Paul “Sage” Francis (born ca. 1977 in Miami, Florida) is a hip-hop artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a vegetarian and also chooses to abstain from drugs and drinking, though doesn’t label himself as “straight-edge” because he believes “you should not define yourself by what you don’t do”.

Noted for his intense flow and sharp wit, Francis has won acclaim both as a freestyle battler and as an unapologetically intellectual lyricist. Francis uses a broad emotional palette to address a wide range of personal, cultural, and political issues. His unconventional style and persona have given him crossover appeal, but at the same time alienated some hip-hop listeners.

Prior to embarking on a full-time career as an MC, Francis displayed his skills in slam poetry. During the late 1990s, he recorded his first demo tape (1996), fronted the now defunct Providence hip-hop band Art Official Intelligence, and hosted a weekly ... read more »