Have You Heard George's Podcast? – Details, episodes & analysis

In Uganda’s capital city, a young cab driver forms an unlikely bond with a sex worker during the crippling lockdown of 2021. They are both forced to make tough decisions.

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick & George the Poet Original Music and Sound Design by Benbrick.

Too many people don’t know that Ghana was the first African country to break free from colonial rule. Why does that matter? How could it not? Control of Africa’s resources keeps the rich world rich. What would happen if Ghana’s example set off an anti-colonial cascade across the continent? George revisits the country’s freedom struggle through the rise of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.

Written by George the Poet. Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet. Original music by Benbrick, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sound Design by Benbrick.

Since its rise to international acclaim, the multi-award-winning "Have You Heard George’s Podcast?" has remained famously undefinable. In its explosive new season, however, this finally changes, as George the Poet pieces together fragments of the African and Caribbean independence struggles.

Poignant tales of strength and sacrifice frame some of the most important yet least discussed events of the last six decades, from the perspective of history’s unsung heroes.

George's verses flow over an evocative soundtrack, composed by long-time collaborator Benbrick, and brought to life by the BBC Concert Orchestra in Abbey Road. The season is peppered with timeless music from all corners of Black life - from Africa to the Caribbean and beyond.

The fourth season of HYHGP? brings to light the hidden tragedies and triumphs that have shaped our world.

Over one billion Africans on the continent. 200 million in the diaspora. 18% of the world’s population. Thousands of artists with a gazillion listeners every day. What will it take for Black music to truly liberate Black people?

Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language that may offend.

Credits:

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick.

Soundtrack:

Mahalia Jackson - Summertime / Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child

00:57 - 07:36

Dave & Stormzy - Clash

09:39 - 11:26

Nas - If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) ft. Lauryn Hill

12:34 - 13:04

Bobi Wine - Maama Mbile ft Juliana

14:17 - 14:46

Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock

19:01 - 20:20

Jazmine Sullivan - Pick Up Your Feelings

20:42 - 21:41

Solange - F.U.B.U (feat. The-Dream & BJ the Chicago Kid)

22:47 - 24:47

Benbrick - Falling Tide (performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra)

24:57 - 29:04

Thank you to:

My team: Sandra, Vidhu, Birungi, Luke AG. BBC Sounds: Dylan and Jason. BBC Concert Orchestra. Evan Rogers, who worked with Benbrick on the orchestrations and prep for Abbey Road, Tom Kelly, our conductor, and Adam Miller, our engineer, for those Abbey Road sessions. The Common Ground team. Zeze Mills and Trend Centrl. My PHD team Mariana Mazzucato and Karen Edge. The Fisk Jubilee Singers.

A very big thank you to Kasana and Jade for their contributions on Common Ground which we included in this episode used at 08:35 and 08:50. Want to contribute? www.GTPCG.com

Archive:

The clips of George chatting with Zeze Mills used first at 00:34 are taken from George’s appearance on The Zeze Mills show.

The clips of George chatting with economist Mariana Mazzucato used first at 01:36 are recorded by George.

The clip of Sam Cooke used at 05:28 is taken from his interview with Dick Clark on American Bandstand.

The clip used at 06:29 is taken from the ABC News 20/20 Hip Hop special report from 1981.

The clip used at 07:02 is taken from the BBC News documentary London’s Bleeding.

We used various clips from different Chapter 3 episodes:

The clip from Episode 20 used at 11:52 featured Benbrick’s remake of My First Song, originally by Jay-Z.

The clip used at 12:34 is taken from Episode 21 .

The clip from Episode 22 used at 19:01 features archive of Damian Marley from his interview with Seani B on 1Xtra, and a clip of Bob Marley taken from his interview with Gil Noble for WABC-TV’s “Like It Is”.

The clip from Episode 23 used at 13:28 featured Dot Rotten’s BBC 1Xtra Westwood freestyle.

The clip used at 14:17 is taken from Episode 23.

The clip used at 20:42 is taken from Episode 25.

The clip from Episode 26 used at 15:17 featured the music Sounds & Vibrations, and The State of the Ends both by Benbrick. The archive clip used is taken from the BBC documentary “Roots, Reggae, Rebellion”.

Have You Heard George’s Podcast is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Senior Producer: Alex Entwistle Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins

As a soon-to-be-married man, George reflects on all the things that made him propose to his partner, Sandra. He thinks about teamwork and the value of culture, sharing what he has learned about both through the transition from friendship to relationship to marriage.

Credits:

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick.

With music from:

WizKid - True Love Benbrick - Memories Sara Tavares - Balancê Benbrick - Sandra’s Hand Chosen Blood & Winnie Nwagi - Yitayo Vinka - Overdose (feat. Kent & Flosso) Orezi & Sheebah - Sweet Sensation Mac Ayres - Jumping Off the Moon

Archive:

The clips of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle used at 00:47 and 02:20 are taken from their Spotify podcast Archewell Audio, from the Episode ‘2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special’.

The poem by Vidhu used at 19:15 is called ‘My Name is Vidhu’ and is on her YouTube page BananaSharma.

Thank you to:

Sandra! Meghan and Harry, Archewell Audio, and Spotify. My brothers Kenny, Nathan, Freddie, Barney, Damini, Benbrick, Suuna, James, Michael, and Marc. Shout out to Vidhu and Birungi. GRM daily. Thanks to Amara Agili-Odion for the voice note about Sandra, and of course for attending our Barbican show.

Have You Heard George’s Podcast is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Senior Producer: Alex Entwistle Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins

There was a moment, somewhere between the 1980s and 1990s, when Black music turned gangsta. This moment shaped two of the world’s most influential genres: American Rap and Jamaican Dancehall. The story behind the music is one of oppressed Africans unlocking the ancient powers of their ancestors to break free. The dark side of this story is that many of those Africans, descended from slaves, embraced the pattern of violence that had cursed them for so long and slowly turned against each other. Was gangsta music the explosion of Black culture, or the implosion of Black power? In the end, the market decides.

Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language which may offend, as well as adult themes.

Credits:

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick.

With music from:

Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper’s Delight Billy Boyo - One Spliff A Day Ninja Man - Murder Dem Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full Super Cat - Boops Ice-T - New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme) Mad Cobra - Bad Boy Bounty Killer - Copper Shot The Notorious B.I.G - Juicy Craig Mack - Flava In Ya Ear Remix Bounty Killer - Disrespect The Notorious B.I.G - Hold Ya Head (feat. Bob Marley)

All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Thank you to:

Benbrick, my Groomsmen and my nephews. My team: Sandra, Vidhu and Birungi. Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, Alex Entwistle, Adam Eland. BBC Concert Orchestra.

Archive:

The first four clips document scenes of street violence and are taken from various YouTube channels. The channel names are Toyin Made (used at 01:14), axolotol (used at 01:18), Eyez-wide-Videos (used at 01:41), and The Scuttlebutt Report (used at 02:01).

The clip of Sam Cooke used at 03:27 is taken from his interview with Dick Clark on American Bandstand.

The clip about Rastafari used at 03:51 is taken from the BBC documentary “Roots, Reggae, Rebellion”.

The clip about Black people expressing their true selves used at 04:21 is taken from the BBC documentary “Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music”

The two clips used at 05:06 and 05:22 are taken from the BBC documentary Jamaica 40: Blood and Fire.

The clips used at 07:55, 08:03 and 08:08 are taken from the ABC News 20/20 Hip Hop special report from 1981.

The clips used at 19:40, 20:36 and 21:01 about Bounty Killer are taken from the 1994 classic feature with Jamaica TVJ ER host Anthony Miller.

The clips used at 19:51, 20:21 and 20:58 is taken from the Yendi Phillipps Untold Journeys interview with Bounty Killer.

The clip used at 20:46 is taken from the BBC documentary “Reggae: The Story of Jamaican Music”

Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Senior Producer: Alex Entwistle Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins

R&B music has changed. It was once the soundtrack of love, but is now more like a journal of pain. Through this music, George tracks the breakdown of the African American family since the 1970s. He discovers that higher poverty and incarceration rates among African Americans left a generation of children to fend for themselves. By the 1990s Gangsta rappers were displaying disrespect to women - and the market loved it and rewarded it. At the same time, Black women were pushing back through songs calling out immature men, and celebrating financial independence.

Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language which may offend, as well as some adult themes.

Credits:

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick.

With music from:

Ginuwine - Differences Jhené Aiko - P*$$Y Fairy (OTW) Kaash Paige - Love Songs George The Poet - Baby Father Cardi B - WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) Megan Thee Stallion - Cash Shit (feat. DaBaby) Rick Ross - Sanctified (feat. Kanye West & Big Sean) Drake & GIVĒON - Chicago Freestyle Chris Brown - Loyal (Instrumental) Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) Whitney Houston - It’s Not Right But It’s Okay Dr Dre - Bi*****s Ain’t S**t Destiny’s Child - Bills, Bills, Bills Sunshine Anderson - Heard It All Before TLC - No Scrubs Jazmine Sullivan - Pick Up Your Feelings

All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Thank you to:

My team: Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi. Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra. Torrie Maas. My Common Ground team: Anne Whitehead, Darshan Sanghrajka, and Benbrick.

Archive:

The clips of Candi Staton used at 07:31, 08:05, 08:28 and 08:59 are taken from her interview with Paul Morley on Guardian Music.

The clips of Jay-z used at 11:06 are taken from his interview on the Scandinavian talk show Skavlan, and his interview with Sway for MTV.

The clip of Tupac used at 11:32 is taken from his BET Networks interview with Ed Gordon.

The clip of 50 Cent used at 12:23 is taken from his interview with Larry King for Ora TV.

The clip of Barack Obama used at 13:01 is taken from CBS News.

The clip of Lauryn Hill used at 14:26 is taken from her 1998 BET Rap City interview.

The clip talking about crack used at 20:05 is taken from the Glide Memorial Church conference “The Race Against Crack”.

Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Senior Producer: Alex Entwistle Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins

The 1960s was a mad time for Black people. It was a mad time for the world, but especially for Black people. The African Independence movement boosted morale but quickly descended into cut-throat strongman politics. Meanwhile, the American Civil Rights movement empowered new voices but failed to eliminate racism. Both ended in violence. George revisits the birth of Uganda through the story of his grandfather - Andrew Frederick Mpanga. The disappointments of this period put into context the birth of Black Power, and the emergence of gang culture among African American youth.

Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language that may offend, as well as adult themes.

Credits:

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick.

With music from:

Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come The Last Poets - Black Soldier David McCallum - Edge 2Pac - 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted (feat. Snoop Dogg)

All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

We had the following guests:

Nikissi Serumaga

Thank you to:

My team - Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi; Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra; the Common Ground team - Anne Whitehead, Darshan Sanghrajka, and Benbrick.

Archive:

The clip of Kabaka Mutesa II used at 09:10 is taken from The BBC World Service show Witness.

The theme used at 10.21 is the New Line Cinema ident.

The clip of my Grandfather Andrew Frederick Mpanga talking with Robert Serumaga used from 11.54 to 15:16 is taken from BBC Africa Abroad.

The clip of Malcolm X used at 16:56 is taken from his interview at Berkeley from 1963.

The clips talking about The Black Panthers used at 18:44, 19:06, 19:17, and 19:22 are taken from the New York Times documentary “Black Panthers Revisited”.

The announcement of Martin Luther King Jr’s death at 19:31 is taken from BBC News.

We used Fred Hampton’s legendary “I am a revolutionary” clip at 20:38.

The clip of Tupac Shakur at 24:25 is taken from the BET Networks video titled “Tupac Shakur: The World Is Hash And I just Don’t Got No Beautiful Stories”.

Soundtrack:

Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come 00:16 - 02:09

Benbrick - Change 03:42 - 04:55

Benbrick - The Sixties 05:42 - 11:29

Benbrick - Libya 11:35 - 16:24

Benbrick - The Sixties 16:53 - 18:04

Benbrick - The Sixties 18:44 - 19:30

The Last Poets - Black Soldier 19:46 - 20:38

David McCallum - Edge 21:33 - 22:51

2Pac - 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted (feat. Snoop Dogg) 23:17 - 25:55

Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come 26:19 - 27:38

Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins

At the end of 2020, George proposed to his girlfriend, Sandra, after one year of dating. Well, technically it was after years of friendship then one year of dating. When the two met as teenagers at a Ugandan event, they were both finding their place in the world. For George, Uganda provided answers that Britain couldn't. Like many in their generation, he and Sandra developed a pattern of holidaying in the Motherland before returning to their lives in the UK. However, as the harsh realities of African politics became clear to George, he began to rethink his relationship with UG.

Credits:

Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick.

Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins

With music from:

Bebe Cool - Wire Wire Flukes - Wifey Riddim (Instrumental) Fergie - Glamorous ft Ludacris Griminal (Freestyle) Dot Rotten (Freestyle) Double S (Freestyle) Chip (Freestyle) Giggs - Saw Obsessions - Jangu Madtraxx - Skaramess Bobi Wine - Maama Mbile ft Juliana The Afrigo Band - Mundeke

All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

We had the following guests:

The soon to be Sandra Mpanga, my guy Mase, and my cousin Aggie

Thank you to:

My team Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi. Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra, Channel 4, BMD, Mase, and Aggie.

Archive:

The clips of Griminal used at 08:33, Dot Rotten used at 09:17, Double S used at 10:01, and Chip used at 11:10 are all taken from their respective BBC 1Xtra Westwood freestyles.

The clip used at 13:20 is taken from the Journeyman Pictures documentary “Who Is To Blame For London’s Increasingly Violent Gangs?”

The clip used at 21:50 is taken from the New Vision TV clip “Why Museveni went to war"

The clips used at 22:46 and 23:06 are taken from the Channel 4 video “Uganda blocks internet after elections”, and the clip used at 23:26 of Museveni is taken from the Channel 4 video "Uganda election: President Museveni says opposition are agents of foreign interests“.

Soundtrack:

Bebe Cool - Wire Wire 00:43 - 02:29 02:50 - 03:20

Benbrick - Wire 02:30 - 02:50 03:20 - 03:31

Flukes - Wifey Riddim (Instrumental) 05:00 - 06:08

Fergie - Glamorous ft Ludacris 06:09 - 07:14

Griminal Westwood Freestyle 08:33 - 09:15

Dot Rotten - Kurrupt Freestyle 09:17 - 09:52

Double S Freestyle on Westwood 10:01 - 10:33

Chipmunk Westwood Freestyle 11:10 - 11:53

Giggs - Saw 12:00 - 13:25

Benbrick - The Phone Call 13:24 - 14:56

Obsessions - Jangu 15:08 - 15:58

Benbrick - Obsession 15:58 - 16:58

Madtraxx - Skaramess 17:00 - 18:32

Bobi Wine - Maama Mbile ft Juliana 18:34 - 19:35

Benbrick - No Message 19:35 - 20:33

Benbrick - Walt Disney 20:34 - 24:34

The Afrigo Band - Mundeke 26:58 - 28:30

In his teens, “Gangsta for life” was the signature war-cry sung by one of George’s favourite singers - Mavado. But after Mavado’s epic clash with rival, Vybz Kartel, George saw the line as a mentality...one that had empowered and terrorised Jamaicans for decades. Music, money and murder all feature in this complex case study of Black urban street culture.

Warning: This episode discusses adult themes and has some graphic descriptions of violence.

Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick

With music from: Mavado - Last Night Vybz Kartel - Badda Dan Dem Mavado - Sunrise ft. Vybz Kartel Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock Mavado - Hope and Pray Vybz Kartel - Mr Officer Vybz Kartel - Bicycle Stephen "Di Genius” McGregor - Day Break Riddim Vybz Kartel - Broad Daylight Mavado - Nuh Bleach Wid Cream DJ Khaled & Mavado - Unchanging Love

All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Thank you to: My team Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi. Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC 1Xtra, Jamaica TVJ, Georgette, Aneeka, BBC World Service, Former Commissioner of Police Carl Williams, and finally Aza Auset. And shout out to Cutts barber shop.

Archive: The vocal samples used at 03:38, 03:41, and 03:56 are taken from the Vybz Kartel records "Touch a Button” and “Badda Dan Dem" The clip of Vybz Kartel used at 04:20 and 05:05 is taken from a 2006 interview with Chris Goldfinger on BBC 1Xtra. The news report on Kartel and Mavado used at 06:31 and the clips of Mavado and Vybz talking at 07:33 is taken from a 2009 Jamaica TVJ News report entitled “We Are Not Enemies" The clip of Michael Manley used at 10:45 talking about their friendship with Cuba. The clip used at 11:47 talking about Edward Seaga is taken from the BBC documentary "Blood And Fire - Jamaica’s Political History”. The clip of Damian Marley talking about being human used at 12:11 is taken from his interview with Seani B on 1Xtra. The clip of Bob Marley talking about the shooting used at 12:41 is taken from his interview with Gil Noble for WABC-TV’s “Like It Is”. The clip of Vybz Kartel used at 15:28 is taken from TVJ Entertainment Report. The clip of Vybz Kartel talking about dancehall going through a happy phase used at 18:02 is taken from his interview with Robbo Ranx on 1Xtra from the Amsterdam Reggae Festival. The clip of Former Commissioner of Police Carl Williams talking about Violent Crime, and anti Dancehall Campaigner Aza Auset used at 18:43 and 18:52 are both taken from the BBC World service documentary “Jamaica: Does music shape society?”

Soundtrack: Mavado - Last Night 00:17 - 02:55 Benbrick - The Underworld 03:03 - 04:09 Vybz Kartel - Badda Dan Dem 04:10 - 05:01 Mavado - Sunrise ft. Vybz Kartel 05:13 - 05:43 Benbrick - The Underworld 05:58 - 09:01 Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock 10:11 - 13:27 Mavado - Hope and Pray 16:13 - 17:06 Vybz Kartel - Mr Officer 17:06 - 17:58 Vybz Kartel - Bicycle 17:58 - 18:15 Benbrick - Empty 18:41 - 20:56 Stephen "Di Genius” McGregor - Day Break Riddim 20:59 - 21:15 Vybz Kartel - Broad Daylight 21:15 - 21:30 Mavado - Nuh Bleach Wid Cream 22:11 - 22:28 Benbrick - The Underworld 23:04 - 24:43 DJ Khaled & Mavado - Unchanging Love 24:55 - 25:21 Benbrick - Empty 25:45 - 27:54

Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds.

Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins