Sage Francis
Encyclopedia
Paul "Sage" Francis is a hip-hop
artist from Providence, Rhode Island
.
. This label first began as a way for Francis to bootleg his unreleased songs in the late '90s and has since evolved into an official enterprise with an expanding roster of like-minded artists. Francis won the Scribble Jam
Emcee battle in 2000 and released several CDs available only on his tours and website (Still Sick, Sick Of Waiting, Sick of Waging War, Sickly Business, Still Sickly Business, Sick of Wasting included). In 2001, his song "Makeshift Patriot," recorded on October 11, 2001, became an Internet hit for its critique of American media during, and immediately following, the September 11 attacks. After releasing his critically acclaimed Personal Journals
album in 2002, he signed to Epitaph Records
, making Francis the first hip-hop artist to sign with the punk-rock label. He subsequently released three albums with Epitaph; A Healthy Distrust
(2005), Human the Death Dance
(2007), and Li(f)e
(2010)
Francis is also part of the contemporary spoken word
movement. Francis' relationship with the Providence Poetry Slam community (he was on their 1998, 1999 and 2002 national poetry slam teams) led to it being called "The House that Sage Francis Built." From 2000 - 2002, he also DJ-ed for the NYC-Urbana Poetry Slam, a weekly slam series held at the legendary punk rock venue CBGB
.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist from Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
Biography
Born Paul Francis in Miami, Florida, Sage Francis is a rapper/writer/performer from Providence, Rhode Island. He is the founder and CEO of the independent hip-hop record label Strange Famous RecordsStrange Famous Records
Strange Famous Records is an underground hip-hop music label based in Providence, Rhode Island, started by Sage Francis. Artists on its roster include B...
. This label first began as a way for Francis to bootleg his unreleased songs in the late '90s and has since evolved into an official enterprise with an expanding roster of like-minded artists. Francis won the Scribble Jam
Scribble Jam
Scribble Jam was an annual hip hop music festival hosted in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dubbed "America's largest hip hop festival", it was co-founded in 1996 by "Fat" Nick Accurso, and Jason Brunson, founders of graffiti magazine Scribble, and DJ Mr Dibbs, in the parking lot of a local nightclub...
Emcee battle in 2000 and released several CDs available only on his tours and website (Still Sick, Sick Of Waiting, Sick of Waging War, Sickly Business, Still Sickly Business, Sick of Wasting included). In 2001, his song "Makeshift Patriot," recorded on October 11, 2001, became an Internet hit for its critique of American media during, and immediately following, the September 11 attacks. After releasing his critically acclaimed Personal Journals
Personal Journals
Personal Journals has received high reviews from critics. Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars. Pitchfork Media gave it a 8.7 out of 10 ratings. RapReviews.com gave the album a 9.5 out of 10. Robert Christgau gave it a "*" which means an honorable mention...
album in 2002, he signed to Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, making Francis the first hip-hop artist to sign with the punk-rock label. He subsequently released three albums with Epitaph; A Healthy Distrust
A Healthy Distrust
-Performers:* Sage Francis – Vocals, Engineering* Tom Inhaler – Guitar* Will Oldham – Guitar, Vocals, Engineer-Production:* Alias – Producer on "Sea Lion," "Escape Artist," "Product Placement," additional drums & guitar on "Crumble"...
(2005), Human the Death Dance
Human the Death Dance
Human the Death Dance is the third solo album by Sage Francis, released on Epitaph Records on May 8, 2007. The title of the album is also the title of a poem by spoken word artist Buddy Wakefield, who is signed to Francis' record label, Strange Famous Records...
(2007), and Li(f)e
Li(f)e
-Charts:-References:-External links:*...
(2010)
Francis is also part of the contemporary spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
movement. Francis' relationship with the Providence Poetry Slam community (he was on their 1998, 1999 and 2002 national poetry slam teams) led to it being called "The House that Sage Francis Built." From 2000 - 2002, he also DJ-ed for the NYC-Urbana Poetry Slam, a weekly slam series held at the legendary punk rock venue CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
.
Discography
- The Known UnSoldier "Sick of Waging War (Strange Famous Records, 2001)
- Sage FrenchkissSage Frenchkiss"Sage Frenchkiss" is a 7" single by Sage Francis. It was pressed on pink vinyl and limited to 1000 copies. All tracks were recorded live and feature no instrumentation, only poetry by Francis.-Track listing:Side A#"Dr. Feel Nathan"Side B...
(Strange Famous Records, 2002) - Personal JournalsPersonal JournalsPersonal Journals has received high reviews from critics. Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars. Pitchfork Media gave it a 8.7 out of 10 ratings. RapReviews.com gave the album a 9.5 out of 10. Robert Christgau gave it a "*" which means an honorable mention...
(AnticonAnticonAnticon is an Oakland based independent record label founded in 1997. It is collectively owned among six founding artists and one manager...
, 2002) - A Healthy DistrustA Healthy Distrust-Performers:* Sage Francis – Vocals, Engineering* Tom Inhaler – Guitar* Will Oldham – Guitar, Vocals, Engineer-Production:* Alias – Producer on "Sea Lion," "Escape Artist," "Product Placement," additional drums & guitar on "Crumble"...
(Epitaph, 2005) - Human the Death DanceHuman the Death DanceHuman the Death Dance is the third solo album by Sage Francis, released on Epitaph Records on May 8, 2007. The title of the album is also the title of a poem by spoken word artist Buddy Wakefield, who is signed to Francis' record label, Strange Famous Records...
(Epitaph, 2007) - Sick Of WastingSick of WastingSick of Wasting is the sixth mixtape in Sage Francis' "Sick of" mixtape series. It compiles un-released songs and demos from 1996-2009. On June 4, 2009, the official track listing, as well as a pre-order and the first single were released on The whole mixtape was released for free download on June...
(Strange Famous Records, 2009) - Li(f)eLi(f)e-Charts:-References:-External links:*...
(Anti-, 2010)
External links and further reading
- Official Sage Francis website
- Strange Famous Records
- http://www.twitter.com/SageFrancisSFR
- Strange Famous Forum
- KnowMore: The People's Corporation Watch Project
- Interview for Slap Magazine (Dead Link)
- Interview for Scene Missing Magazine
- Sage Francis Interview with Chuck D.
- Interview with Sage Francis 2010
- Interview: Sage Francis | The Find Magazine (2010)