Sage Francis
Self Fighteous
Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 21336
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| SAGE FRANCIS SIGNS TO EPITAPH. Official Press Release |
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Here is Epitaph's press release:
Controversial hip-hop innovator Sage Francis has just signed a three record deal with Epitaph; the label’s first hip-hop signing. Sage Francis is a phenomenon in the underground hip-hop world. His one legitimate cd release, 2002’s “Personal Journals” is a modern classic, but most of his popularity has been generated through MP3 swapping, touring and word of mouth.
Sage is one of the most creative and versatile MCs ever, moving adeptly from battles (he is a Scribble Jam champion), to pun filled “raps” (his “Non-Prophets” side project), to his trademark, poetry-infused style, spitting out heady soul-searching anthems along with some of the most insightful political diatribes this side of Public Enemy. His “Makeshift Patriot,” recorded just days after 9/11 is a fine example of the latter where he at once speaks with compassion about the victims of that tragedy, while not holding back his anger at the US actions that led to that event or the way politicians and the media have exploited it.
Sage is at the forefront of a new “underground” hip-hop scene that celebrates do-it-yourself ethics, anti-commercialism, and get-in-the-van inspiration. What he does, in spirit, has more to do with ‘80s/early ‘90s punk and indie rock than the over glamorized fluff that is most of today’s commercial hip-hop (or so-called commercial punk for that matter).
Epitaph is very proud to be working with SAGE and has already included “Makeshift Patriot” on its 2003 Punk-O-Rama compilation. SAGE just completed an album by his Non-Prophets side project, titled “Hope,” to be released on Lex/Warp in a few months and will start recording his Epitaph debut shortly for an early 2004 release
CHECK www.epitaph.com FOR THE COMMENTS BY THEIR FANS. Some funny stuff.
Here is what I said when a media outlet asked me how this deal came about:
"Epitaph was recognizing underground hiphop for its recent burst in DIY artists.
The President, Andy, got his hands on my Personal Journals album (Epitaph uses the same distributor.) He liked it. Then he came to see me when I performed in LA, and that made him more interested in what I do as an artist and how I deal with people. He called me the next day and let me know that Epitaph is interested in working something out with me. I was familiar with the name Epitaph because my friends are huge Bad Religion fans...and I had recently bought a bunch of punk albums myself. Up until this point, I had done nothing short of ducked and deflected the approach of major labels. It usually always felt so false. There are many reasons why I was receptive to Epitaph's interest in me though. It felt like they had a genuine respect for me and my music, and I had the same respect in return. All I have been hearing is good things about how they treat their artists and staff. They asked to put Makeshift Patriot on their Punkorama compilation CD and I was excited about it, considering I own a good amount of those.
Andy flew out to another show of mine in Pittsburgh during the Live Band, Dead Poet Tour and talked more seriously with me. This is when I hired a lawyer and the contracts started getting passed back and forth. My lawyer was impressed with how willing they were to accommodate my requests. I mean...I have strong independent roots...and they are respecting that aspect of my music. They are not trying to take away my ability to do things the way I like to do them, in regard to Strange Famous Records and the Non-Prophets projects.
Sage Francis signed to Epitaph Records. Haha...I couldn't have guessed it in a million years, but at the same time...it makes more sense than signing to a hiphop label gunning for the next Eminem/50 Cent. My next solo album is going to be a logical progression from both Personal Journals and HOPE. The fan base and the hate base are both going to expand dramatically. Music is my future and it feels the way I thought it would...natural. The pressure is on but if my past is any indication of the future, then I am going to fuck this pressure in its face with my gentle green giant. It might take a year."
Last edited by Sage Francis on Wed May 14, 2003 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
Tue May 13, 2003 10:25 am |
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PaigeMaster6
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 628
Location: asheville, NC and NYC |
sage-that's awesome. good luck with all that. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:35 am |
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Reggie
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 5764
Location: Queens, NYC |
| Re: SAGE FRANCIS SIGNS TO EPITAPH. Official Press Release |
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Sage Francis wrote:
Here is Epitaph's press release:
Sage is one of the most creative and versatile MCs ever, moving adeptly from battles (he is a Scribble Jam champion), to pun filled “raps” (his “Non-Prophets” side project)
Why is "raps" in quotes?
Officially, congratulations Sage. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:38 am |
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Wallet Inspector
Joined: 02 Jul 2002
Posts: 1022
Location: Weymouth, MA |
weird i just came looking for this right before it was posted cus i got an email from a friend about it. good shit. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:39 am |
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mortalthoughts
LAME KID
Joined: 12 Dec 2002
Posts: 11603
Location: MI |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:44 am |
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Reggie
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 5764
Location: Queens, NYC |
Quote:
posted at the Epitaph site by EastBayHCPunk666
First of all FUCK YOU!!! If i wanted to listen to rap, i would fucking put on mtv. Epitaph is punk not rap. fuck all of you supporters of this move. I am against it all the way. KISS MY ASS EPITAPH YER NOT THE WAY YOU USED TO BE WHEN I STARTED LISTING TO PUNK BACK IN THE DAY '92. YOU DISSAPOINT ME AND OTHER PUNKS.
Hmmm..."back in the day"? Too bad Sage had to come in and shatter punk rock's 11 year legacy. I know what I'm talking about because I started listening to rap "back in the day" too...in 1998. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:45 am |
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ONE.
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 541
Location: north bay area |
that's too dope.. congrats.
peaces. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:47 am |
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sequence
Joined: 21 Jul 2002
Posts: 2182
Location: www.anteuppdx.com |
"Back when I started listening to punk in '92"...listen to this tool, like he thinks he was there in the beginning. I could see if he went on tour with Bad Religion in 1982 or something, then I'd listen to what he had to say. Most little punk rock tools are so blind to the world around them that they miss the most important message of most of the music, i.e., making a change. Instead they just become bitter, anti-social, little turds who complain about everything, when realistically none of them are as 'punk' as they think they are.
I'm way more punk than that kid.
Congratulations Sage, I didn't realize it was for three records. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 10:51 am |
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FuseONE
Joined: 11 Jul 2002
Posts: 1714
Location: Newark, DE |
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hahahaha, wow, their fans are some close minded dickheads. they should consider getting into some underground hip hop, they'd fit right in. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 11:05 am |
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marge
Joined: 01 May 2003
Posts: 2711
Location: wiscompton |
| Re: SAGE FRANCIS SIGNS TO EPITAPH. Official Press Release |
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[quote="Sage Francis"]Here is Epitaph's press release:
Sage is at the forefront of a new “underground” hip-hop scene that celebrates do-it-yourself ethics, anti-commercialism, and get-in-the-van inspiration.
Get-in-the-van. I'm gonna leave that alone, cause I'm just way to perverted today.
Congratulations, I said this before but it's definitely true, you deserve to be less stressed. I'm glad you found an outlet that can take all that pressure off of you and give you more of an opportunity to do what you're so fucking good at. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 11:28 am |
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Don Knotts
Joined: 28 Sep 2002
Posts: 748
Location: El Ayyyy |
So how is this move benefitting you sage? |
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Tue May 13, 2003 11:30 am |
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futuristxen
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 19343
Location: Tighten Your Bible Belt |
Congrats. That's both great and a-mazing. I hope this works out as well as it sounds it will. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 12:05 pm |
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Reggie
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 5764
Location: Queens, NYC |
Quote:
Originally posted by francisk
HAHAHA. What did all you punk rockers think?!?! Did you think that Brett and Epitaph Records were not in this for the money?!? Epitaph is no longer elite. They are no diffrent then Geffen Records or Interscope...hell there now getting to be like Death Row Records With Rap!! HAHA. This is funny. First it was GreenDay. Then It was offspring and Blink-182. Now Epitaph is in the same catagory as the rest of the punk rock sell-outs. At least we still have Victory Records.
Well, thank Heavens for small favors!
Rumor has it that Sage signed to Epitaph in exchange for a $100,000 platinum "SAGE" medallion--with Gucci link, mind you. He's no fool. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 12:12 pm |
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UncleSylis
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Posts: 128
Location: Philly |
Congrats. I think this gives you more legitimacy in the media's eyes since you're with an actual label. Whereas before you were just another D-I-Yer...not that that's a bad thing. I hope that came out right.
Anyway, congrats and here's to hopin for Sage on the cover of Rolling Stone. Or in Penthouse with Natalie Portman...whichever comes first. |
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Tue May 13, 2003 12:15 pm |
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