Highly original, positive and poetic with a funky house beat – this video will make you smile! George the Poet is nominated for the BRITS Critics’ Choice 2015 and listed for BBC Music Sound of 2015. Sam Smith won it last year – we’re hoping for George this year!
(To watch this video in Creation 5, just tap here.)
George Mpanga, aka George The Poet, is a 23 year-old spoken word performer and social commentator from North-West London. When he was just 15 he started performing rap and grime but this changed when he went to Cambridge University to study Politics, Psychology and Sociology and he made the move towards spoken word poetry.
In an interview with the Guardian last year we learnt that what concerns George includes the catastrophic effect of some rap music on young black men, the danger of blind cultural adherence to America and the belief that racial equality can only be met through an appreciation of difference. “Rappers have so much power to do good and they squander it,” he says. “I want to tell them, I wish you knew you were like my big brother. I wish you knew I could have been in the best mood, but I wanted to have a fight directly after listening to your song.” We need more people like George in this world! Read the article in the Guardian here.
BRITs Critics’ Choice Award: There are 3 nominees for this year’s BRITs Critics’ Choice Award – Spoken word artist George The Poet, singer-songwriter James Bay and electro-pop trio Years & Years. The winner will be announced on December 4.
BBC Music Sound Of 2015: The long list was announced today (December 1st) and reflects a diverse range of new music acts to highlight exciting new talent for the coming year: George The Poet, James Bay, Kwabs, Låpsley, Novelist, Rae Morris, Raury, Shamir, Shura, Slaves, SOAK, Stormzy, Sunset Sons, Wolf Alice, Years & Years.
This list is compiled after 139 music industry experts – including DJs, critics, broadcasters and bloggers – put forward their three favourite new acts from any genre. The top five acts will be announced daily from Monday, January 5 onwards on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
