View source for Sage Francis

{{short description|American rapper (b. 1976)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sage Francis
| background = solo_singer
| image = Sage Francis.jpg
| alt = Sage Francis in 2007
| caption = Francis in 2007
| birth_name = Paul William Francis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|11|18|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Miami]], [[Florida]] U.S.
| origin = [[Providence, Rhode Island]] U.S.
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]<!-- See [[Template:Infobox musical artist#Genre]]-->
| occupation = [[Rapping|Rapper]]
| years_active = 1996–present
| alias = Paul Francis<br/>Xaul Zan
| label = [[Strange Famous Records]], [[Anticon]], [[Epitaph Records]], [[ANTI-]], [[Rhymesayers Entertainment]]
| website = {{URL|strangefamousrecords.com/artists/sage-francis|Sage Francis}}<br/>at [[Strange Famous Records]]
}}
[[File:SageFrancisTreefort2013.jpg|thumb|Sage Francis performing at the 2013 [[Treefort Music Fest]]]]
'''Paul William''' "'''Sage'''" '''Francis''' (born November 18, 1976) is an American independent [[underground rap|underground]] [[Rapping|rapper]] from [[Providence, Rhode Island]].<ref name=Dusted-MakeshiftPatriot-2002>{{cite news|last1=Thomas-Glass|first1=Dan|title=Dusted Features: Sage Francis is to Dusted Magazine as ________ is to _________|url=http://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/27|work=Dusted Magazine|date=2002|access-date=2018-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322073651/http://dustedmagazine.com/features/27|archive-date=2015-03-22|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=SLAP-HealthyDistrust-2005>{{cite news|
last1=Ma|first1=David|title=Sage Francis|url=http://www.slapmagazine.com/new_site/issues/12_05/Sage/|work=SLAP Magazine|date=December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185427/http://www.slapmagazine.com/new_site/issues/12_05/Sage/|archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> He is the founder and CEO of [[Strange Famous Records]].<ref name=Exclaim-Life-2010>{{cite news|last1=Khanna|first1=Vish|title=Sage Francis|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sage_francis|work=[[Exclaim!]]|date=7 June 2010|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403234826/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sage_francis|archive-date=3 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Francis was born in [[Miami]], [[Florida]], but grew up in [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. He is an only child and grew up for most of his childhood with his mother and stepfather after his parents divorced when he was young. He lived in different parts of [[Rhode Island]] including [[North Smithfield, Rhode Island|North Smithfield]] and [[Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket]]. His mom worked as a bartender and his stepfather worked as a locksmith.<ref name=Dusted-MakeshiftPatriot-2002 />

Francis began writing and recording original lyrics at age 8, being inspired by acts such as [[Run DMC]] and [[Public Enemy]].<ref name=IllestLyrics-Life-2010>{{cite news|last1=Clendening|first1=Cory|title=An Exclusive Interview With Sage Francis|url=http://www.illestlyrics.com/exclusives/an-illest-exclusive-with-sage-francis/|work=IllestLyrics.com|date=10 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913010439/http://www.illestlyrics.com/exclusives/an-illest-exclusive-with-sage-francis/|archive-date=13 September 2010}}</ref><ref name=TheBeeShine-CopperGone-2014>{{cite news|last1=Francis|first1=Sage|title=Sage Francis Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmdzjDfhOpc|work=TheBeeShine|date=31 July 2014|format=Video interview}}</ref> According to [[Artistdirect]], Francis began sneaking out of his parents' house at age 12 to participate in rap battles.<ref name=Artistdirect-Bio>{{cite news|title=Sage Francis Biography|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/sage-francis/1641757|access-date=18 February 2018|work=[[Artistdirect]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090156/http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/sage-francis/1641757|archive-date=19 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Francis received a degree in [[communications studies|communications]] from [[Dean College]] in [[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]], [[Massachusetts]] and a degree in [[journalism]] from the [[University of Rhode Island]].<ref name=DaBelly-HealthyDistrust-2005>{{cite news|last1=Naughty Mickie|title=Sage Francis works harder than most|url=http://www.dabelly.com/features/feature188.htm|work=DaBelly|date=2005|access-date=2016-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921025351/http://www.dabelly.com/features/feature188.htm|archive-date=2016-09-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
In 1996, he recorded his first official demo tape, and by 1998 he had a radio show on [[WRIU]] called ''True School Session''.

Francis won the Superbowl MC Battle in Boston in 1999, beating [[Esoteric (rapper)|Esoteric]].<ref name=Superbowl-MC-Battle-Akrobatik-1999>{{cite web|last1=Akrobatik|last2=Francis|first2=Sage|title=Sage Francis vs. Akrobatik|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l75U-NDVKs|website=Superbowl MC Battle|format=Video|date=1999}}</ref><ref name=Superbowl-MC-Battle-Esoteric-1999>{{cite web|last1=Esoteric|last2=Francis|first2=Sage|title=Esoteric vs. Sage Francis|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVQGAdFRxts|publisher=Superbowl MC Battle|format=Video|date=1999|access-date=2018-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516050535/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVQGAdFRxts|archive-date=2019-05-16|url-status=live}}</ref> Francis won the [[Scribble Jam]] emcee battle in 2000, beating [[Blueprint (rapper)|Blueprint]].<ref name=IllestLyrics-Life-2010 /><ref name=DaBelly-HealthyDistrust-2005 /><ref name=ScribbleJam-BrotherAli-2000>{{cite web|last1=Brother Ali|last2=Francis|first2=Sage|title=Sage Francis vs. Brother Ali|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77a2Lz4qoSk|publisher=Scribble Jam|format=Video|date=2000}}</ref><ref name=ScribbleJam-Blueprint-2000>{{cite web|last1=Francis|first1=Sage|last2=Blueprint|title=Sage Francis vs. Brother Ali|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imwTKVxV658|publisher=Scribble Jam|format=Video|date=2000|access-date=2018-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705123142/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imwTKVxV658|archive-date=2012-07-05|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2001, the 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]].<ref name=RT-BreakingTheSet-VonnegutBusy-2014>{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Abby|last2=Francis|first2=Sage|title=Sage Francis Breaks the Stage on 9/11 Fear Mongering, Corporate Hip Hop & Performs 'Vonnegut Busy'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8uK38eTPn8|website=Breaking the Set|format=Video interview|date=11 July 2014|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908133426/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8uK38eTPn8|archive-date=8 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Francis considers "Makeshift Patriot" to be the song that really made things come together for him. It was on the 2002 mix tape, ''The Known Unsoldier – [[Sick of Waging War|Sick Of Waging War...]]'' and was widely circulated for free.<ref name=HHKMusic-CopperGone-2015 />

He released the critically acclaimed first solo album ''[[Personal Journals]]'' in 2002. The record ''[[Hope (Non-Prophets album)|Hope]],'' his only album with Joe Beats released under the name [[Non-Prophets]], was named after the state of [[Rhode Island]]'s motto of hope, and was meant to be very Rhode Island-centric.<ref name=HHKMusic-CopperGone-2015>{{cite web|last1=Francis|first1=Sage|last2=Scroobius Pip|title=Sage Francis and Scroobius Pip Copper Gone Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyw1y8mykPE|website=HHKMusic|format=Video interview|date=14 March 2015}}</ref>

Francis broke music genre barriers by getting signed to [[Epitaph Records]], making himself the first hip hop artist to sign with the punk rock label. He released three albums with Epitaph: ''[[A Healthy Distrust]]'', ''[[Human the Death Dance]]'' and ''[[Life (Sage Francis album)|Life]]''.<ref name=PopMatters-HealthyDistrust-Review-2005>{{cite news|last1=Braidwood|first1=Stefan|title=Sage Francis: A Healthy Distrust|url=https://www.popmatters.com/francissage-healthy-2495904189.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=16 February 2005|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010351/https://www.popmatters.com/francissage-healthy-2495904189.html|archive-date=10 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=PopMatters-HumanDeathDance-2007>{{cite news|last1=Schiller|first1=Mike|title=Sage Francis: Human the Death Dance|url=https://www.popmatters.com/sage-francis-human-the-death-dance-2496248774.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=9 May 2007|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004544/https://www.popmatters.com/sage-francis-human-the-death-dance-2496248774.html|archive-date=29 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Francis has described ''[[A Healthy Distrust]]'' as being a political record, which reflected his mistrust of government and big business with a focus on socio-political matters.<ref name=HHKMusic-CopperGone-2015 />

In May 2007, a music video of the song "Got Up This Morning" from ''[[Human the Death Dance]]'' was released. The song featured vocals by [[Jolie Holland]] and beats produced by [[Buck 65]]. The video featured cameos from [[B. Dolan]], [[Brother Ali]], Buck 65, Divinci from [[Solillaquists of Sound]], Holland, [[Slug (rapper)|Slug]], and Tom Inhaler from Francis' band and [[Strange Famous Records]]<ref name=Epitaph-GotUpThisMorning-MakingOf-2007>{{cite news|title=Sage Francis - Making of "Got Up This Morning"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQy6XVWT148|work=[[Epitaph Records]]|date=23 May 2007|format=Video}}</ref>

''[[Life (Sage Francis album)|Life]]'' was a shift into a different style for Francis, focusing on spoken word and indie rock.<ref name=PopMatters-Life-Review-2010>{{cite news|last1=Fiander|first1=Matthew|title=Sage Francis: Li(f)e|url=https://www.popmatters.com/125997-sage-francis-life-2496189648.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=27 May 2010|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074152/https://www.popmatters.com/125997-sage-francis-life-2496189648.html|archive-date=5 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The record featured contributions and collaborations with [[Califone]], [[Chris Walla]], [[Jason Lytle]], and [[Mark Linkous]].<ref name=IllestLyrics-Life-2010 />

Francis made a guest appearance on [[Bad Religion]]'s ''[[The Empire Strikes First]]'', on the track "Let Them Eat War".

In 2014, Francis released ''[[Copper Gone]]'' after a four-year break from touring.<ref name=PopMatters-CopperGone-Review-2014>{{cite news|last1=Finley|first1=Adam|title=Sage Francis: Copper Gone|url=https://www.popmatters.com/182247-sage-francis-copper-gone-2495655012.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=6 June 2014|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206133009/https://www.popmatters.com/182247-sage-francis-copper-gone-2495655012.html|archive-date=6 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ProvidenceJournal-CopperGone-2015>{{cite news|last1=Van Siclen|first1=Bill|title=Providence Rapper Sage Francis brings his show to The Met|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150312/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150319817|work=[[The Providence Journal]]|date=12 March 2015|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218210214/http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150312/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150319817|archive-date=18 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The album was named after the phenomenon Francis saw in his neighborhood where abandoned buildings would have their copper pipes stripped to be sold, and then tagged as "Copper Gone" to let others know that there was no copper left to steal.<ref name=HHKMusic-CopperGone-2015 />

Francis says that he has been releasing mix tapes consistently since 1999, and will continue to release the ''Sick of...'' mix tape series on an ongoing basis.<ref name=HHKMusic-CopperGone-2015 />

Francis has toured extensively,<ref name=TheFilmGuys-GoingThroughHell-2016>{{cite news|last1=Francis|first1=Sage|title=Sage Francis - Artist Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj86yg3Gjp0|work=TheFilmGuys Productions|date=13 June 2016|format=Video interview}}</ref> and has performed shows with [[Atmosphere (music group)|Atmosphere]], [[Brother Ali]], and [[Eyedea & Abilities]].

== Epic Beard Men ==
Francis collaborated with [[B. Dolan]] under the name [[Epic Beard Men]]. The duo's official debut single, "War on Christmas", was released in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.45521/title.sage-francis-b-dolan-unveil-epic-beard-men-project-with-war-on-christmas|title=Sage Francis & B. Dolan Unveil Epic Beard Men Project With "War On Christmas"|work=[[HipHopDX]]|first=Kyle|last=Eustice|date=December 21, 2017|accessdate=May 20, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, the duo released the ''Season 1'' EP,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/indie-rappers-sage-francis-and-b-dolans-new-ep-is-a-funky-whacked-out-acid-trip/|title=Indie Rappers Sage Francis and B. Dolan's New EP Is a Funky, Whacked-Out Acid Trip|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|first=Kim|last=Kelly|date=March 2, 2018|access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref> as well as "Five Hearts", a single from the EP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46071/title.sage-francis-b-dolan-announce-new-ep-with-soundcloud-rapper-fighting-video-game|title=Sage Francis & B. Dolan Announce New EP With SoundCloud Rapper-Fighting Video Game|work=[[HipHopDX]]|first=Kyle|last=Eustice|date=February 26, 2018|accessdate=May 20, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, the duo released the first studio album, ''This Was Supposed to Be Fun''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gjsentinel.com/entertainment/music/music-scene-epic-beard-men-and-other-area-shows-for/article_22056500-678f-11e9-8d2f-20677ce85d90.html|title=Music Scene: Epic Beard Men and other area shows for April 26–May 2|work=[[Grand Junction Daily Sentinel]]|first=Tammy|last=Gemmaehlich|date=April 23, 2019|accessdate=May 20, 2019}}</ref> It includes "You Can't Tell Me Shit", which became ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]''{{'}}s "Inbox Jukebox Track of the Day".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/04/10/39872420/inbox-jukebox-track-of-the-day-the-witty-snarkfest-you-cant-tell-me-shit-by-acerbic-indie-rappers-epic-beard-men|title=Inbox Jukebox Track of the Day: The Witty Snarkfest "You Can't Tell Me Shit" by Acerbic Indie Rappers Epic Beard Men|work=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]|first=Dave|last=Segal|date=April 10, 2019|accessdate=May 20, 2019}}</ref> The album was placed at number 20 on ''[[PopMatters]]''{{'}} "20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2019" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/best-hip-hop-of-2019-2641497536.html?rebelltitem=12|title=The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2019: 20. Epic Beard Men - This Was Supposed to Be Fun [Strange Famous]|work=[[PopMatters]]|first=Quentin B.|last=Huff|date=December 6, 2019|accessdate=December 30, 2019}}</ref>

== Strange Famous Records ==
{{further|Strange Famous Records}}
Francis is the founder and CEO of the independent hip hop record label [[Strange Famous Records]]. The label first began in 1996 as a way for him to release his previously unreleased songs in the late 1990s. It has since evolved into an official enterprise with an expanding roster of like-minded artists. He released several ''Sick Of'' mixtapes available on his website.<ref name=RT-BreakingTheSet-VonnegutBusy-2014 />

== Social activism ==
Francis worked with fellow rapper [[B. Dolan]] who had the idea to start an organization and website named KnowMore.org aka KnowMore: The People's Corporation Watch Project which focused on connecting consumers with social responsibility information about corporations and responsible consumerism.<ref name=IllestLyrics-Life-2010 />

Francis went to [[South Africa]] to work on solutions to [[AIDS in South Africa]], especially in regards to children. As part of that effort he was part of a documentary on HIV in South Africa.<ref name=aboveGround-SouthAfrica-Doc-2011>{{cite news|last1=Hakes|first1=Tyler|title=Sage Francis Travels to South Africa for HIV Documentary|url=http://abovegroundmagazine.com/news/culture-news/01/24/sage-francis-travels-to-south-africa-for-hiv-documentary/|work=aboveGround Magazine|date=2011|access-date=2018-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218210445/http://abovegroundmagazine.com/news/culture-news/01/24/sage-francis-travels-to-south-africa-for-hiv-documentary/|archive-date=2018-02-18|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Other work ==
Francis is also part of the contemporary [[spoken word]] movement. His relationship with the Providence [[poetry slam]] community (he was on their 1998, 1999 and 2002 national poetry slam teams)<ref name=GotPoetry-PoetrySlams>{{cite news|title=GotPoetry.com: Providence Poetry Slam|url=http://www.gotpoetry.com/Sections/op=viewarticle/artid=16.html|work=GotPoetry.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050804084603/http://www.gotpoetry.com/Sections/op=viewarticle/artid=16.html|archive-date=4 August 2005}}</ref> led to it being called "The House that Sage Francis Built."<ref name=WordsInYourFace-2008>{{cite book|last1=Aptowicz|first1=Cristin O'Keefe|title=Words in Your Face: A Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam|date=2008|publisher=Soft Skull|location=New York|isbn=978-1-933-36882-5|url=https://archive.org/details/wordsinyourfaceg0000apto/page/100|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wordsinyourfaceg0000apto/page/100 100–101, 198]|oclc=165956969}}</ref> From 2000 to 2002, he also DJ-ed for the NYC-Urbana poetry slam, a weekly slam series held at the legendary punk rock venue [[CBGB]].<ref name=WordsInYourFace-2008 />

==Discography==
{{Main|Sage Francis discography}}

;Studio albums
*''Voice Mail Bomb Threat'' (1998) <small>(with Art Official Intelligence)</small><ref name=HHKMusic-CopperGone-2015 />
*''[[Personal Journals]]'' ([[Anticon]], 2002)
*''[[Hope (Non-Prophets album)|Hope]]'' ([[Lex Records|Lex]], 2003) <small>(with [[Joe Beats]], as [[Non-Prophets]])</small>
*''[[A Healthy Distrust]]'' ([[Epitaph Records|Epitaph]], 2005)
*''[[Human the Death Dance]]'' (Epitaph, 2007)
*''[[Life (Sage Francis album)|Li(f)e]]'' ([[Anti- Records|Anti-]], 2010)
*''[[Copper Gone]]'' ([[Strange Famous]], 2014)
*''This Was Supposed to Be Fun'' (Strange Famous, 2019) <small>(with [[B. Dolan]], as [[Epic Beard Men]])</small>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|nowrap=yes}}
* [http://strangefamousrecords.com/artists/sage-francis Sage Francis] at [[Strange Famous Records]]
* [http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/ Strange Famous Records]
* {{Twitter}}
* [http://epitaph.com/artists/sage-francis Sage Francis] at [[Epitaph Records]]

{{Sage Francis}}
{{Anticon}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Sage}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Epitaph Records artists]]
[[Category:Anticon]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Providence, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Rappers from Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Slam poets]]
[[Category:American spoken word poets]]
[[Category:Underground rappers]]
[[Category:American male rappers]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American poets]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:Anti- (record label) artists]]
[[Category:University of Rhode Island alumni]]
[[Category:Dean College alumni]]