Sage Francis: A Healthy Distrust - 20th Anniversary Edition (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl 2LP

It's rare to see a rapper on a punk label, but that's exactly what's going on here. Pretty sure Sage Francis is the only rapper to be label mates with the likes of NOFX, Rancid, Bad Religion (whom he blessed with a guest verse), and The Offspring, but then again he really is a one-of-a-kind emcee - and the first to ever cross over to punk. After coming up in the underground circuit and winning the Scribble Jam battle back in 2000, Francis dropped the critically acclaimed Personal Journals on Anticon. A Healthy Distrust, followed in 2005 on Epitaph and marked the first of three albums for the esteemed punk label. Here he drops serious emotion-driven raps over epic beats produced by Alias, Danger Mouse, Sixtoo, Daddy Kev and more. Fans of Atmosphere, Anticon, El-P, and Aesop Rock should def check.

• 20th anniversary edition w/ bonus track
• white & red splatter colored double vinyl pressing
• printed inner sleeves
• limited edition
• original release year: 2005
• music label: Epitaph 2025

reviewed by Buck Strickland 01/2015