Poor Georgie

"Poor Georgie"
Cover of the single in cassette format
Single by MC Lyte
from the album Act Like You Know
B-side"Search 4 The Lyte"
ReleasedDecember 12, 1991[1]
GenreGolden age hip hop
Length4:30
LabelFirst Priority, Atlantic Records
Songwriter(s)Lana Moorer, Ivan Antonio Rodriguez, David Paich[2]
Producer(s)DJ Doc
MC Lyte singles chronology
"When in Love"
(1991)
"Poor Georgie"
(1991)
"Eyes Are the Soul"
(1992)
Music video
"Poor Georgie" on YouTube

"Poor Georgie" is the second single from hip-hop artist MC Lyte's third album Act Like You Know (1991). The song was produced by Ivan 'Doc' Rodriguez, and released on December 12, 1991.[1] The song seeks to convey an anti-addiction message, through the story of George and the dysfunctional relationship MC Lyte has with this individual with self-destructive behaviors.[3][4] It features a sample of "Georgy Porgy" by rock band Toto.

"Poor Georgie" become Lyte's first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 83 in March 1992.[5] It also reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart,[6] and became her second chart topping single on the Hot Rap Singles chart.[7] The accompanying music video featured an appearance by a then 16-year-old Lauryn Hill.

  1. ^ a b "MC Lyte- Poor Georgie [Vinyl Single] (12 inch Vinyl Single - Atlantic #96230)". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "ASCAP Repertory entry for this song". ASCAP. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "MC Lyte has words for a new generation". Chicago Tribune (website). May 6, 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  4. ^ Mickey Hess (November 2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313343216. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  5. ^ "MC Lyte Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  6. ^ "MC Lyte Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  7. ^ "MC Lyte - US Hot Rap Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 15 February 2021.