Trying to describe the incredible word play of Sage Francis using words is like trying to show someone what Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ looks like using college ruled notebook paper and magic markers. Sage is a word play guru, a lyrical mastermind, a maverick of discourse. His metaphors have metaphors, his verses have their own neuroses and his ability to make you an interactive player in his complex stories is nothing less than wonderful. I feel as though a lot of hip hop today is good background music meaning that if you are listening to it while doing other things and only halfway paying attention then it will probably sound pretty good. But if you take a second to really hone in on the lyrics and repetitive loops then you will quickly realize that you have been dupped by gimmicks and tiresome lyrics. This is not the case with what Sage is serving. He creates completely interactive music that requires attention and ample amounts of focus in order to fully appreciate his form of hip hop. I know I know, this sounds like work right? Well cultivating an appreciation for highly lyrical hip hop is much like learning how to ride a bike. At first it sucks. You fall, you doubt yourself, you scrape your knee. But slowly you find your balance, you gain confidence, you get a feel for how all the parts of the bike work together. And finally you look back at that person who is holding onto your bike for support and with an excited smile you say, “Okay, you can let go.” And you go. And you are free. This is what it is like when you first listen to complex and wordy hip hop. At first it sucks. You can’t keep up with the lyrics, you feel dumb for not understanding what they are talking about, you let the outside world distract you from focusing on what the emcee is spitting and you want to listen to something ‘easier’. But slowly you find your balance, you pick up on one of the metaphors and are amazed by its depth and complexity, you lose yourself in the storybook of a track without a chance of the outside world stealing away your attention, you find yourself awestruck by the ideas, poetry and creativity dripping beautifully into your conscience. And finally you look at that long list of artists in your I-Pod and with an excited smile you say to yourself, “Damn, I really wanna listen to that Sage Francis album.” And you listen. And you are free.
Production: Alias, Controller 7, DJ Mek, DJ Signify, Jel, Joe Beats, Mayonnaise, Mike 2600, Mr. Dibbs, Odd Nosdam, Reanimator, Scott Matelic, Sixtoo
Label: Anticon
Sage Francis – ‘Broken Wings’
Sage Francis – ‘Message Sent’
