Sage Francis has been rapping since he was 8 years old. He has toured the country once with Anticon and again with Atmosphere. Francis is now half of a hip-hop duo with Joe Beats, the Non-Prophets. They are currently on tour to support their album “Hope.” Also slated for appearance on the bill is Grand Buffet, Mac Lethal, The Gimme Fund and Macromantics. The Non-Prophets will make their way to Eugene this Sunday.
Sage Francis talked to the Emerald about hip-hop, partying with Willie Nelson and psychically killing George Bush’s dog.
Emerald: How is the tour going? What (have) been some of the highlights thus far?
Sage Francis: The tour is going great. Naked people and hard drugs keep the train moving. The best thing was smoking a joint with Willie Nelson at the House of Blues in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Can you believe that? Normally I’m like, “Nah, man … I’m straight edge.” But fuck, you gotta make an exception for Willie Nelson.
Emerald: For anyone not familiar with your music, what should people expect at your shows?
SF: They can expect the performers to be in your face. None of us are shy on stage.
Emerald: I read that you signed with Epitaph Records. What made you decide to do that?
SF: The novelty is worth it alone. A rapper signing to Epitaph Records. I thought that was hilarious. And my label mates are Tom Waits, Bad Religion and Noam Chomsky. Sign me up.
Emerald: How has the Internet helped or hindered your work?
SF: The Internet was essential in getting my music heard by people who would never had a chance to cop my album otherwise. It spread my name around the world before I even got a chance to put out an album. I am grateful for that. But the game constantly changes, and that’s especially true on the Internet. It hasn’t hindered me at all, but I see how some people have stunted their career by putting too much faith in the Internet. If your career only exists on a computer screen you are not gonna do shit in this world.
Emerald: Who are some poets that you find inspiring?
SF: Patricia Smith, Kwesi Davis, Bill McMillan, Jeff McDaniel, Derrick Brown, Jared Paul, Bernard Dolan, George McKibbens and so many more that I can’t think of at the moment.
Emerald: How has your background and degree in journalism
influenced your writing?
SF: It gave me the idea that my point of view isn’t always what should be
presented. My bias is going to be in my music no matter what approach I take, so it is a good idea to present
information as honestly as possible and let people make up their own minds about certain things. I get creative with that though. I know when I am breaking the rules of journalism, but it isn’t nearly as much as what I see on Fox or CNN.
Emerald: Many of your lyrics and attitudes in your music express a very socially conscious mentality. What do you see as solutions to the injustices that are taking place across the board?
SF: Awareness is the number one step. Direct action is one of the final steps if none of the others work. Social disobedience seems unavoidable sometimes. We are rats backed into a corner. When a rat is backed into a corner it is given no choice but to attack.
Emerald: What is the role of
hip-hop in this brand-based culture we live in?
SF: Hip-hop is a tool of the string-pullers right now. It perpetuates negative stereotypes and keeps the eyes of our children glossy. The American dream of quick money and easy fame eats away at their heart and discipline. Beneath the surface, hip-hop is still used as a tool for the people, but so is every other art form. Hip-hop just gets a lot more lip service.
Emerald: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
SF: Hmm. That’s impossible. I want to be making a positive effect on whatever community I am able to tap into. But most likely I will be living with the wife in an undisclosed location working on my writing and music. Learning instruments. New languages. My brain needs a workout. I have stagnated. Or maybe doing nothing is the way to go. Hunting ghosts perhaps. Working on my magic. I’ve got all these old psychic abilities that have been sitting on a back burner. Maybe I can pull those out and psyche myself out. After I kill another one George Bush’s pets with my mind.
Sage Francis and the Non-Prophets will perform Sunday at WOW Hall, located at 291 W. Eighth Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m.; show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door.