NEWS
EVENTS
Potent Whisper - 'Changing The World One Rhyme At A Time'
RnB/Hip Hop | Tuesday 28th March 2017 | Idrees
Potent Whisper, also known as Georgie Stephanou is known for his unforgiving rhymes, which aim to create discussion and action on the most pressing socio-political issues in this day and age.
The South West London rapper burst into the scene in 2014 with his anti-war single ‘Just Wondering’ which received support from BBC Radio 1,Radio 6 as well as praise from Tom Robinson, calling his music “Extraordinary and life affirming.”
In May 2015, Potent Whisper took it up a notch with the release of his single ‘Brixton First’, which featured Lara Lee. The music video made waves as it was filmed at the Reclaim Brixton demonstration. Famously featuring street theatre portraying Lambeth Council as the character of a pimp.
Soon after the track became known as the anti-gentrification anthem, as images from the video became iconic amongst the movement. 'Brixton First' even received support from The Independent, BBC Radio and featured on BBC 1’s ‘Inside Out’ documentary.
But if you thought that Potent Whisper was slowing down, then think again! On March 21st, Whisper released his latest Grime EP New Radical.
Without a doubt, New Radical displays a perfect representation of who and what Potent Whisper is. The EP represents a fresh uniqueness in the Grime scene as Whisper channels his poetic talents in a way that resonates powerfully throughout the EP.
New Radical gives a fresh and much needed perspective of the world we live in today.
Beginning with ‘Deep Cuts’ featuring Tagz, under the intense production of JEB1, Whisper wastes no time in calling out Conservative's cuts to public services. Right away, we are introduced to the intent of Whisper, an artist who is willing to speak on issues that we need to be aware of.
Whisper goes on to reference Iain Duncan Smith, who resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary in March 2016, due to planned cuts to disability services.
Showing no mercy, the track highlights the involvement of the government and its effects to the public, with lyrics like:
“They don’t have to, they choose to”
“It’s about black, it’s about white”
Stating that the government indeed have a choice in the matter, that this can all be avoided yet their choices affect the minority, many of whom who already live in poor conditions to begin with.
The next track, ‘Us the Workers’ features MOBO Award-winning Fola, and whilst the production of Rahka EOS soothes through the song, the intense passion of Whisper remains the same.
This time he speaking to us the public, more specifically the working class.
“I wake up and make love to hardship
Pain cums and passes, I dance with its carcass”
Indeed, the working class is the backbone of this country, as Whisper describes the resiliency of the people, whilst using sexual metaphors describing the relationship of workers with hardship, almost as a forced intimacy.
This then leads into the next song ‘Like David Like May’, which also features Fola again. The heavy bass line from producer JEB1 only adds to the ammunition for Whisper who raps on issues amongst the fight on terrorism:
“War for peace, then repeat the cycle
Seen. What leader would feed their rival?
Who supplies all the guns to ISIL?
ISIS crisis, who devised it?
You and Obama supervised it
For your benefit, you’re the terrorist”
But the title ‘Like David Like May’ refers to David Cameron and Theresa May, stating that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
With a powerful beginning, it was only fitting for the EP to end with a bang and that’s what we got, with the finale song ‘Remember Love’.
A deviation from the previous tracks, yet hitting with another important message:
“Breathe and then remember love
Let it hold you”
Reminding us that through all the pain and suffering we endure in this world, lets not lose sight of love.
