Noted for his intense flow and sharp wit, Francis has won acclaim both as a freestyle battler and as an unapologetic, intellectual lyricist. Francis uses a broad emotional palette to address a wide range of personal, cultural, and political issues. His unconventional style and persona have given him crossover appeal, but at the same time alienated some hip-hop listeners.
Prior to embarking on a full-time career as an MC, Francis displayed his skills in slam poetry. During the late 1990s, he recorded his first demo tape (1996), fronted the now defunct Providence hip-hop band Art Official Intelligence, and hosted a weekly slot on independent radio station WRIU (the "True School Session"). He also formed the Non-Prophets and released a 12” (Drop Bass/Bounce/I Keep Calling, Emerge Records, 1999), following up in 2003 with their first full-length offering, Hope. Francis is a contemporary of underground hip-hop artists such as Slug, Eyedea, Sole and the anticon. collective. He is also loosely affiliated with the vague underground hip-hop super-group The Orphanage.
As a solo performer, Francis won the MC battle at the 2000 Scribble Jam, and in 2001 he came close to repeating as champion (semi-finalist) while performing as his "metal" alter ego, "Xaul Zan". Francis released his first proper solo album, Personal Journals, on Anticon. in 2002. He toured with a live band on the Live Band Dead Poet Tour to support it. Francis subsequently became the first hip-hop artist to sign with Punk label Epitaph, agreeing to a three-album deal. His first album for Epitaph, A Healthy Distrust, was released in early 2005 and was followed up with Human the Death Dance in 2007.
One of Francis' best-known tracks is "Makeshift Patriot", a commentary on the American media recorded one month after the September 11, 2001 attacks which he released on the internet as an MP3 as well as a limited edition 7" single.
In February 2005 Sage dropped his second full length album on the originally punk label Epitaph, it was widely regarded as the best underground hip hop album of the year by critics and fans alike and featured heavily political tracks such as "The Buzz Kill" and "Slow Down Gandhi" and more personal material like that more similar to that of his debut 'Personal Journals' such as 'Bridle' and a few heavily satirical comments on the modern day rap and urban scene such as the satirical comment on youth gun culture 'Gunz Yo'.
Sage has helped to set up the Wiki KnowMore.org which is described as a 'way to keep tabs on the some of the biggest and most dangerous businesses in the world'. He is a vegetarian and also chooses to abstain from drugs and drinking, though doesn't label himself as "straight-edge" because he believes "you shouldn't define yourself by what you don't do."
Sage has set up his own label and signed some of who he claims to be his favorite artists of the moment such as Buck 65 and Proplyphic and Reanimator named Strange Famous (which shares his initials) with which he released his most recent work 'Human the Death Dance'
This album was released in May 2007 and takes a step away from the heavily political 'Healthy Distrust' and heads back to the more personal lyrics of 'Personal Journals' and comments on modern culture. The album features cameos from many Strange Famous artists such as Buddy Wakefield, Buck 65 and Reanimator.
In 2010 Sage released his fourth full length album Li(f)e (the title coming from the famous quote from 'The Cure' on the Non-Prophets album Hope "Life is just a lie with an f in it and death is definite"). The album was extremely well received and one particular single off of the album 'The Best Of Times' received extensive air play on the popular British radio station Radio 1. After Sages Li(f)e tour Sage has stated that he will no longer be doing tours but will still be releasing albums and other materials, instead he will be doing select gigs throughout each year.
On 3 June 2014, Sage released his fifth studio album 'Copper Gone'. It is the first official studio album after Sage Francis announced his hiatus, which lasted for four years.
Her Schlag
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a small van with curtains and it's her fame that makes this
Even more grand it's all planned, the worst shame is i'm paceless
Her doorman and I are on a first name basis
I kick the worst game in cases that are up close and personal
I'm the utmost personable person who won't converse when I don't have my curtains pulled
at least that's how I picture it.
In Sage Francis's song "Her Schlag," the lyrics speak of a character named Xaul Zan who is cursed to remain faceless. He is often found in a small van with curtains, traveling alongside a famous woman. Xaul seems to thrive in being the her doorman and is even on a first name basis with her. He has a sense of pride in his job and is willing to go to great lengths to protect her.
However, Xaul's character is also portrayed as being someone who is socially awkward and unable to interact with people without the safety of his curtains. On the surface, he appears personable, but in reality, he has a barrier that prevents him from engaging in conversations. The lyrics suggest that Xaul is aware of his limitations but doesn't seem to have the courage to overcome them. The tone of the song is somber and reflective, adding to the melancholic and introspective feeling of the lyrics. Overall, the lyrics depict a character who is trapped in his curse and unable to fully experience life outside of his role as her doorman.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me Xaul Zan, a person cursed to remain faceless
I identify as Xaul Zan, a person who can never reveal their true identity
In a small van with curtains and it's her fame that makes this
I'm in a small van with curtains to hide my identity, and it's all because of the fame of the person I'm with
Even more grand it's all planned, the worst shame is i'm paceless
Everything is part of a calculated plan, but I can't keep up with the pace and feel ashamed
Her doorman and I are on a first name basis
I'm so involved in her life that even her doorman knows me by name
I kick the worst game in cases that are up close and personal
When things get intimate, I struggle to keep up with social interactions
I'm the utmost personable person who won't converse when I don't have my curtains pulled
I pride myself on being easy to talk to, but I only engage in conversation when my identity is hidden
at least that's how I picture it.
This is my perspective, but it may not be entirely accurate
Contributed by Bailey Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yasint.8082
Francis Ngannou war schon nach der 3 Runde der Sieger in diesem kampf, ganz egal wie der Kampf danach ausgegangen wäre. -> Bearbeitet: Weil es anscheinend zu viele gibt die zu dämlich sind zu verstehen. Beziehe mich auf sein Standing in der Boxwelt. In seinem "ersten Profiboxkampf" den Weltmeister auf den Boden zu zwingen ist beeindruckend und daher geht er als Gewinner aus dem Ring, auch wenn er schlussendlich nicht gewonnen hat.
@johnmurasyan2808
Was laberst du niemals
@light-qe3gv
Dass fury zu boden geht ist nichts besonderes, ist er schon so oft
@elvissalkaj1527
Stimmt nicht fury hat mehrer Schläge gelandet also wäre ein unentschieden verdient gewesen bzw gerecht
@johnmurasyan2808
@@light-qe3gv ja wow er hat aber viele andere Runden gewonnen wenn er einmal runterfällt heißt es doch nicht dass er gleichzeitig verloren hat häää
@light-qe3gv
@@johnmurasyan2808 hä wann hab ich gesagt dass er verloren hätte🤣
@giovanni2734
Mike Tyson scheint nicht nur ein super Boxer gewesen zu sein. Er ist wohl auch ein guter Trainer.
@kafkasydanselamsivasa
😵💫🥊🧑🏽🦲👍
@sheriffgnadenlos347
Fury hat es zu locker genommen und dann gemerkt das Ngannou doch gefährlich ist und ab dem Zeitpunkt nur gehofft nicht genockt zu werden und defensiv gekämpft
@simonglaser4862
Ja sicher Francis war einfach besser und ihr box trottel wollt ihn was wegnehmen