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.
Whore Monger Freestyle
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Mr. Francis.)*
Can you turn this beat up for a second?
(Yeah sure.)
Yo, check me out, uh.
I'm a straight up killer and nobody knows it
I suppose it
You ain't a killer, oh shit
Keep on believing what seems obvious
It's all for the dollar dollar bill
Holler, until you see 'In God We Trust'
Who do we trust in?
Present day thug mentality
Disgusting
Adjust your chin with a tap to the jaw
It's a must win situation, askin' for war
I'm at your door with a paper shredder
Inserting the ?
Squirting with your mama's sis
Until I start murdering with a harmful kiss
When I *kissing sound*
She feel victim to the charm that I put on
My inner hatred detonated the lip balm
These are fireworks
When desirable flirts higher their skirts
I hold the handle of a Roman Candle inside em, IT HURTS!
Trust me it hurts me more
I'm thirsty for the tasty blood of dirty whores
Ages 34 and under
Whore monger
I've got a hunger
Had a more positive outlook when I was younger
And a much cleaner conscious
Touch my penis with constance
Living life with the ambition to F Venus it's nonsense
I'm a genius of constance and vowel sounds
See I know how it sounds but take your showers now
And throw your towels down
I'll have your bowels drowned in discharge
Have Homer insisting, "Open your lips Marge!"
While kids watch, I ish you not
I'll have Lisa eating meat again
When we meet again, I'll be the friend
She always wanted but could never have if she'll believe pretend
It'll be the end of her loneliness
I desire only this for her to
Blow me a kiss and hold me with her innocent arms
Let my bloodstained hands touch her untrained glands
Transform
Whore monger
Whore monger
(The bonus verse? Aww, that was like right on time.)
Sage Francis's song "Whore Monger Freestyle" starts off with an intro asking to turn up the beat, followed by him declaring himself as a killer. He mentions that he keeps his killing abilities hidden and prefers to remain a poet. He then delves into the topic of money being the driving force behind everything and people's blind faith in it. In the next few lines, he talks about being disgusted by the present-day thug mentality and how it is necessary to ask for war in a must-win situation. He also mentions using a paper shredder to shred unknown papers and then proceeds to mention having sexual relations with someone's sister, thus murdering them with a harmful kiss.
As the song progresses, Sage Francis talks about how he gets aroused by harmless flirting and higher skirts, and the thought of killing dirty whores aged 34 and under. He mentions having had a positive outlook on life when he was younger but now is driven by meaningless desires. He talks about his genius with constance and vowel sounds and his desire for Lisa to meet him again. He says that he wants her to blow him a kiss and hold him with her innocent arms, but he also desires to touch her untrained glands with his blood-stained hands.
In conclusion, "Whore Monger Freestyle" is an explicit and violent song that delves into the dark thoughts and desires of Sage Francis. The song critiques society's obsession with money, power, and a twisted definition of masculinity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a straight up killer and nobody knows it
I have a dangerous side that I keep hidden from everyone
I suppose it
It's probably for the best
Is much better that way, STAY POETIC!
It's better to express myself through poetry than violence
You ain't a killer, oh shit
You're not a real threat
Keep on believing what seems obvious
Continue living in ignorance
It's all for the dollar dollar bill
Money is the motivation
Holler, until you see 'In God We Trust'
The pursuit of money is the new religion
Who do we trust in?
Who can we really rely on?
Present day thug mentality
The current attitude of aggression and violence
Disgusting
It's sickening
Adjust your chin with a tap to the jaw
Straighten up and get ready for a fight
It's a must win situation, askin' for war
I need to emerge victorious at any cost, even if it means going to war
I'm at your door with a paper shredder
I'm coming after you with something that can destroy you
Inserting the ?
I'm inserting my thoughts and ideas into your mind
Squirting with your mama's sis
I'm taking pleasure in causing distress and pain to someone close to you
Until I start murdering with a harmful kiss
I'm capable of causing damage even with an innocent gesture
She feel victim to the charm that I put on
She's falling for my manipulations
My inner hatred detonated the lip balm
I'm aggressively expressing my inner rage
When desirable flirts higher their skirts
When the women I desire become more provocative
I hold the handle of a Roman Candle inside em, IT HURTS!
I'm causing them pain and enjoying it
Trust me it hurts me more
I'm aware that my behavior is damaging to others and myself
I'm thirsty for the tasty blood of dirty whores
I have an insatiable desire for promiscuous women
Ages 34 and under
My preferred age range for sexual partners
I've got a hunger
I have a strong desire
Had a more positive outlook when I was younger
I used to be more optimistic
And a much cleaner conscious
I used to feel less guilt and shame
Touch my penis with constance
Engage in sexual activity with me frequently
Living life with the ambition to F Venus it's nonsense
Trying to have sex with as many women as possible is meaningless
I'm a genius of constance and vowel sounds
I'm highly skilled in language and communication
See I know how it sounds but take your showers now
I'm aware that I'm coming across as disgusting, but I don't care
And throw your towels down
Prepare yourself for a crude sexual encounter
I'll have your bowels drowned in discharge
I'll cause you to become ill or overwhelmed with disgust
Have Homer insisting, "Open your lips Marge!"
I'm making a crude reference to oral sex between Homer and Marge Simpson
While kids watch, I ish you not
I'm not kidding when I say that I'm behaving inappropriately in front of children
I'll have Lisa eating meat again
I'll convince Lisa Simpson to break her vegetarian diet
When we meet again, I'll be the friend
I'll present myself as a friendly influence
She always wanted but could never have if she'll believe pretend
I'm exploiting her desires and insecurities for my own benefit
It'll be the end of her loneliness
I'll offer her companionship, but with a hidden agenda
I desire only this for her to
The only thing I want from her is
Blow me a kiss and hold me with her innocent arms
To engage in a romantic gesture with me despite my repulsive behavior
Let my bloodstained hands touch her untrained glands
I want to engage in sexual activity with her despite my violent tendencies
Transform
I want to change her in a way that benefits me
Whore monger
A man who exploits women for sexual gratification
Whore monger
A man who exploits women for sexual gratification
Contributed by Layla I. 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