Review + Interview with George the Poet at the UPSU
ReviewThe performance was told via the narratives of two characters from his beautiful EP, The Chicken and the Egg, Patricia and Anton. The EP deals with the pressing social issues of unexpected pregnancies, the growing epidemic of fatherless children and the struggles of the many that are disadvantaged economically and socially. George used hypothetical situations about these character’s choices to stimulate a debate with the audience over gender roles, sexual responsibility and different approaches to emotionally heated situations. Despite the challenging subject matter the atmosphere remained positive and friendly; even when people were expressing passionate and opposing views about controversial subjects like abortion, there was a sense of debate and real listening. Microphones were freely passed between audience members who wanted to respond to questions or each other’s assertions.
Between discussions, George performed tracks from his EP, and some brilliant spoken word-poetry, YOLO’s keen modern observational humour had the audience in fits of giggles. Throughout, the artist’s delivery was superb and the movement between discussion and tracks was handled seamlessly. The audience engaged so well that I don’t think I saw a single person leave during his whole performance. What made the evening stand out was the same thing that makes George’s music and verses stand out: the sincere and gentle delivery of powerful ideas. Rather than getting on stage and preaching George started a discussion between the audience, asking them to not just think for themselves but contemplate his and each other’s ideas.
We all need to hear a positive message, to be encouraged to strive for better and look deeper in these cynical trying times. We also need more artists like this that believe in the power of the young and marginalised people in this country and their ability to affect change. So, if you get the chance to attend one of these shows I really wouldn’t miss it! For a taste of the sort of message and sound George the Poet is presenting, take a look at his performance in the Radio 1 Live Lounge:
“Whether it’s making this money or spitting fire in the booth. My number one goal is inspiring the youth. Please don’t let this life make you cold, look you’re far too young. You’re never far too old to love, I was given this world I didn’t make it, but I can make it better.”
After his phenomenal two hour performance I caught up with George in the UPSU green room, where we discussed his inspirations and influences, the messages behind the music and the need for societal change and mobilisation of the young. Read the interview with George below:
Interview
There’s often a lack of representation of the stories of people without any money or power, and you’ve been very vocal about representing them, like you did on your The Chicken and the Egg EP. Would you say since you’ve started getting more recognition from the mainstream and been signed, you’ve been more limited in your content or what’s considerable marketable?
You see I think what happened was people got scared, and thought that’s not usually done, but there is no better argument then demonstration. So when I demonstrated how it could work, everyone was cool with it, they relaxed. And that’s the point you’ve found me at now: everyone’s relaxed.
Because 1,2,1,2 is a great track, really inspirational, but very different from The Chicken and the Egg, and as you said on stage it was the messages behind that EP that are why you are doing this. So is there any added pressure to go in one direction with your music now especially with the BRITs Critic’s Choice Award nomination?
I think the pressure is just to generally deliver. The good thing about my situation is they’re open minded finally, my label, all the industry people that are watching me are like: “wonder what he does next”. So the pressure it’s cool, cause no one is trying to push me in any particular direction, they just want me to perform it some.
If you could look back on who inspired you politically or artistically, who really gave you the momentum to want to get out there and change things?
Both politically and artistically Tupac inspired me, cause he used the space of music to address social issues, with a view to affecting them politically. Malcolm X inspired me because, not only did he try and occupy the political space; he created a brand of masculinity that I feel is essential to everything he represented. If a young kid wants to be someone, say something constructive, that’s way more powerful than a politician telling you, well you know politicians, they’re just like most artists they’re trying to stay in the camera for the longest.
Your shows are really interactive, and it seems that you’re not just trying to put a single message out there, but you’re trying to make people think. Is that something that drives you as an artist?
100% I need mobilisation. I need the mobilisation of my listeners, because I think you lot are worth it, I think the rest of the world is sleeping on you, and when I draw you out and I activate what I know is inside of you, everyone is gonna go: “Oh shit we didn’t know they could do that!” Well of course they could do that, we’re human beings. If they have the sense to go out and buy a record then they have the sense to go out and make meaningful change.
You’ve talked about the images we perpetuate on stage, people wanting to get more money or be perceived as a “player”. Do you think it can be harder to make inspirational music rather than more aspirational music that chases that sort of false image?
No it’s not difficult because I suppose it’s a message I’ve created over time, its took a lot of years to reach this place where I’m at ease with a lot I see around me, and I don’t have to be effected or subject to it. But at the same time I’ve got a view of how to move forward and I only developed that view from a lot of back and forthing over years.
Because The Chicken and The Egg shows a lot of understanding of both the male and female psyche, and people in those situations, do you draw on autobiographical experiences when you write or is it more observations of people around you?
It’s both; it’s both autobiographical and observational. That’s why I’m excited to talk to anyone, because there’s no way you’ve been on this Earth- how old are you?
I’m twenty three.
See, there’s no way you’ve been on this Earth twenty three years and you haven’t seen something I haven’t seen, or know something I don’t know! And through me paying attention to that and realising that, it’s a learning opportunity, and I’ll be able to advocate for you in my poems.
Definitely, do you think as we are moving forward Hip Hop artists are becoming more aware of the images they perpetuate, or the fact that they are becoming role models?
I think the problem with discussing Hip Hop like that is that, Hip Hop never gets the opportunity to advocate for itself in an academic context, or in a political context. So a lot of the time what happens in Hip Hop is actually, as its intended isn’t how it’s received. Someone talking about all the stuff that they’ve got, or how big and rich and famous they will be, is a poor person from a poor community, doing some positive visualisation. Dreaming big, and having to now assume a certain bravado,
Especially in American Hip Hop, they’re in a harsh society, a capitalist society, so now they finally get the chance to talk big and try and catch up with all the big billboard and big money. So by the time it gets to our side of the water, we see it as materialistic for example, whereas what they might actually be talking to upwards social mobility. So it’s hard to answer that question cause a lot of the time Hip Hop doesn’t get to answer for itself in the context that its intended.
But yeah, I do think there’s a lot more discussion around some of the imagery and other things, but what I think is a more meaningful discussion is an analysis of the society that produces Hip Hop.
Definitely I agree. There’s been a big spotlight recently on violence towards women or anti-woman lyrics in Hip Hop, which are often as you said can be misconstrued or are attempting to depict the realities of violence. Do you think Hip Hop’s been targeted a bit by academics and mainstream media because it’s such an easy target?
Oh I definitely think Hip Hop’s been scapegoated, ’cause they know that Hip Hop doesn’t always dedicate the time to defending itself in the same arena that it is criticised in. So, it’s easy to say “there’s something wrong with these rappers” than it is to say there’s something wrong with society.
Are there any artists or poets that you think are underrepresented or that we should be paying attention to right now?
I think Knox Brown, he’s one of my favourite artists, he’s an amazing artist and an amazing talent. I think this country needs to wake up man because before you know it America’s gonna snap him up. But I’m a big fan of Barney Artist too. I’m a big fan of a rapper from my area called Nines. The thing I appreciate about Nines is thought his lyricism is very on point, it’s a genuine portrayal of what he goes through, and again that could be seen as glamorisation of certain things but when you actually listen, that’s just a young man my age, his brother was killed by people round the corner. So it’s his real life you know, so definitely listen to Nines, he’s talented.
Your skits on Mic Righteous’ Kam-pain mixtape were amazing, what was it like working with Mic?
Working with Mic was so straight forward ya know. I was in the library, I had essay to do, he was the most famous person that had reached out to me at that time and I was like of course I’ll do the ting. And it was just incredible, I wrote them and sent them over and he was just cool. And the thing about Mic is he’s a conscious artist, he thinks a lot; he’s bothered, he allows himself to be bothered by things, as opposed to a lot of people that would rather not be disturbed.
Is there anyone else you’d love to work with- living or dead?
I would have loved to have worked with Sam Cook, with Bob Marley, Michael Jackson or with Tupac … or just talk to him.
And obviously you’re a spoken word poet as well, do you have a favourite poem that inspires you?
Yeah Maya Angelou, ‘Still I Rise’.
One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that the more articulate you are the easier it may be succeed despite obstacles, whereas often inarticulate people can get left behind. Do you think being articulate has helped you move forward and get to where you are?
Definitely, more than anything I think it’s a filter, it can lock you out of places that you should be in, cause you’re qualified otherwise but can’t articulate it. It’s the society that we live and we need to find a better strategy that ensures our young people get the opportunities to make the most out of their talents, and the best contribution to the world that they can.
If you could change one thing in the world tomorrow what would it be?
I would make it so that everyone only fails on their own terms. If you fail it’s only ’cause of you, no one else.
What advice would you give to any person out there struggling, or who feels the odds are stacked against them?
To any young people that are struggling I would say, you can find a lot of answers in the mirror. A whole lot of answers in the mirror. Sometimes you just need to ask yourself first of all what you want? A gateway question to that is, what do you like? And eventually you’ll figure out why you’re here, and from that all you need to do is crack on.
Do you have a memory of the first thing you wrote, or the first piece of feedback you got that told you this was the path you wanted to go down pursuing writing?
Erm, when Grime music really started to advance and I wanted to get involved in this performance, in spitting as we used to call it, inadvertently, I also had things I wanted to address, things that didn’t sit right with me, but there was no space for discussion. So one thing lead to another.
One last question. Do you feel with the power of the internet now, Hip Hop is reaching new audiences and evolving, tackling more social and political issues, maybe faster than other genres which seem kind of stuck?
That’s a good question, I do think Hip Hop is unique in the sense that what takes primacy in Hip Hop historically, despite whatever is the latest fad or trend, the most important thing in Hip Hop is the statement of truth, it’s not cool to be a rapper and be openly untrue. And no other genre really champions that in the same way. The only other one I can think of is Country music which is also about stories. But because Hip Hop puts so much primacy on what is being said, it opens up a lot of room for discussion. Whereas in pop music they kind of have to slip messages under the radar, or couch it in ways that are more sonically pleasing. In rap the only thing I care about is what you’re saying.
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