George The Poet

George Mpanga entered the world on January 4, 1991, in the Caribbean-centric Harlesden district of London. Performing as George the Poet, he works as a spoken word artist, rapper, writer, and public speaker whose output carries pointed social and political themes. Early on he immersed himself in the rap and grime circuit, yet after finishing his degree in politics, psychology, and sociology at Kings College, Cambridge, he turned away from the genre’s more indulgent side. He drew on both his academic training and his inner-city background to develop his voice, moving beyond standard hip-hop conventions in favor of social commentary shaped by slam poetry. His first EP, The Chicken & Egg, appeared in 2013, and November 2014 brought a short-list nomination for the Critic’s Choice prize at the following Brit Awards.