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