George the Poet

A playful, funny and thought-provoking collection from the iconic Benjamin Zephaniah. Poems packed with wisdom and laughter, poems that cherish and challenge our world, poems that delight in our differences and similarities. ‘Dere’s a Sonnet Under me bonnet Dere’s a Epic In me ear ‘Dere’s a Novel In me navel Dere’s a Classic Here somewhere’ From veggies and vocabulary to pollution and revolution, this new anthology brings together Benjamin Zephaniah’s greatest rhymes, along with a previously unpublished poem and a brand-new foreword by George the Poet. Timeless and essential, Let Dem Know is the perfect introduction to a true original – and inspiration for the young writers, speakers and thinkers of the future.

**Out now: The ground-breaking memoir by acclaimed rapper and podcast host, George the Poet***WINNER OF THE PEABODY AWARD*'Mpanga's book goes on to paint a picture of contemporary Black life as inextricable from history.' Guardian'Full of conviction and integrity' Observer 'Track Record is a mighty powerful and arresting read.' Buzz Magazine __________'Our music is the ghost of our freedom and, as anybody who's ever lost someone will tell you, a ghost can sometimes be the one thing keeping you going. 'Born to Ugandan parents on the St Raphael's Estate in Neasden, north-west London, George has always been an ambitious storyteller. Influenced by his hometown, George started MCing , and eventually found his voice in poetry and with it an avenue for change. Track Record: Me, Music, and the War on Blackness sheds light on George's upbringing and artistic career. He looks back at his education, his time at university, and his beginnings as a musician. We are given an insight into the forces that have shaped him and the stories he chooses to tell. As with George's other work, Track Record goes beyond the traditional memoir and takes the reader on a journey throughout history. George dives deep into the complexities of the economy and interrogates the legacy of colonialism. He reflects on music and its power as a political force - how it can be a catalyst for social power and economic change. By weaving a story that is both personal and political, George delivers an incredibly powerful and unique perspective on the world around us. Honest, thought-provoking and lyrical, Track Record is a fascinating insight by an inimitable storyteller.________Praise for George the PoetThere's something special about it: the storytelling is unique, so exciting, so kinetic. Even though it's in your ears, you feel like you're walking along with George.' -- Candice Carty-Williams'[George's podcast] blows through the medium's newly established boundaries, offering an experience as innovative as it is undefinable.' -- New Yorker'A genre-defying piece of audio that pushes the limits of what a podcast can be.' -- New York Times'There can't be many people out there who don't think George the Poet is a bit of a genius.' -- Guardian

'There's something special about it: the storytelling is unique, so exciting, so kinetic. Even though it's in your ears, you feel like you're walking along with George.' -- Candice Carty-Williams'Have You Read George's Podcast? is a collection of the scripts of 28 of his podcasts. Even on the page, they are evidently brilliant, creating a shifting, shimmering world that remains anchored in the big questions of history, empire and identity that form the tec tonic plates of George's imagination.' -- Sunday Times '[George's podcast] blows through the medium's newly established boundaries, offering an experience as innovative as it is undefinable.' -- New Yorker'A genre-defying piece of audio that pushes the limits of what a podcast can be.' -- New York Times'There can't be many people out there who don't think George the Poet is a bit of a genius.' -- Charlie Phillips, Guardian***For fans of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning podcast Have You Heard George's Podcast?, a stunning collection of the scripts of the podcast, plus bonus material from George the Poet. There's nothing quite like Have You Heard George's Podcast?. Listeners and critics have struggled to fit it into just one neat category, jumping as it does between autobiography, fiction and social commentary, often in a single episode - and virtually all of it performed in spellbinding rhyming verse. And now the complete scripts of Chapters One, Two and Three are available to enjoy, along with new writing by George. This collection allows fans to read (and re-read) his words, and with new extra insights and commentary on each episode and Chapter. In the book, just as in the podcast, George The Poet delivers an incredibly powerful and unique perspective on politics, modern society, history and current affairs through the art of storytelling, speculative fiction and spoken word. The book also offers a deeply personal summation of George's observations, experiences and vision for the future. Whilst his narrative takes us all around the world, the ultimate ambition is to empower the next generation, starting with his community.