Paul "Sage" Francis (born November 18, 1976 in Miami, Florida) is a hip-hop… Read Full Bio ↴Paul "Sage" Francis (born November 18, 1976 in Miami, Florida) is a hip-hop artist based in Providence, Rhode Island.
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.
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.
Inner Conflict
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
I conflict with those who are tricked by the gimmick market and can't think
with logic. Logics are in the distance so I'm makin a pop hit hip hop is askin'
themselves why this kid talks shit it's just I'm never breakin' even so I throw an
art fit sick of rappers sayin' fresh but stink like armpit and couldn't test a single
member that's within our clique. I'll bring it to you right now but you don't
really want it. I'm born to the sauce that make ya heart skip, if you rolled as
much as you're told you'd get car sick. a constant my pissed off audience is at
your concert, sittin in the front row, get wet with what they all spit. I'll be
standin' in the back hittin' ya with a tall stick. I could drown your ass in oil and
still ya not slick. Winnin over your fan base make em say "aw shit" right in ya
damn face. Confidence, you lost it.
Now these super thuggy guns say bring that hard shit ... Inner conflict.
Simple simple Simon Simon says to sing the pop hit... Inner conflict.
Corny white boys just want jokes, this isn't a comic strip... Inner conflict.
Still I bring the conflict, I sing of conflict, I'm in a conflict... I'd rather be
artistic.
Painting pictures with my words while freaking a tar pit, you're broad strokes
are filed with lead, so what you're eating's toxic. With this poisonous self
destruction you're feeling, stop it. Taking more than god's name in vein
making your beating heart quit. Put you on the floor then pull the carpet out
from under your feet and watch you drop quick, flying through the airwaves
hit you in a drop kick on the WWF wrought his war tip, run up in your crib and
watch that horse trip, playing healthy mind games that keep her thoughts sick
the plot is not the only thing I think is in this porn flick, once I'm done with
her you really think she wants your dick?
That's not how I'd rather be.
This is not who I would rather be.
This is not what I would rather be.
I am not lit hittin' on some club hoppin' bar chick, I star to flick name dropping
on some super star trick, only for the sake of seein her jump on the jock quick
simply get that cock trick spit what your mom drip. Back to these bastards
who claim they got grip, take your finger off the safety and let your glock
click. Aim for the back of my fist, make it your target, stigmata. I let the blood
from my palm drip, I've got to cold and sober(?) socials in the Arctic, I'll single-
handedly rip through your family make it look like a mob hit, better stiff it if
your biscuit got limp, I'll go down head first like Fred Durst for a hot lick of this
lollipop stick.
Sick of suckers thinking they can balk it. Hip-hop rip offs over a guitar lick. That
little bitch has slit his wrists with his guitar pick. I stick to my convictions, it
don't make me a convict, I compliment only those who deserve the prospect,
never tried the chronic chucked the tire tonic, not your normal human
assuming I'm bionic, bout to blow up listen to my inner time bomb click.
Now these super thuggy guns say bring that hard shit ... Inner conflict.
Simple simple Simon Simon says to sing the pop hit... Inner conflict.
Corny white boys just want jokes, this isn't a comic strip... Inner conflict.
Still I bring the conflict, I sing of conflict, I'm in a conflict... I'd rather be artistic
with logic. Logics are in the distance so I'm makin a pop hit hip hop is askin'
themselves why this kid talks shit it's just I'm never breakin' even so I throw an
art fit sick of rappers sayin' fresh but stink like armpit and couldn't test a single
member that's within our clique. I'll bring it to you right now but you don't
really want it. I'm born to the sauce that make ya heart skip, if you rolled as
much as you're told you'd get car sick. a constant my pissed off audience is at
your concert, sittin in the front row, get wet with what they all spit. I'll be
still ya not slick. Winnin over your fan base make em say "aw shit" right in ya
damn face. Confidence, you lost it.
Now these super thuggy guns say bring that hard shit ... Inner conflict.
Simple simple Simon Simon says to sing the pop hit... Inner conflict.
Corny white boys just want jokes, this isn't a comic strip... Inner conflict.
Still I bring the conflict, I sing of conflict, I'm in a conflict... I'd rather be
artistic.
Painting pictures with my words while freaking a tar pit, you're broad strokes
are filed with lead, so what you're eating's toxic. With this poisonous self
destruction you're feeling, stop it. Taking more than god's name in vein
making your beating heart quit. Put you on the floor then pull the carpet out
from under your feet and watch you drop quick, flying through the airwaves
hit you in a drop kick on the WWF wrought his war tip, run up in your crib and
watch that horse trip, playing healthy mind games that keep her thoughts sick
the plot is not the only thing I think is in this porn flick, once I'm done with
her you really think she wants your dick?
That's not how I'd rather be.
This is not who I would rather be.
This is not what I would rather be.
I am not lit hittin' on some club hoppin' bar chick, I star to flick name dropping
on some super star trick, only for the sake of seein her jump on the jock quick
simply get that cock trick spit what your mom drip. Back to these bastards
who claim they got grip, take your finger off the safety and let your glock
click. Aim for the back of my fist, make it your target, stigmata. I let the blood
from my palm drip, I've got to cold and sober(?) socials in the Arctic, I'll single-
handedly rip through your family make it look like a mob hit, better stiff it if
your biscuit got limp, I'll go down head first like Fred Durst for a hot lick of this
lollipop stick.
Sick of suckers thinking they can balk it. Hip-hop rip offs over a guitar lick. That
little bitch has slit his wrists with his guitar pick. I stick to my convictions, it
don't make me a convict, I compliment only those who deserve the prospect,
never tried the chronic chucked the tire tonic, not your normal human
assuming I'm bionic, bout to blow up listen to my inner time bomb click.
Now these super thuggy guns say bring that hard shit ... Inner conflict.
Simple simple Simon Simon says to sing the pop hit... Inner conflict.
Corny white boys just want jokes, this isn't a comic strip... Inner conflict.
Still I bring the conflict, I sing of conflict, I'm in a conflict... I'd rather be artistic
The lyrics of "Inner Conflict" by Sage Francis express the rapper's frustration and disillusionment with the current state of the music industry and the lack of substance in mainstream hip-hop. He conflicts with those who are easily swayed by the gimmicks and market trends, unable to think critically and logically. Sage Francis aims to bring back the essence of true hip-hop, questioning why he is criticized for speaking his mind and not conforming to the industry's expectations. He is tired of rappers claiming to be fresh and talented when they actually lack skill and authenticity. The lyrics also touch on his disapproval of the exploitation and objectification of women in popular culture.
Throughout the song, Sage Francis emphasizes his desire to be true to his artistic vision rather than catering to commercial success. He takes pride in his ability to vividly paint pictures with his words, contrasting it with the shallow and toxic nature of mainstream music. The rapper uses metaphors and sharp wordplay to convey his frustration and anger towards those who engage in self-destruction and conforming to societal norms.
Overall, "Inner Conflict" serves as a commentary on the commercialization of hip-hop, the diminishing value of authenticity in mainstream music, and the artist's determination to maintain his artistic integrity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Cheche Garcia
on Buckets Of Silence
I never held a funeral for that big part of me that died.
I need to put these thoughts to rest. i need to find a peace of mind.
I need to piece my mind, find a piece of mind to rest in.
need to find someone to confide in, and with the rest i need to start restin'.
needless to say, i couldn't hide.
fifteen grown men shouldn't cry.
Cheche Garcia
on Message Sent
I've got some letters inside of my drawer
that should have been stamped and delivered
One is addressed to my ex
it says I'm the type of kid who can't be lived with
One is addressed to my friends
it says I'm a mess so y'all can't visit
One is addressed to myself
but I don't know what personality or hand to give it