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.
this is not a dis freestyle
Sage Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm representing TSS this is secret service
Yes yes check this
No word double i
You could never adapt to my habitat
With a third eye that's got a cataract
And a blurs mind that thing's
You automatically have superb rhymes
Kick to the curb when I'm
Kicking a battle rap
Land is what you are riding a Cadillac
Lying about being a star (huh) is that a fact
I've got my name on my
Credit card like Darryl Mack
But rhymes about a car, money
Or power is whack
With the yah yah, sha clack clack
Something just ain't right about a cracker
Asking where his niggas at
Saul Williams had all civilians think
That ish was phat
Leaping tall buildings for small
Children still missing
Find them and bring em back
Rewind it and sing it black
If it was up to me your whole
CD would be a hidden track
Cause you're from knowing jack
They're like a poetry like Kerouac
You can't shoot me down you're out
Of ammo want your arrow back
You don't have no back
So don't front like when you're attack
I keep involved like a DJ Shadow track
Cut you up like a poor man's sample
My men here will trample and
Then will stand still
Before we drop rhymes like an anvil
Too hot to handle too cold to grip
Plus what you say is rubbish
So why you holding it
Trust that you'll get punished
The microphone I grip will bust in
Your face from some ish
You've got a swollen lip
I've been know to flip and be wild
Since the days I was breastfed
Till I'm old and sick and senile
And laying in my deathbed with a broken hip
No teeth from my smile while my chest bled
I freestyle about being left for dead
Now I'm one breath ahead
My last words will rhyme with my first one
To sum up my existence through hip
Hop with a verse son
I curse some it might sound like
I'm from the worst slum
My mind is in tune with time and
My heart beat is the Earth's drum
In these lyrics, Sage Francis showcases his lyrical prowess and unique wordplay. He starts off by asserting his affiliation with TSS (Secret Service), establishing his presence and authority. He emphasizes his superiority by stating that others can never adapt to his "habitat," metaphorically referring to his intellectual and artistic domain. He mentions having a "third eye with a cataract," suggesting his insightful perspective may not always be clear. Sage Francis contrasts those who rely on guns ("a gat") for power with his own impressive rhymes, implying that true talent supersedes material possessions.
He critiques individuals who boast about wealth, status, and false identities, calling them out for their lack of authenticity. He references Saul Williams, a renowned poet, and the influence he had on civilians, suggesting that genuine artistry should be respected. He also challenges the notion of racial stereotypes, using wordplay with the phrase "something just ain't right about a cracker asking where his niggas at."
Throughout the lyrics, Sage Francis asserts his lyrical dexterity and prowess. He describes himself as a DJ Shadow track, continually engaged and involved in his craft. He also mentions cutting up his opponents like a "poor man's sample," demonstrating his ability to dismantle weak adversaries with ease. He playfully references his longevity in the hip-hop industry, from being breastfed as a baby to envisioning himself in old age, with a broken hip and no teeth, still rapping with passion.
Overall, these lyrics showcase Sage Francis's skillful wordplay, social commentary, and creative storytelling style.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah yeah, It's like this
This is how it is, let me explain
I'm representing TSS this is secret service
I am representing TSS, a secret service organization
Yes yes check this
Listen closely to what I'm about to say
No word double i
No need to repeat myself
You could never adapt to my habitat
You cannot fit into my unique environment
With a third eye that's got a cataract
My perspective is impaired, but I still see things differently
And a blurs mind that thing's
My mind is unclear and confused
If you have a gat
If you possess a gun
You automatically have superb rhymes
You believe having a weapon makes you a great rapper
Kick to the curb when I'm
I easily defeat you in a battle
Kicking a battle rap
Engaging in a rap battle
Land is what you are riding a Cadillac
You pretend to be successful and wealthy, driving a Cadillac
Lying about being a star (huh) is that a fact
You deceive others by claiming to be a celebrity
I've got my name on my
My identity is proudly displayed on my
Credit card like Darryl Mack
Similar to Darryl Mack, my name is visible on my credit card
But rhymes about a car, money
However, focusing on materialistic things like cars and money in rhymes
Or power is whack
Or displaying power is unimpressive
With the yah yah, sha clack clack
The sounds of guns and exclamations in rap
Something just ain't right about a cracker
There's something unsettling about a Caucasian person rapping
Asking where his niggas at
Inquiring about the whereabouts of his friends
Saul Williams had all civilians think
Saul Williams influenced people to believe
That ish was phat
That his music was excellent
Leaping tall buildings for small
Performing heroic feats for insignificant reasons
Children still missing
Children who are still not found
Find them and bring em back
Locate them and return them safely
Rewind it and sing it black
Play the music again and interpret it with a black perspective
If it was up to me your whole
If I had control, your entire
CD would be a hidden track
Album would consist of hidden songs
Cause you're from knowing jack
Because you don't know anything
They're like a poetry like Kerouac
They're similar to poetry, like Jack Kerouac's style
You can't shoot me down you're out
You cannot defeat me, you're ineffective
Of ammo want your arrow back
You're out of resources and desire your weapon back
You don't have no back
You lack support or backup
So don't front like when you're attack
Don't pretend to be aggressive when attacking
I keep involved like a DJ Shadow track
I stay engaged and committed like a DJ Shadow song
Cut you up like a poor man's sample
I will defeat you effortlessly, like a cheaply produced sample
My men here will trample and
My team will overpower and
Then will stand still
Then they will remain calm and composed
Before we drop rhymes like an anvil
Just before we release powerful and impactful lyrics
Too hot to handle too cold to grip
I am both challenging and difficult to control
Plus what you say is rubbish
Furthermore, your words are nonsense
So why you holding it
Why are you expressing it then?
Trust that you'll get punished
Believe me, you will face consequences
The microphone I grip will bust in
I will dominate the microphone with my powerful delivery
Your face from some ish
Your face will be hit by something intense
You've got a swollen lip
Your lip will become swollen due to the impact
I've been know to flip and be wild
I have a reputation for becoming aggressive and unpredictable
Since the days I was breastfed
Since my early childhood days
Till I'm old and sick and senile
Until I reach old age and suffer from illness and mental decline
And laying in my deathbed with a broken hip
When I am dying and bedridden with a fractured hip
No teeth from my smile while my chest bled
I will lose my teeth, but still smile through the pain as I bleed from my chest
I freestyle about being left for dead
I improvise lyrics about being abandoned and ignored
Now I'm one breath ahead
But now I have a slight advantage
My last words will rhyme with my first one
In the end, my final words will connect with my initial words through rhyme
To sum up my existence through hip
To summarize my entire existence through the genre of hip-hop
Hop with a verse son
Expressing myself through rap verses, my son
I curse some it might sound like
I also use profanity, which may seem
I'm from the worst slum
I come from the most deprived and impoverished neighborhood
My mind is in tune with time and
My thoughts are aligned with the passing of time and
My heart beat is the Earth's drum
My heartbeat resonates with the rhythm of the Earth
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