Thursday, 19 June 2025

Listen closer… A discussion of episode one of HYHGP?



  • The podcast takes the form of a story, with a skilled storytelling constructing the narrative. The is unconventional for podcasts, which often take a talk show format
  • Many references to themes of drugs and violence, spreading awareness of these issues. However the show differs from fictionalised accounts such as Top Boy, by going into detail about issues that affect young black men in the UK
  • Focus on a range of music in order to explore the topic at hand. George uses references to his favourite rap songs to make points about drugs and violence, and draws a complex picture of his own enjoyment, constructing a complex representation of young black British inner city identity?
  • A blunt and often straightforward mode of address, making explicit reference to how many children will end up dead or in prison
  • An impactful and controversial mode of address
  • Analysis of controversial rap lyrics draws attention to the admissibility of evidence. The audience is assumed to have a clear, detailed and intricate K&U of a range of different issues
  • An extremely direct mode of address towards the target audience, with George directly asking the audience to put on a blindfold to fully concentrate on the issues at hand 
  • A range of different atmos (atmospheric sounds) constructs a down to earth and immersive mode of address for the target audience, constructing a more relatable atmosphere for the target audience 
  • A niche and specific target audience. The word ‘black’ is not mentioned once, yet themes affecting young black British people are implicit.
  • George's voice, delivery and topics of discussion are all stereotypically black, allowing him and his podcast to relate to a black audience
  • However, the show target a range of people through it’s educated and complex mode of address
  • The fact that the show is podcasted means that niche audiences can access this show whenever and wherever 
  • Is highly atypical and unconventional of the podcast format
  • Discussion of hard hitting and affecting topics, including the issues faced by inner city black British youth
  • Consideration of stereotypical representations of black youth, specifically through the lens of UK hip-hop 
  • Also deals with the issue of jail, punishment and rehabilitation. George draws attention to issues such as drugs in prison, and constructs a hard hitting and complicated narrative for the target audience 
  • Introduction features George looking at a group of inner city children, and speculating over how how many will die or end up in prison 
  • George is freely circulating his own opinions, and labels them as such 
  • An engaging and immersive use of atmos sound, forcing the audience to understand his points 
  • However, a range of deliberately distracting and even confusing sound effects can conversely make the episode more relatable to the target audience 
  • Uses examples from UK hip-hop tracks to convey the experiences of young black British men who have experienced these things 
  • George has mixed opinions on hip hop. He clearly loves it, is knowledgeable, and even sings along, yet also critiques the potential for UK hip-hop to glamourise criminal lifestyles 
  • Entire podcast encourages audience discussion, and requires a significant level of contextual knowledge