George the Poet review – slick charisma and scolding lectures

Oslo, London

From political orations to sex-education advice for teenagers, the Cambridge graduate’s rhymes bridge academia and the inner-city – with mixed results

You’d be forgiven for recoiling at the thought of a gig promising a Cambridge graduate spitting spoken-word rhymes about teen pregnancy and economic inequality. On paper, George Mpanga’s live act sounds like hard work.

But, under his George the Poet performance moniker, the 24-year-old serves up a show that oozes charisma. At his best, he’s a skilled orator. At his worst, he verges on scolding lectures that, on songs such as Baby Mother and Gentlemen, become tiresome.