grenfell Story. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/agrenfellstory, aCast, April 2019.
  40. Grenfell II. https://soundcloud.com/georgethepoet/haveyouheardgeorgespodcast-episode-35, SoundCloud, April 2019.
  41. It's On Us. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/itsonus, aCast, April 2019.
  42. Press Play. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/pressplay, aCast, April 2019.
  43. The Journey Pt I. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/thejourneypt1, aCast, April 2019.
  44. The Journey Pt II. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/thejourneypt2, aCast, April 2019.
  45. Sanyu's World. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/sanyusworld, aCast, April 2019.
  46. E9. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Am000b18m, aCast, December 2020.
  47. E10. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Am000bb6y, aCast, December 2020.
  48. E11. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Am000bcnn, aCast, December 2020.
  49. E12. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Ap07sq1zv, aCast, December 2020.
  50. E13. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Ap07sq3lg, aCast, December 2020.
  51. E14. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Am000c5pc, aCast, December 2020.
  52. E15. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Am000c9nd, aCast, December 2020.
  53. E16. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Ap07vsbfk, aCast, December 2020.
  54. E17. https://play.acast.com/s/georgethepoet/urn%3Abbc%3Apodcast%3Ap07vscp9, aCast, December 2020.
  55. E18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07vsf20, BBC Sounds, December 2020.
  56. Web site: Critic's Choice Winner Announced. Brit Awards. 4 December 2014.
  57. Web site: Krept & Konan Crowned MTV Brand New For 2015 Winners!. MTV. 2 February 2015.
  58. Web site: BBC Music Sound Of 2015 longlist revealed. BBC. 1 December 2014.
  59. Web site: British Podcast Awards 2019 . 2019 . BPA . 14 February 2020 . 14 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210714225452/https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/winners-2019 . dead .
  60. Web site: Lovie Awards. 2020 . Lovieawards.eu . Lovie . 14 February 2020 .
  61. Web site: Peabody Awards 2020 . 2020 . Peabody Awards . 7 May 2020 .
  62. Web site: Webby Awards 2020 . 2020 . Webby Awards . 7 May 2020 .
  63. Web site: Visionary Awards 2020 . 2020 . Visionary Arts . 7 May 2020 .
  64. Web site: Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2020 . 2020 . BPG . 7 May 2020 .
  65. Web site: NME Awards 2020 . 2020 . NME . 14 February 2020 .
  66. Web site: Audio Production Awards 2020 Winners . 2020 . Radio Today . 3 December 2020 .
  67. Web site: ARIA Awards . 2021 . 22 April 2021.

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