Mr Gee: Recent Episodes
Mr Gee
Poet & Radio Presenter
Mr Gee: Presented BBC Radio 4's "Rhyme & Reason", "Bespoken Word" & 'Poetic Justice". Founding member of Chill Pill Collective.
Starred as "the poet" for the West End run of "Into the Hoods" Was the "poet laureate" for Russell Brand's SONY Award winning Radio Show (yes I was there during "Sachsgate")
Supported Russell Brand on the "Messiah Complex" tour (first performance poet to do a set at the O2, in front of 16,000 people!), Had a cameo role in the film "Get Him To The Greek"
Writes current affairs poems for BBC regional radio & National Prison Radio.
"A charming and politically articulate street poet” - The Times
Author & Poet Lemn Sissay MBE verbalises with Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee for the final show. Reflecting on his long standing career in the Creative Arts since the 80's and his suggestion on why we should all be "Ninjas".
LemnSissay #SpokenWord #Racism #TheQueen #Poetry #UK
Chill Pill member Deanna Rodger gatecrashes in on Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee to spread the word of Unconditional Love, Twerking & movie stereotyping, plus we cover all things Hotep!
Ghostbusters #ThirdEye #Twerk #Bjork #JillScott #Afrocentric #Hotep
MC Afrikan Boy speaks to Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee about his early days working with M.I.A. the rising influence of Modern Africa & the Heritage of Grime.
Grime #Afrobeat #MIA #Immigrant #Empire #Power #2pcc
Poet Caleb Femi (#sxwks) hangs out with Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee to discuss the #BlackLivesMatter march in London, the recent riots in Hyde Park & share our love/hate relationship with Festivals.
BlackLivesMatter #HydePark #Festivals #LoveBox #Wireless #Latitude #GaryYounge #Kelis
Poet Rachel Long explains why she decided to form her Collective "Octavia" to represent Women of Colour. We discuss the #BlackLivesMatter movement ask what exactly is a "Post Racial Society?"
Revanant #BlackLivesMatter #HiatusKaiyote #OscarsSoWhite
Poet & #DifferenceMaker Hollie McNish joins Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee to ponder over the realistic implications of a female Prime Minister, the propagation of gender roles in advertising & the retelling of the slave tale Roots for 2016.
JeremyCorbyn #TheresaMay #Roots #HollieMcNish #Feminism
Sean Mahoney is this week's guest, talking to Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee about his one man show " Until You Hear That Bell" & it's #boxing theme. There's a "No-Brexit" rule being enforced, so we talk about Open-Mic Nights, Computer Games & #DizzeeRascal #SamuraiJack
Bloodborne #PacMan #DarkSouls
Poet Suli Breaks joins in the Post #Brexit debate with Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee. Reflections on the deep divisions exposed within UK society, the rise in Hate Crimes & last (but not least) #GameOfThrones. #Farage #Leave #Corbyn #Remain
George The Poet drops in to join Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee to talk about working with #PrinceHarry arguing with #NigelFarage & breaking down the genius of #Jayz in the 90's #Brexit #BorisJohnson #Leave #Remain
Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee are joined by poet Keith Jarrett on the night before the referendum vote. Analysing the tragic events in #Orlando, the death of #JoCox & the tactics of #NigelFarage. #Brexit #UKIP #DavidCameron #BorisJohnson #EU #Trump #Homophobia #Immigration #Terrorism #Barbershop3 #TrophyKids #guncontrol
Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee are joined by fellow poet & photographer Jolade from the amazing "Sx Wks Collective". Discussing the implications of the #Brexit vote & the evolution of #SpokenWord artists in the UK. #Jolade #Floetry #Greeds #sxwks #10CloverfieldLane #Immigration
Mr Gee recounts meeting his hero #MuhammadAli, Joshua Idehen gives a harrowing update on the #BrockTurnerVictim case. And of course we argue over movies! #HardcoreHenry #Victoria, #Girlhood, #Avatar, #Duel, #Amistad #SchindlersList #WhenWeWereKings #BrockTurner #OscarPistorius
Jordan Stephens from #RizzleKicks joins Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee to talk about the state of Music, Battle Rap & we ask "Will #Marvel ever make a good #Hulk movie?" #DeadPool #Thor #AntMan #Blade #IronMan #BlackPanther #DrStrange #AsapFerg #Wildhood
Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee recap the whole #AzealiaBanks Twitter Storm & ask how it relates to the state of society. Author Bridget Minamore discusses the difference between the world of journalism & the world of poetry. We also review #CaptainAmerica #Daredevil #MilesDavis & #JungleBook
Author & Journalist Bridget Minamore joins Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee to talk about her new book "Titanic". We also discuss the allegations against Afrika Bambaataa & Woody Allen as well as the trend of albums from big names being released without any promotion. #AfrikaBambaataa #WoodyAllen #HipHop #Skepta #DavidBowie #Rihanna
Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee delve into #GamerGate & ask whether or not you can still be a fan of an artist's work even if you disagree with their views or actions. #RKelly #BillCosby #ChrisBrown
Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee deliberate over the passing of #Prince, the evolution of #Beyoncé, blatant "blackface" in the #NinaSimone film & subtle racism in #Hollywood.
Joshua Idehen & Mr Gee discussing #JustinBieber's dreadlocks, Cultural Appropriation, poetry shows & #BatmanVsSuperman
A poem speaking on the claim that the #OscarsSoWhite proclaims: the lack of diverse roles in major Hollywood films.
Live poetry Slam performance on BBC Radio being judged by Carroll Thompson (Lover's Rock).
A poetical ode to airline security. Performed for BBC London as a part of their Notting Hill Carnival after-party special.
Impromptu mix of poetry & beatboxing for Radio 2 with BeardyMan. Followed by a further discussion on the rise of UK Spoken Word poetry with Will Gompertz & Tim Howar (from Mike + the Mechanics).
Episode 1: Treadmill - is recorded inside HMP Brixton, a busy South London prison for adult males. Prisoners write poems to their younger selves and to those who may be at risk entering the vicious circle of crime and incarceration.
Episode 2: Hope - Recorded inside HMP Styal, a women's prison near Manchester, where Mr Gee hears about the despair of imprisonment and the importance of family bonds from a group of women who find reason to be optimistic about their time in prison.
Episode 3: Crossroads - Recorded inside HMP YOI Brinsford, a Young Offenders' establishment in the West Midlands. Mr Gee encourages a group of young men to listen to the advice of older men serving long term prison sentences, talking about the disastrous decisions they made as youngsters. He encourages the teenagers to write to their families and loved ones in poetry.
Episode 4: Reflection - Recorded in Croydon with former prisoners. A remarkable group of people come together to pass on - in poetry - the result of many years of contemplation on events and decisions which led them in to trouble and out of it again.
Episode 5: Boundaries - Featuring young people in Edinburgh at risk of offending, who give Mr Gee a tour of the local areas where allegiances provide both a sense of community and a source of rivalry and conflict.
If the past can't feed the present, How can the future now survive? So I suggest that we deal with it wisely...
Exploring the link between Poetry & Songwriting. Mr Gee speaks to: Noel Gallagher, Akala, Rizzle Kicks, Cerys Mathews, Richard Thompson & Ian McMillian about their poetical influences. We cover a wide range of genres from Pop, Folk, Rock, Hip Hop, Indie & Psychedelic.
To Vote or Not to Vote.... that is the Question. Does Britain have the Talent (or the Voice) to capture the Tweets & Instagrams of our "shallow" X-factor Generation? #GE2015
Every time that there's an Election, Politicians from all parties will attempt to seduce us with the same old chat-up lines and promises of Heaven. And Every time we wake up alone, without a kiss or a cuddle. #GE2105
A Radio 4 broadcast of a simple tale between two red-breasted Robins having a conversation outside my window.
Once upon a time Greece was a mighty power, as was Rome, as was Spain, Britain & Portugal. Power never stays long anywhere.
As a kid, I used to take the Number 3 bus from Brixton to School. Here's a poem to describe that journey.
One of my early Hip Hop tracks (back when I fancied myself as a rapper). Trying to articulate the desperate cry of voices unheard is difficult. Sometimes it all seems pointless knowing that despite my words, the madness of the street still carries on.
A poem that I wrote for "Father's Inside" project. It speaks to incarcerated men who are losing contact with their children & losing contact with themselves.
Music can be so simple, yet can mean so much. It defines generations & will continue to inspire & annoy until the end of all our days.
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A Radio 4 interview for their Xmas show. December represents change & the end of one time moving into the beginning of another.
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The abuse of "Stop & Search" is something that I've known all of my life. No doubt they'll stop my hearse on the way to the cemetary.
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This was broadcast during the attempt to arrest the major drug kingpin Lester Coke in Jamaica. All that I'm really saying is that the violence of that region has deeper roots.
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I'm not a big football fan (I go to watch the occasional game). But every four years, I go crazy for the World Cup.
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The "N-word" is a complicated word. In the mouths of some it is seen as an expression of Freedom of Speech. But in the mouths of others, it is deemed as the ultimate expression of racial offensive (even with context). It's a peculiar fruit born from a divisive tree.
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This poem covers the effect of the Cold War & the Cuban Missile Crisis on the entire region of the Caribbean. The US & Russia funded several regimes on different islands to fight against each other at a terrible cost.
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Interviewed by Claudi Winkleman for her Xmas show. I had just taken a short break from touring with Russell Brand & was trying my best to be festive.
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Experimental track composed by the Leeds group "Fold" laying down the beat to my vocals. This song won the 2014 Independent Music Award for Best Spoken Word Song (with music accompaniment)
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Interviewed by Will Gompertz, talking about the path that led me into the world of poetry. Basically it was a poorly paid job & an oppressive boss!
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Another "Stop & Search" poem. This time I examine the phenomena from several different points of view.
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I won a radio competition to write a poem to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release. I was lucky to be in South Africa while he was still alive & I visited his old house in Soweto (where he was originally arrested).
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Philip Larkin wrote about how our parents f**k us up. Sometimes I feel that we gotta cut them some slack. They were once young & in love too & made the same mistakes that we make.
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Radio 4 appearance: broadcast hours after Whitney Houston's death was announced
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I love Hip Hop, it's formed the soundtrack to my life. I can listen to MC's rap their heart out. I can watch DJ's do tricks on turntables, I still appreciate good graffiti. I marvel at street dancers redefine the laws of gravity & applaud every kick & snare duplicated by a beatboxer. But the artform that I love is not above criticism.
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One of my first ever poems, I wrote it the night before Lennox Lewis faced Mike Tyson. It used to be an audience favourite at my early shows in Brixton.
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It's long been known that women & those from minorities often receive less pay than their white, male counterparts, throughout their working lives. This is standard practice & is sometimes entrenched in the thinking of many businesses. The glass ceiling maintains race, maintains class, maintains the gender divide & maintains poverty.
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I was once accused of being overly critical of the police. But I've worked in several prisons & PRU's throughout the UK. During this time I've met many decent & understanding policemen & women. It's the corrupt ones that I take issue with.
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I wrote this poem 2 hours after I heard that Micheal Jackson had passed away & this is a recording of me performing it on a radio show later that night. There's not really much else that anyone can say about MJ. He was one of pop music's greatest entertainers who gave the world so much during his troubled life.
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BBC news item about the shooting of the unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin who died carrying a packet of skittles.
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I rarely write love poems. Many times I feel that the subject of Love is so beyond human understanding that poetry doesn't do it justice. This is one of those poems.
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Here's my poem on the Royal Wedding between Will & Kate broadcast on the "London Literature Lounge show". As always, I was ever the cynic, but a family experience brought me around.
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The 2012 Olympics has been proclaimed to be a huge investment gain for England. But for some the promised prosperity seems to have passed them by. So you may even see the street market boys setting up their stalls right outside the stadium. Open for business!
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My Poem "Dear Mr Juvenile" was included on a BBC radio special covering the aftermath of the England riots in August 2011 & it's effect on England's black communities. It features contributions from all over the country.
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London's hosted the 2012 Olympics. Amidst all the celebration & the hype, I wanted to write something dedicated to Jesse Owens who won 4 Gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics & defied Hitler. (performed at the BBC Radio Theatre for Radio 4)
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CH4 broadcasted the series "Top Boy" which was meant to be the UK's version of "The Wire". I decided to write a poem about some of the Top Boys that I've seen.
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Sometimes it's better to strip away all of our labels & definitions to focus on the simple things that render us all human
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I used to be ignorant of the full extent & reach of the British Empire. My Grandfather fought as one of the colonial troops in WW2 for King George VI. I then did some research & found that troops from the four corners of the world have fought to maintain Britain's Freedom.
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For what else is money? Except for paper with pictures, Metal with inscriptions, Upon which we base convictions,
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I wrote this just after Osama Bin Laden had been declared dead. For several years he had been painted as the arch-enemy of the West. I was trying to figure out through poetry just how he would be remembered.
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Satoshi Kanazawa, a lecturer at the London School of Economics has sparked an international race row with his research claiming that black women are less attractive than others.
I wrote this poem to challenge the idea that beauty can only come in one shape, size, race or even form.
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With all the cuts & austerity measures, sometimes the only food left for a poet is metaphorical
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We all have insecurities about how we look, how we come across & how others perceive us. There's a whole industry of cosmetics: skin bleaching creams, tan-sprays, diet advice, baldness remedies, nose jobs... the list goes on forever. Sometimes we've got to pause & look inside.
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A poem to Celebrate what would have been 2Pac's 40th birthday June 16th 2011. Broadcast for a BBC radio special.
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The tabloid press in the UK are amazing. They can take any story and blow it up all over the country no matter how absurd or sensationalised. Yet we love them and absorb their headlines with delight.
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I was invited to give a performance at the radio theatre alongside my fellow Radio 4 "Saturday Live" poets. Here's my ode to airline delays (introduced by Rev Richard Coles).
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Another Radio 4 appearance. One of the other guests was a young lady who had been born on an aeroplane. Prompting the question: "If you're born 35,000 ft above sea-level, what is your Nationality?". This poem attempts an answer.
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Rough Jazz mash-up of my poem "The Cruel Ones" written for the inmates of Feltham Prison. Used as a part of a National anti-bullying campaign. It deals with overcoming those who seek to hold you back.
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Original Version of "Go Tell it On the Mountain". Inspired by Martin Luther King, it describes the mountain of obstacles that we all have to face... and all have to overcome.
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This was recorded in Brixton Prison, the day after the riots had hit London. I was invited to perform it to the inmates inside to try to provide some balance on the whole situation. By the next day: the riots had spread to the rest of England.
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A Sentimental Tale about that initial spark of attraction. co-produced/written by Lawrence Mohammed & Mr Gee
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Another early "Gee" rap experiment inspired by the late great Marvin Gaye. Featuring the amazing Lara Lee on vocals
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Many people know me from the many little ditties that I wrote on Russell Brand's radio show. But I've only ever written one proper poem about Russell himself. I just wanted to capture the generous helpings of love & hate that you have to face in order to survive the spotlight's glare.
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Did this performance at Sydney's Entertainment Centre in Australia in front of 7000 people. It was the first time that I'd ever been to Oz & I had a great time, the response was amazing!