Morning fiends,disciples and even non-believers ....I'm an equal-opportunity Soul Guru if nothing else ....it's that time of the week when I recommend new music that I'm enjoying .
Today I'm going to highlight a guy who ,after due consideration ,I regard as one the most exciting,original and important Black British artists to have emerged for a long time.
Here is a quote from an interview he gave :
" 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 primarily to provide thoughtful social commentary "
The guy who said this is 24-year-old London-born George Mpanga...aka George The Poet...signed to Island Records
Before I talk more about this remarkable artist a brief history of Black Music as the music of Social Protest from my perspective
In the 1970's thanks to great artists and songwriters such as Marvin Gaye ( What's Going On ) Curtis Mayfield ( There's No Place Like America Today ) ,James Brown , Gamble & Huff SOUL music was the music of Social Protest for Black America....I loved all these artists but growing up in a village in Gloucestershire it took some time for me to understand and appreciate the true meaning and context of their work .
The Rap happened and very quickly usurped the role through the likes of KRS-One...rap itself carrying on the tradition of legendary poets such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron...rap spoke the language of the streets directly to the poor ,disenfranchised Black youth of America...it's urgency,power and authenticity exploding throughout the communities of every inner-city community . Here Linton Kwesi Johnson was releasing 2 of the greatest albums I have.....while Benjamin Zephaniah was telling it like it is in the UK.
Rap was a powerful art form...but unfortunately where there's something as innovative as rap it didn't take long for the music " business " to see an opportunity to make a vast amount of money by dumbing-down and exploiting rap .
In my opinion most rap today is exactly as George The Poet describes it ...a risible parody where dimmed-witted rappers talk about money,ho's ,cars,cognac etc etc etc
Of course ,as GTP says there are exceptions...I love The Roots,Eminem, Common for example....but for the most part rap has dumbed itself down so far it's a joke .
So that is why when I heard George The Poets " The Chicken and The Egg " mini-album back in October last year I immediately sat up and REALLY listened....here was a great new talent with incredible lyrical skills AND a SOCIAL CONSCIENCE ! ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Soy9tSlTM....this is the first track called " If The Shoe Fits " featuring Mega........the album is a " concept " album about unplanned-fatherhood,relationships and the consequences of our actions.....it is,quite simply,BRILLIANT ! You have to listen to the whole album rather than one track to appreciate just how great a body of work it is...BUY IT !
This year GTP has released to outstanding singles....Cat D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJY1XYHaiEY and what is undoubtedly my SINGLE OF THE YEAR so far ,the astonishing " Search Party " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akq2dJ9N5D...... a single which I implore ALL of you to go out and buy....his lyrics are so politically astute,so beautiful..so RELEVANT ! ! This track should be essential listening for everyone who cares about the State of the Tory Nation today...especially young people who's heads are filled the bullshit most rappers spit today
Listening to GTP improves my life,everytime I listen I hear something new in his lyrics .
I can't finish without paying tribute to everyone at Island record for the way they have let GTP develop......it's a brilliant example of old-school ARTIST DEVELOPMENT.....
Listening to GTP gives me hope that there ARE young,innovative,talented Black British artists out there pushing back the boundaries,taking risks......and making incredible new music
I was going to write about 3 other artists but I'll save that for Friday
George The Poet thanks for the music...long may it continue
The Soul Guru
