Sage Francis on The Travelers Podcast with Brother Ali

In public, he’s a force of nature. A powerfully poignant MC/Poet and fiercely independent founder of Strange Famous Records who earned a fan base through decades of pulling up a suitcase to his shows, controlling the crowd with no DJ, and selling his own merchandise hand-to-hand. In person, he’s caring and deeply introspective. This conversation is one for the books. Head to www.strangefamous.com to check out merch and music, including the 20th anniversary edition of Personal Journals which dropped today!
This episode is sponsored by Zakat Foundation and BetterHelp. To get 10% off your first month of therapy, visit www.betterhelp.com/travelers
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[@OM3N1R]

Damn Personal journals came out 20 years ago. I don't feel old at all..... So much respect for these 2 artists

[@KenjiSummers]

Thanks for bringin back the memories of Hip Hop Infinity. In those days my aunt was writing for Word Up!, living on the floor above me, playing mainstream rap albums before they were released, but it was going on my dial-up Internet that helped me learn about artists like Sage Francis. Growing up in the Stuy, I didn't rock with white rappers, but getting to hear how people were interpreting the art practice that my culture brought forth helped expanded my worldview and empathy. Keep sharing your story Ali.

[@drdark7806]

90.3 true school session was must listen radio back in 98 secret service just so much going on in the scene - what an era, my golden age of hiphop - sage was def an influence in my hiphop upbringing lol

[@jeffreywweaver]

They Scribble Jam era holds a special place in my heart. The battles were EPIC and made me feel like a part of something. Much respect for both of these dudes. “I’ll give you a footprint in your chest for a souvenir.”

[@joerostkowski7313]

You talk about my tape at least I got a tape ,rip eyedea but he was brother ali hoe on the ride home!

[@a_Bar_a_Day]

You have the best guests. I love Sage and I love you, great stuff.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Love back!

[@IvandroCarvalho]

I’ve always thought you two should’ve been friends / would make good friends at least. So dope to hear your stories! Two people I’ve listened to / still listen to daily.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Really appreciate that my brother. Thank you

[@SamuelHereAmI]

I remember standing next to Brother Ali in Chicago at The Riviera, if I remember correctly.. Opening for Atmosphere..after P.O.S. I'm thinking Fall of 2006, God Loves Ugly time Great Show Awesome Podcast!

[@ViolinMustard-jo3hp]

I love how much they love each other. And they freakin met hurling insults back and forth. So so great 🔥🔥🔥

[@AllOneVoice]

I love what sage said about around the 48:00 mark about deciding how to represent himself in music and how adding weirdness and authenticity was the ideal choice for making a mark and it being clear that he wasn't entirely just jacking a style. Artistry 101 in my opinion. If you're making stuff that people can easily get elsewhere...why should anyone listen to you? Bring your personal blend of influences and personality traits and various concerns and enthusiasms into the fold! It's scary, it's vulnerable but it's ultimately the realest move. Thanks for these beautiful conversations.

[@RedHerringMedia]

Oh Snap! You did not EVEN just post this!! I've been waiting for this one ;-)

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Me too! It’s the 20 year anniversary of personal journals

[@klover11]

Hell ya Brother!

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

🙌🙌🙌

[@JohnD47]

I found this podcast and immediately hoped sage would be one of the episodes :-)

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Good news for us both!

[@kairyumina6407]

Oh man, Sage Francis' song "Blackout on White Night" was one of the first songs both me and the woman who is now my wife knew when we were first dating. We spent hours together breaking down the different metaphors and similes. We still listen to his songs in our shared mix list on spotify when we go on road trips. Thank you Sage for giving me that connection to the woman I love! Speaking to your comments on being a gentrifier man that is my life. I am a white man from a middle class family, and when my family was super young, I think I was 3, my parents bought an old Victorian house in a neighborhood that was mostly working class Puerto Rican. All through my childhood I witnessed the demographic change, and now that neighborhood is considered one of the trendiest yuppiest neighborhoods in the whole city (when I was a child it was absolutely considered the hood). It is still pretty ethnically diverse, but my family was absolutely part of the process of gentrification. I don't think my family did wrong necessarily, my parents made a logical move given their resources and bought then fixed up a house that allowed them to grow their wealth. And we always spent our money in the neighborhood when we could and my dad ended up hiring people into his business from the people of the community, but it also cannot be denied that by virtue of being white people in the neighborhood we encouraged investment firms to see the area as a good investment location, which definitely pushed people who would otherwise have stayed to leave. It is so complicated. I am glad to hear that you and your family are safe. We had another a mass shooting in Colorado this weekend and it is hurting my heart to hear that there is a mirroring act of senseless violence on the other side of the world. But keep doing what you are doing man. Ima keep trying to do acts of righteousness here on my end, you keep doing yours. Much Love

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Love back. Thanks for listening and sharing

[@Chavez_Maya]

This podcast will be some great first person sources of histories shown from love 💕 Amazing as always! Great standard - amazing 🎉

[@Chavez_Maya]

Peace

[@DrumNbassSets]

Awesome interview. Can wait for sages next work it's going to be happy and alot of reflection. Uncle Sage , brother Ali and slug always give me that thing in a song when I want to replay the lyric and it makes me think.

[@emmettredmond4316]

This was so lovely! Gotta do more with Sage. Feels like this is only chapter 1. All love for sharing these interactions

[@saebahsuproc]

Amazing

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Yes he is

[@AllOneVoice]

Two of my favorite artists talking? Yes please. Love this so much.... thank you for doing these. Glad to hear in the intro you and your fam are safe! Brother Ali and Sage Francis are incredible people AND artists.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Much love

[@Seth_T_]

Sage was one of rocks through college, big support in keeping me alive physically and mentally just knowing at least someone else in the world felt things like I did. Love you guys, Brother, if I could convince my wife to move to Turkey I would be there it sounds awesome.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

If I could convince you not to try to convince your wife of stuff, we’d all be filling good advice. Lol thanks for listening

[@StefanBorglycke]

Looove this! I really enjoyed hearing Ali's first impressions of Sage around the time of Scribble Jam, it did make total sense :'D Glad you ended up getting along so well...

[@the.uglyface808]

I was front and center for the Epic Boardman performance at the Soundest y'all were talking about. To Sage's credit he still rocked that performance despite his emotional turmoil he was going through backstage. Seasoned vet.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Thasswassup!

[@brownsons]

So happy to see you and Sage linking together for this

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Me too.

[@HarlanDorman]

YES!!! ... This is one I've been waiting for! Thank you, sir, and much love from the deepest most sincere place to both of you legendary, under appreciated painters of sound ✊💛🧡

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Thanks so much for checking in! Been waiting for this one too.

[@HarlanDorman]

@@BrotherAli_Travelers ✊💛

[@jackstrepek2765]

I respect the reality of what you both represent 🙏 truly inspirational

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Thanks man

[@werkingdadrecords]

Another dope conversation, thanks for the show!

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Thanks for listening! Feel free to share with anyone you think might dig it.

[@skwurl80]

I’m not typically a podcast fan, but man I am hooked. Always loved your music for 20 plus years and seen you live more times than I can count in Portland and Denver. Keep doing these podcasts.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Thanks for rockin with us!

[@the.uglyface808]

Favorite quote from the pod: "Hey asshole... you're my hero." 😂

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Lol yes!!! 😂

[@achewy4565]

*livin' in the world as it is. cracked vessel I am, no more and no less than a man*

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

There it is!

[@ck12twelve66]

Art rap legend!

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

That he is!

[@JimmyJoeJr]

I still think Sage Francis served Adeem. Should've been him and Mac Lethal in the finals

[@snowhookisgod]

Yesss!!!!

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

👊👊👊

[@readrothbard153]

It's not grentrification it is societal evolution, it is desired progress, it always amazing me that in regards to gentrification 'progressives' become the staunchest 'conservatives'. Beyond sentiment, there is no reason to fear such progress.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Are you white?

[@readrothbard153]

@@BrotherAli_Travelers now that you mention it the anti gentrification ideology is the same as that of the segragationist whites of the past and the 'not in my backyard' whites of the present day.

[@therealsagefrancis]

@@readrothbard153 So…you’re white?

[@readrothbard153]

@@therealsagefrancis nah, and fears of gentrification are the same as if i move into your neighborhood and yall clutch pearls and look to leave because 'there goes the neighborhood'.

[@lansonthegoodemcee8708]

"Met Sage on Stage"

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

Exactly…

[@electricearth1101]

STAY EDGY. I AGREE WITH BROTHER ALI.

[@Sagefrakrobatik]

"Scribble Jam you wanna prove you were here/I'll give you a Fing footprint in your chest for a souvenir" LOL

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

That’s it!

[@ronrutan]

ahight now

[@littleoldal]

never got into sage. i have a buddy that looooves him. or maybe at least he used to. heard a song or 2. might've glanced at a show at one of those multi stage festivals back in the day. i think he was dope and all. i just didn't fw him. just like a childish gambino is obviously super multi talented, i just don't fw him. saying that to say this interview got me digging up his stuff so me and that buddy can have that hip hop convo, nahmsayin'. thank you.

[@BrotherAli_Travelers]

The thing about artists who find and create from their most uniquely authentic place, is that their work isn’t for everyone.

[@dotgenie]

✨💫✨