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.
Kiddie Litter
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Of a light sleeper, watching sports
In a stained wife beater and boxer shorts
The night creeps in between the uneven slides
Of Venetian blinds and it
Sees signs of struggle
He resides in a jungle where
The weeds dry and tumble
Leaves behind his troubles
This time it seems he's finally humbled
Defeated by the feline he's
Been trying to subdue
Beaten while they cuddle
Now subtle differences got him
Running from images
Weird as it is circus mirrors are
A serious fear of his
He stays a safe distance from the scary kids
Beard is big and he wears
A wig in public appearances
Here he is half alive in the flesh suit
Curiously appetized by the fresh fruit
Served on a dish at his nightly help group
Who dreamt of catching better Z's
Most people would've slept through
If you ain't been through it
Then you don't know the way the days
Just waste away
A change of pace needs to take place
I play with razorblades and I shake
Till I shave my face in the break of day
(light) lights flicker on the frame
Of a light sleeper, watching sports
In a stained wife beater and boxer shorts
Sunrays creep, in between uneven slides
Of Venetian blinds and it
Sees signs of struggle he hides a bundle of
Demons behind the stubble
Sleep dehydrates until the dreams
Dry and crumble bleeding out his eyes
The scene of the crime's a puddle
Where he cries uncle and
Doesn't realize he's lovable
In love, a girl doesn't purr cause she sees
Something of hers stuck in a world
That needs to be free
And this cat gets tongue tied till she leaves
A curiosity that could kill an entire species
See these fingers of mine? Take a guess
It's time to see if one of them
Fit's the dark ring around your eye
She says so she sends me to a
Guy who signs permission slips
And if his finger fit's
He's gonna poke inside to see what's alive
He's gonna poke inside to see what's alive
He's gonna poke inside to see what's alive
He's gonna poke inside to see what's alive
The lyrics of "Kiddie Litter" by Sage Francis delve into the complex emotions and struggles of a troubled individual. The first verse paints a picture of a man in a state of turmoil, watching sports in his worn wife beater and boxers. The imagery of the night creeping in through the Venetian blinds reflects the sense of unease and tension that pervades his life. The references to a jungle and weeds drying up symbolize his internal struggles and how he repeatedly abandons love and confronts his troubles. Despite his attempts to subdue his inner demons, he is ultimately defeated, perhaps by his own vulnerabilities and insecurities.
The second verse delves deeper into the man's psyche, highlighting his fears and anxieties. The mention of circus mirrors as a serious fear suggests a distorted self-image and a struggle with self-acceptance. The reference to "running from images" further emphasizes his avoidance of confronting his true self. The man's outward appearance, with a big beard and a wig, reflects a facade he puts up in public, hiding his inner turmoil from the world. The juxtaposition of his physical appearance with his emotional state, being "half alive in the flesh suit," underscores his inner dissonance and disconnect from his true self.
The chorus reinforces the themes of struggle and inner conflict, with the repetition of the imagery of lights flickering on the frame of a light sleeper. The references to demons and dreams crumbling highlight the man's internal battle with his own mind and emotions. The line "sleep dehydrates until the dreams dry and crumble bleeding out his eyes" suggests a profound sense of pain and emotional turmoil that he experiences in his sleep, further emphasizing his inner struggles and vulnerability.
The final verse introduces a female character who plays a significant role in the man's life. The depiction of the girl as not purring indicates a lack of emotional connection and fulfillment in their relationship. The man's curiosity and desire for connection are evident, but his struggles and insecurities hinder his ability to fully engage with her. The reference to physically poking inside to see what's alive symbolizes his need to delve deep into his emotions and confront his inner demons in order to truly connect with others and find peace within himself. Overall, the lyrics of "Kiddie Litter" offer a poignant portrayal of inner turmoil, emotional struggles, and the search for self-acceptance and connection.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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