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.
Testimony
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
It's not size, or force, form, or technique.
I battle you for custody.
La, la, la.
It's not size, or force, form, or technique.
I battle you for custody.
La, la, la.
The weak link is quivering, determining the chain's strength,
Wimpering, vibrating! the wave length of its stress signals are more or
Less symbols. it just trembles,
Knowing it'll take the weight when the chain breaks and disassembles.
See, mr. wendell? he knew nothing of this daily struggle.
Sit under the disfunctional family tree and prepare for trouble.
Could barely hear the mumbles beneath the ear-piercing rumbles.
Sharp tongues slashing mouths while lashing out with verbal belt buckles.
Friends crumble under similar circumstances within their own chain of events,
From sloppy knots in family ties. the pain is intense,
The tension is thick. two sided arguments are upsetting to him.
Stretching the link, testing its endurance and spreading it thin.
Trembling, holding onto what's "familia," in the italian sense, i'm reading intense drafts of sylvia plath.
Before breaking off into an unfamilliar path,
Faking coughs, divert the hurt by trying to act silly and laugh.
Making light of situations when i sense a panic attack.
I'm a fully licensed self-defense machanic, and my toolbelt is black.
She probably thinks i'm dead. she's probably dead.
When he left she said i was so strong, but i know she's wrong.
I need back support, my knees fold.
Please hold your end of the bargain when i leave home,
Please hold the keystone.
Sixtoo:
How far will he travel?
The essential interpretation watching the sequential falling of the dominos.
Which one will stay erect? a microcosm where every effort is just that.
It's just maps, papercuts, and the photos to prove the strength.
He followed the family, alone as the next member.
California dreaming of moving out there in september.
I sit in admiration, knowing that the weakest link
Is also the one that holds the pillars on the brink
Of collapse. relapse is the replay of emotional disarray,
Sustaining the stains of teardrops on his t-shirt.
Sometimes, taking for yourself is harder than giving.
Those who want to give up, living in the circumstance.
Dance around the issues of dealing with the problem,
Drudging through the uncomfortable streets of dispairity.
All's fair in love and clarity,
And also ignorance.
Chains don't always hold the fingerprints.
Sole:
Their hearts pump pure, and then sweaty palms tellin' lies,
So blame it on a drug-addict, brother, and the cover-up.
One can't help become center of attention,
When everything is helpless, be realistic.
Ever since the goldfish died, daughter can't see past the make-up.
Stapling, "please become a savior to everything."
Photo album catalog, better order new hand holders,
Follow the odor to someone older and less experienced.
The whole choir is off key and forgets the words,
So ask later and get a free subscription to a diary,
Not even worth reading.
There was a time like this when mother's tears turned lakes and grew tree gardens.
Now overgrown, with homemade grapes,
But at least she can keep the whole family together.
Chorus
The lyrics to "Testimony" by Sage Francis provide a complex interpretation of familial relationships and the struggle to maintain unity within them. The chorus repeats the line "I battle you for custody" which reiterates the idea that family dynamics are not about physical strength or technique but rather a battle for control and power. Sage Francis' verse reflects on the notion of a weak link in the chain of family relationships, and how individuals try to hold onto their familial ties even when it feels like the chains are breaking apart.
The verse by Sixtoo further explores the idea that taking for oneself can be harder than giving and that sometimes people dance around issues instead of confronting them. Sole's verse touches on the theme of feeling helpless and trying to be a source of strength for the family despite personal struggles. Overall, the lyrics to "Testimony" paint a vivid picture of the complexities of familial relationships and the ongoing struggle to maintain unity and support one another.
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brick Steele
The props are deep with this song. I actually sent this guy a demo before I moved to Cali because at the time I thought he had a record company out here and shit. When he never replied, I moved out here anyway. I gained much perspective and now only hope he is well.
Life.Sucks.Die.
I FUCKING LOVE HIP HOP!
Kongsmo
i discovered him through this one & the lose amalove