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.
narcissist
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I simply like to watch myself exist...
Now I'm in a fog and mist...
Now my reflection is anonymous
Ponder this!
I've seen a reflection of my soul in the store window
Caught in limbo 'cause I was dressed all in Timbo's
And my paper thin spirit was still grieving from the Versace kill in Florida
Opened the door to the store and I walked down the corridor
to see they had a blow out sale on Nautica
I've always been a Lord of the button down Flies
Being they were half-priced, I pass 'em on by looking for Levis
But Guess what? All my favorite clothing lines and hip designs
Were being liquidized and it made me sick to my eyes
I don't understand, when I had no ends, the price was quick to rise
I'd buy a pair of trends even if it didn't fit my size
Purchase a surplus of fads from merchants whose ads
Made these cheap ass fabrics that were so worthless and sad
Just look priceless, they used unethical devices to attack my sense of
self-worth during my prepubescent crisis
It fed into my insecurities, so instead of being righteous
I want everyone to see me like this
It's all about who looks the nicest
Ice is falling off my Rolie onto my body, shoot!
I hope to hell it doesn't melt and ruin my Armani suit
While I'm sweatin' this,some kid who doesn't got any loot
Is buying my necklace along with my same exact khakis and army boots
What?! This is blasphemous!
Since Adidas tried changing its logo
there ain't been nothing as wack as this
It's probably a stunt being pulled by Animal Rights activists
Because of all that Third World country garbage but I'm a pacifist
So while these monkeys sweat over my name brands that exchange hands
From enslaved lands, I wonder if I'm the same man
Without reward...for what I bought but CAN'T still afford
This is the type of self-realization that might have killed the Lord
I didn't mind working free as a walking billboard
But now I want my money back...as the ice spilled and poured
Onto the floor I did see a distorted reflection of my Nike hat
I don't know how others might react
For me it was an unsightly act that helped me get my psyche back
I stood 5 feet back, afraid that it might strike me like Shaclack clack!
Ya'll think I'm kidding? It's not big thing
What I seen made my heart hurt, stomach turn, throat burn, teeth cringe
spine tingle, and ribs sting
I noticed that the swoosh symbol was nothing but a whip in mid-swing..
I don't look at myself in the mirror because I'm a narcissist
I simply like to watch myself exist...
I'm in a fog and mist...
In Sage Francis's song "Narcissist," the lyrics reveal the struggles of being caught up in materialism and the negative effects it can have on one's self-worth. The opening line states "I don't look at myself in the mirror because I'm a narcissist, I simply like to watch myself exist." This line suggests that the singer has a tendency to focus on their own image and self-importance rather than on their true self or deeper aspects of their personality. However, as the song progresses, the singer's perspective shifts as they begin to question the nature of their material possessions and the message they send to the world.
The lyric "I've always been a Lord of the button down Flies, Being they were half-priced, I pass 'em on by looking for Levis" highlights the singer's obsession with name brands and the significance they hold in their life. The line "This is the type of self-realization that might have killed the Lord" exemplifies the recognition that the weight of materialism holds over the individual and its potential to lead to negative outcomes. The concluding lines, "I noticed that the swoosh symbol was nothing but a whip in mid-swing," suggest that the obsession with materialism can be the result of societal pressures and expectations that act as a form of control or enslavement.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't look at myself in the mirror because I'm a narcissist
I don't look in the mirror because I love myself - it's because I'm full of self-doubt and insecurity.
I simply like to watch myself exist...
It's not that I admire myself, I just feel disconnected from my own existence.
Now I'm in a fog and mist...
I'm lost and disoriented, struggling to find my way.
Now my reflection is anonymous
I don't recognize myself anymore, I feel like I'm hiding behind a mask.
Ponder this!
Think about what I'm about to say next.
I've seen a reflection of my soul in the store window
I've caught a glimpse of my inner self reflected in the glass of a store.
Caught in limbo 'cause I was dressed all in Timbo's
I'm feeling stuck between two worlds because of the status symbols I'm wearing.
Having fantasies of playing Polo with Ralph Lauren on a Tommy Hill
I'm consumed with a desire to be part of the high-end fashion world.
And my paper thin spirit was still grieving from the Versace kill in Florida
I'm still haunted by the murder of Gianni Versace in Miami.
Opened the door to the store and I walked down the corridor
I've entered a store and I'm walking through it.
to see they had a blow out sale on Nautica
I discovered that there was a clearance sale on the brand Nautica.
I've always been a Lord of the button down Flies
I've always been proud of my love for button-down shirts.
Being they were half-priced, I pass 'em on by looking for Levis
Even though the shirts were discounted, I still wanted to find a pair of Levi's jeans.
But Guess what? All my favorite clothing lines and hip designs
To my surprise, all the fashionable clothing I liked was on sale.
Were being liquidized and it made me sick to my eyes
These trendy clothes were being sold at a discount and it made me feel nauseous.
I don't understand, when I had no ends, the price was quick to rise
When I was broke, the prices of these clothes were high - but now that I have some money, they're cheap.
I'd buy a pair of trends even if it didn't fit my size
I would purchase clothes just because they were trendy, even if they didn't fit me well.
Purchase a surplus of fads from merchants whose ads
I bought a lot of trendy clothes from stores who advertised them.
Made these cheap ass fabrics that were so worthless and sad
The fabrics used to make these clothes were low-quality and disappointing.
Just look priceless, they used unethical devices to attack my sense of
These marketers used unethical methods to make me feel like I needed these clothes.
self-worth during my prepubescent crisis
I was vulnerable and insecure when I was younger, and these marketing tactics took advantage of that.
It fed into my insecurities, so instead of being righteous
These marketing tactics made me feel insecure instead of proud.
I want everyone to see me like this
I want others to see me in these trendy clothes.
It's all about who looks the nicest
Fashion is more about appearances than character.
Ice is falling off my Rolie onto my body, shoot!
The diamonds on my watch are falling off, this is a disaster!
I hope to hell it doesn't melt and ruin my Armani suit
I'm worried my expensive suit will be ruined if the diamonds on my watch melt.
While I'm sweatin' this,some kid who doesn't got any loot
While I'm stressing about my watch, there are kids who can't afford clothes at all.
Is buying my necklace along with my same exact khakis and army boots
Someone is buying the same clothes and accessories that I have.
What?! This is blasphemous!
This is outrageous and unacceptable!
Since Adidas tried changing its logo
Ever since Adidas changed their logo...
there ain't been nothing as wack as this
There hasn't been anything as bad as this fashion trend.
It's probably a stunt being pulled by Animal Rights activists
I think this trend is being promoted by animal rights activists.
Because of all that Third World country garbage but I'm a pacifist
Because of cheap labor and poor working conditions in Third World countries, but I'm opposed to violence.
So while these monkeys sweat over my name brands that exchange hands
While these workers labor over the clothes that bear my favorite brands' names...
From enslaved lands, I wonder if I'm the same man
I'm starting to question whether I'm the same person now that I've learned about the exploitation behind the clothes I wear.
Without reward...for what I bought but CAN'T still afford
I regret wasting money on clothes I can't even afford now.
This is the type of self-realization that might have killed the Lord
This kind of realization could have made even Jesus feel ashamed.
I didn't mind working free as a walking billboard
I used to be okay with being a walking advertisement.
But now I want my money back...as the ice spilled and poured
Now I want a refund for all these clothes... as the diamonds on my watch fall off.
Onto the floor I did see a distorted reflection of my Nike hat
As I looked down at the diamonds on the floor, I saw a distorted reflection of my Nike hat.
I don't know how others might react
I'm not sure how others would've reacted to this situation.
For me it was an unsightly act that helped me get my psyche back
This was an ugly scene that snapped me back to reality.
I stood 5 feet back, afraid that it might strike me like Shaclack clack!
I backed away five feet, worried that something would hit me.
Ya'll think I'm kidding? It's not big thing
I'm not making this up - it's not insignificant to me.
What I seen made my heart hurt, stomach turn, throat burn, teeth cringe
The sight of those diamonds falling made me feel physically sick and embarrassed.
spine tingle, and ribs sting
It made me feel embarrassed and ashamed to my core.
I noticed that the swoosh symbol was nothing but a whip in mid-swing..
I realized that the Nike swoosh symbol is like a whip, punishing workers in sweatshops.
Contributed by Alexis D. 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