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.
Midgets and Giants
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are really not all that dope
No-no-no no-no-no
No-no-no no-no-no
You read me all wrong, Bello
You need to do your research
Hell no.
I don't want to do a cd trade
I want to see your made-for-TV DJ fade
Into the rave scene it seems he just came from
Glow sticks and energy drinks
Gettin hyped up on white stuff
Never meant to be sniffed
You like dust?
I might bust your whole family
But y'all ain't hippie chicks
And pixie sticks ain't nose candy
You're servin' bags with herbal magic
Sellin' placebos to too many people
Got your girl's ass kicked
Your lady got overpowered and you got played sellin' baby powder
It's over-the-counter drug trade
Oh, you a big shot?
Now you hip-hop?
Shall I stop?
Nah, I think not.
I rip shop like parking tickets
Use sling shots to target bigots
Cause I don't really kill cops
I just want you to think I it
You are really not all that dope
You are really not all that dope
No-no-no no-no-no
No-no-no no-no-no
DJ Undercutter
He wants to feed his turntable scraps
To MC Hollywood who's only fly until his cable snaps
He's a rapper thinking battles were a meal ticket
Came time for the album and he couldn't write real lyrics
8 Mile wasn't true, shit head
It was a promotional tool, but not for you, shit head
So let me tell you exactly what to do, shit head
Don't be a fool, stay in school
shit head
You are really not all that dope
You are really not all that dope
No
No
But am I really all that fresh?
But am I really all that fresh?
Yes.
Yes.
Fake friends ain't got nothing to do with my world
If you ain't dead, you ain't a suicide girl
You can tattoo that to your back with the broken wings
Then hope for the best while you jump from buildings
I wanna levitate like the featherweights huffin' helium
And float outta this place if I ain't fuckin' feelin' em
They need to study lessons and then posse up
Fuck an Apprentice, I've got more firepower than Donald Trump
BB Gun, one hand on the pump
When I run outta' ammo Ima slap shot this hockey puck
Soccer moms are copulatin with hockey dads
Housewives wear maternity dresses like body bags
They pull out novelty dildos as a party gag and dilly dally at a women's rally where they lolligag
Y'all wear poetry around your neck
It's an outdated laminate and they can't make it to sound check?
You wave your new jack flags like a late pass
"Oh, they ain't all that bad"
Nah, they just fake jacks
They've got a new street slang?
Oh, I'll keep current
No command of language but they act like they're deep cuz of it
Fuck a Def Poet and all the concessions they make
I just filled another pinata with demo tapes
I'm gunnin' for you, chump
With a triple barrel shotgun
Don't try to cover up,
My nipple grabs are AWESOME
Shooting all the midgets and I'm shooting all the midgets
Shooting all the giants and I'm shooting all the giants
Yo, peep this, Ladidadi
I hate party people
Hate the way the DJ just plays pop when he drops the needle
I don't want to socialize with guys that I can't speak to
Or women who are see through
Cause I don't need to.
The lyrics to Sage Francis's "Midgets and Giants" are a commentary on the state of hip hop and the music industry, specifically the commodification and commercialization of the art form. The song starts off with Sage dismissing the idea that someone is "dope" just because they have a few songs and t-shirts to sell, questioning the validity of their skills and authenticity. He then calls out a made-for-TV DJ who is catering to the rave scene and selling drugs on the side, exposing the hypocrisy and danger of the underground drug trade.
Sage then moves on to critique the mainstream hip hop industry, calling out an MC who only wanted to battle rap but couldn't write quality lyrics when it came to making an album. He dismisses a fake friend who represents the "Suicide Girls" brand and mocks the idea of tattooing a slogan on one's back. The song ends with Sage taking shots at Def Poets, the concessions they make, and the commodification of spoken word poetry. Overall, "Midgets and Giants" is a scathing critique of the music industry, the dangers of underground drug culture, and the false image of the hip hop lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
You are really not all that dope
I don't think you're as talented as you think you are
No-no-no no-no-no
I'm emphasizing my disbelief in your abilities
You read me all wrong, Bello
You misunderstood me, Bello
You need to do your research
You should learn more about me and what I stand for
An emcee with a 4-song demo and you've got t-shirts?
You're not established enough to have merchandise for your music
Hell no.
Absolutely not
I don't want to do a cd trade
I'm not interested in trading CDs with you
I want to see your made-for-TV DJ fade
I want to see your DJ career come to an end
Into the rave scene it seems he just came from
Your DJ style seems generic and unoriginal
Glow sticks and energy drinks
Your DJ aesthetic is cheesy and overdone
Gettin hyped up on white stuff
You rely on stimulants to energize your performance
Never meant to be sniffed
White powder is not meant to be sniffed
You like dust?
Do you like cocaine?
I might bust your whole family
I might expose your entire family's drug use
But y'all ain't hippie chicks
You don't live an alternative or counterculture lifestyle
And pixie sticks ain't nose candy
Pixie sticks aren't a substitute for cocaine
You're servin' bags with herbal magic
You're selling fake drugs to people looking for a high
Sellin' placebos to too many people
You're selling fake drugs to unwitting customers
Got your girl's ass kicked
Your actions resulted in your girlfriend getting beaten up
Your lady got overpowered and you got played sellin' baby powder
Your girlfriend was overpowered by someone else and you got caught selling fake drugs
It's over-the-counter drug trade
You're selling drugs that don't require a prescription and aren't regulated
Oh, you a big shot?
Are you someone important or influential?
Now you hip-hop?
Are you suddenly involved in the hip-hop scene?
Shall I stop?
Should I stop my criticism?
Nah, I think not.
No, I don't think so
I rip shop like parking tickets
I'm really good at what I do, like a parking enforcement officer who hands out a lot of tickets
Use sling shots to target bigots
I use unconventional methods to attack hateful people
Cause I don't really kill cops
I'm not advocating for violence against law enforcement
I just want you to think I it
I want you to think I'm capable of extreme action, but I'm not actually going to do anything
DJ Undercutter
Referring to a specific DJ
He wants to feed his turntable scraps
The DJ is not very successful and is just trying to get by
To MC Hollywood who's only fly until his cable snaps
The rapper mentioned is only successful until something goes wrong or he loses his audience
He's a rapper thinking battles were a meal ticket
The rapper only focuses on battles because he sees them as a way to make money
Came time for the album and he couldn't write real lyrics
The rapper couldn't produce a quality album because he didn't have the skills to write good lyrics
8 Mile wasn't true, shit head
The movie 8 Mile is not a realistic portrayal of the rap battle scene
It was a promotional tool, but not for you, shit head
The movie was meant to promote Eminem, not other rappers
So let me tell you exactly what to do, shit head
I'm going to tell you what you need to do to improve
Don't be a fool, stay in school
Don't do anything stupid, focus on your education
No
No
But am I really all that fresh?
Am I really as talented as people say?
Yes.
Yes, you are
Fake friends ain't got nothing to do with my world
I don't associate with fake people
If you ain't dead, you ain't a suicide girl
You don't have the edge or coolness of Suicide Girls (alternative pin-up models)
You can tattoo that to your back with the broken wings
You can take my insult as a permanent reminder of my criticism
Then hope for the best while you jump from buildings
You're taking a big risk by following my advice
I wanna levitate like the featherweights huffin' helium
I want to rise above my problems and float away, like someone inhaling helium
And float outta this place if I ain't fuckin' feelin' em
I want to leave this place if I'm not enjoying myself
They need to study lessons and then posse up
People should learn from past mistakes and work together
Fuck an Apprentice, I've got more firepower than Donald Trump
I don't need to be on a reality show like The Apprentice to be successful, and I have more talent than Donald Trump
BB Gun, one hand on the pump
I'm carrying a BB gun and holding a shotgun with one hand
When I run outta' ammo Ima slap shot this hockey puck
If I run out of bullets, I'm going to use the shotgun as a blunt weapon
Soccer moms are copulatin with hockey dads
Parents from different sports teams are having sex with each other
Housewives wear maternity dresses like body bags
Housewives wear unflattering clothes that make them look like they're wearing a body bag while they're pregnant
They pull out novelty dildos as a party gag and dilly dally at a women's rally where they lolligag
They use sex toys as a joke at parties and waste time at women's rallies without really participating
Y'all wear poetry around your neck
You wear poetry or artistic expression like it's a fashion accessory
It's an outdated laminate and they can't make it to sound check?
They use their poetry as an excuse for their lack of professionalism
You wave your new jack flags like a late pass
You're late to the game and trying to catch up by adopting a trend that's already passed
"Oh, they ain't all that bad"
You try to make excuses for bad music or performers
Nah, they just fake jacks
No, they just aren't good or talented
They've got a new street slang?
They're using new words or phrases associated with a specific culture or community
Oh, I'll keep current
I'll try to stay up-to-date with current trends and language
No command of language but they act like they're deep cuz of it
They don't have a real understanding of language or the meaning behind it, but they pretend to for the sake of appearing profound
Fuck a Def Poet and all the concessions they make
I don't respect the Def Poetry movement and the compromises they make to be successful
I just filled another pinata with demo tapes
I'm giving away my demo tapes in an unorthodox and fun way
I'm gunnin' for you, chump
I'm coming after you and targeting you
With a triple barrel shotgun
I'm using a powerful weapon to attack you
Don't try to cover up,
Don't try to hide or deny your mistakes
My nipple grabs are AWESOME
I'm good at doing something (in this case, grabbing nipples)
Shooting all the midgets and I'm shooting all the midgets
I'm metaphorically attacking the people who are smaller and weaker than me
Shooting all the giants and I'm shooting all the giants
I'm metaphorically attacking the people who are bigger and more powerful than me
Yo, peep this, Ladidadi
Listen closely, pay attention
I hate party people
I don't like shallow or superficial people who only go to parties
Hate the way the DJ just plays pop when he drops the needle
I don't like DJs who just play popular music instead of exploring new sounds
I don't want to socialize with guys that I can't speak to
I don't want to spend time with people I can't have real conversations with
Or women who are see through
Or people who are fake or insincere
Cause I don't need to.
I'm satisfied with who I am and don't need to pretend to be someone else to fit in
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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