Sage Williams

Finger-licking barbecue and "Roll tide!"-chanting sports fanatics overshadow any hip-hop presence in Alabama, but 19-year-old Sage Williams knows that within his state is a hidden hip-hop scene.

The rapper was formerly a member of AliveSinceForever, the once-was collective led by Kevin Abstract, but has since drifted from the gang to develop his own voice. Now, he calls Birmingham home, and he hopes to lay the groundwork for his city’s surfacing hip-hop movement.

Williams’s last full-length release, XVII, dropped in 2012, which packaged his seventeen-year-old perspectives on love, self-doubt, and personal growth. In the past month, he’s given us a string of releases that give us a taste of his matured mindset, and his most recent single, “Homecoming,” offers a conceptual reflection on high school romance. He’s currently gearing up to debut his forthcoming album, Lost, later this year, which he says will be propped by his opinions on race and politics.

Read my conversation with Williams below, in which the budding rapper told me about when he first discovered Kanye, his thoughts on ghostwriting in hip-hop, and how he hopes to bring Birmingham sound to the forefront.

What’s the hip-hop scene like in Birmingham?
Nonexistent. That’s the beautiful thing about Birmingham: a lot of people don’t know it, but it’s a really vibrant and cultural city. It’s kind of like a low-key hipster city. If you’re any kind of band, it’s a great city to be in, but there’s no rap scene. I know that there’s an audience for it, so our whole mission is to create that—to be the pioneers of Birmingham hip-hop.

How long have you been making music?
I’ve been singing and recording since I was four on my Fischer Price tape recorder. I was cool. I started taking it seriously when I was nine. I was sitting in the car with my cousin, and my mom went out to do something, and while we were waiting for her to get back, "Slow Jamz" by Kanye West came on the radio. it was the first time I had ever heard Kanye West in my life, and my cousin was like, "This is Kanye West. He has an album coming out called College Dropout. Get that." When I heard that song, I was like, Whatever this is, I want to do this. And it’s been that way for ten years.

How have you seen yourself grow artistically?
A lot. I’ve very recently reached that peak of expression where I’m able to get things out in a very clear and concise way. I’m getting very particular about the way things roll out; I put a lot of thought into the art now, and I have a whole concept set up before I release something. I’m really understanding more about what is means to make something meaningful. Before, I could just rap, and that’s what I think kept me going the whole time. No matter what you say about my music, you can’t say I can’t rap.

What kind of impression are you trying to make?
At least with this project, Lost, there’s definitely a big black thing involved. There’s definitely a political charge, but I don’t want to brand myself as that only. I want to represent someone who speaks out on things that need to be spoken out on—someone who promotes positivity. I want to be an advocate for what’s best. At the end of the day, I want to have a positive influence, but at the same time, I also don’t want people to forget that I make my music for me. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t put it out.

Let’s talk about “Homecoming.” Tell me about what you were thinking about when you wrote that song and what it means to you.
It’s about a girl. It’s actually kind of about two different girls… but we’ll leave that where it is. Essentially there was this girl I was really into my senior year, when I was in Miami. I was really into her but she was not really into me, she had a lot of drama going on. I was talking to my dad about the situation, because my dad and I are really close, and he was like, "Listen son. You can’t save all these [girls.] You can’t run around with a cape on; some [girls] just don’t want to be saved!"

You were tweeting the other day about your feelings on ghostwriting in hip-hop. Do you want to elaborate on those opinions?
The conversation was sparked from a discussion on the TL about Amber Rose being ashamed of Kanye because Travi$ Scott wrote some of his verses or something like that. Number one, why is she saying people help Kanye write his music? Like, this is something that has been known since day one, like literally since "Jesus Walks." Everybody knows that. Kanye’s not the best writer but it’s about his performance. Number two, I didn’t say hip-hop, because while it is included in this, and it’s the most visible, the same thing happens in R&B. I think it’s just a black music thing in general, where people are like, "Oh, Beyonce doesn’t write her own songs, so how could she win a Grammy over Beck when Beck writes their own songs"? Everybody knows the Beyonce album had more impact than the Beck album did, and it very clearly deserved the title of Album of the Year. Album of the Year isn’t the best album of the year; it’s the biggest album of the year, honestly. Not even just in terms of record sales, but influence in total. Why is there this stigma versus Beyonce, but nobody ever is like, "Yo, man, Kelly Clarkson doesn’t write her own songs, so she’s trash." In hip-hop, I feel like there’s a stigma because people think that all you’re doing is talking on a beat and that there’s no effort that goes through your performance like in singing, but there is. There’s a way to rap correctly. You can’t just talk into the microphone; you have to have some kind of delivery. Regardless of that, people think that if you have all this that you don’t have to deal with, then you at least have to write your own lyrics. I don’t feel like that should be a necessary thing, because it’s like treating rap like it’s this baby version of real music. There’s just as much creativity, if not more.

What song have you made that you’re most proud of?
Off of the album, I have this song called "Forever 18" that I did, and I can’t stop listening to the rough version I have right now. It’s about my girlfriend, so it’s an act of love in that respect, and it’s six minutes long. It’s a jam. You gotta understand: sometimes, when you’re an artist, you have those "jam" moments, when you’re like, "Yeah I just made a jam."

What are some of your immediate goals as well as your longterm aspirations?
I was about to be corny and be like, "I wanna put Birmingham on the map," but like I really do, just in a less corny way. I want to make Birmingham known as part of the South and let people know that the whole South is musically talented; it’s not just Atlanta. I also want to go on tour within the year. I want to win a Grammy too, but that’s long term.

If you could tour with someone right now, who would it be?
Logically, if I were to go on a tour right now it would probably be with Brockhampton. It would be kind of a mini reunion of ASF [AliveSinceForever], which sadly is no more.

Are you working on anything now?
There’s a strong possibility that I’ll be starting a mixtape series after Lost comes out, so look out for that. - Green Label

Sage Williams is the latest artist to join us for a #SFDotNet Interview. The Birmingham, AL native chops it up about his upcoming Lost album, his departure from AliveSinceForever, the significance of his “Lil Homie” avatar, and much more.
Check out the full interview below.
Straight Fresh: For the readers who aren’t familiar with Sage Williams yet, would you give us a quick introduction?
Sage Williams: Hey guys, I’m Sage and I stayed up all night watching Trailer Park Boys.

Straight Fresh: (Laughs) Word. Now, first thing’s first, why did you make the decision to leave the Alive Since Forever collective and/or not join Brockhampton when ASF disbanded?
Sage Williams: Man, that was just a lot of weird stuff going on. The decision was less mine and more Kevin’s but at the end of the day he was helping me out, being a really good friend I think. He realized there were some creative differences so in lieu of having me sort of try to mesh with his vision (for Brockhampton) he gave me the opportunity to figure out my own.

Straight Fresh: What’s your relationship like with Kevin, Romil, Dom and the rest of Brockhampton? Your first single off Lost was produced by Romil, so I’m guessing it’s safe to assume you’re still friendly with those guys.
Sage Williams: I love those guys, man. Dom has been helping me through this whole process. Romil and I still text and stuff. We don’t talk as much because we’re all busy, we all work – whether it’s 9-5 or really doing music related shit all day – so we fire up the FaceTime every now and then. But I’m planning on visiting San Marcos this summer just to touch Kev’s hair…haven’t touched Kev’s hair since it was black.
Straight Fresh: Alright, that’s good to hear. And speaking of “Spaceships“, the first Lost single, can you tell us a little about that release? What does the track represent to you and how was it received by the public?
Sage Williams: “Spaceships” is about taking risks. I have a habit of writing songs and then figuring out what they mean later. So when it finally came together for this one, I decided a spaceship was a metaphor for an opportunity. Opportunities are scary, man, you could fail. Just like in a spaceship you don’t know if the aliens are friendly. But it’s a literal spaceship…dog, are you not tryin’ to see space right now? Basically it means stop being afraid to do that thing you know you want to do really bad because you’re scared you’ll fail. Whether it’s asking a girl out, dropping out to rap, going on a roller coaster…it’s about accepting that possibility and just going for it anyway.
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Straight Fresh: What about the latest record you dropped, “Homecoming”? What’s the reception been to that joint?
Sage Williams: “Homecoming” is doing considerably better than “Spaceships”. I think it got a lot more exposure and just is a doper song honestly. I did that on purpose. Big ups to Rob for that track and the homie Wisdom for the verse, they did their thing.

Straight Fresh: Tell us about the upcoming album – what should we expect as far as content, messages, the overall sound, features, production, etc.?
Sage Williams: I explained early on that my goal here was to bring The College Dropout – the album that made me want to do music in the first place – to 2015 using my own personal take and experiences. So you can expect school, racism, love and struggle rapper angst on Lost. I think it came out a lot darker than College Dropout though. It’s definitely not lighthearted…maybe 2004 was better times. As far as features, there aren’t many. I intended for more actually but I’m happy with the way it came out, it’s a lot cleaner and it’s more me, which is always great. I don’t wanna say any names though because things change and everything isn’t final final yet. And on production it’s just me, Romil and Rob. Again, mostly me, which is always great.
Straight Fresh: How long have you been working on this tape and what has the creative process been like? I believe it’s the first full project you’ll be putting out since the release of XVII in 2012.
Sage Williams: The oldest song on this record I started writing in 2013. I had been making stuff for it since 2012 but none of the 2012 cuts made it. Really I’m always working on music so I started Lost – originally titled Control Theory, a completely different concept but ended up using a few of the same songs – right after XVII.
3 years. It’s been a process, like growing up with this music basically. Going from 17 and being a little shit and not having a clue what to do because it doesn’t matter, to being 19 almost 20, dropped out, making just over minimum wage…it puts shit in perspective.
I think the #1 cure for writers block is to not try to write songs. Just let songs come at you and keep a pen and pad or charged iPhone on you at all times. It’s almost like a spiritual experience when I write a really good song. All the songs where I didn’t feel something when I wrote them, almost like they wrote themselves, I scrapped them. That’s how true Lost is going to be.
Straight Fresh: Overall, what are you hoping to accomplish with Lost?
Sage Williams: I’m tryin’ to get paid. Like I wanna quit my job, man, that’s honestly the goal. I realize I’m probably not gonna sell a million copies but I want Lost to at least springboard into something that gets me in a better position with my career. Because right now I’m not content and I plan on upgrading my lifestyle musically, financially, and influentially – therein improving others’ lifestyles. But first things first, I gotta pay the light bill.
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Straight Fresh: Should we be looking forward to any more singles to drop before the actual release? Also, do you have plans for any visuals?
Sage Williams: I had been on the fence about this for a while until I got a mix back yesterday, and I’m positive: yes, there will be one final single. And yeah, there is a video for “Homecoming” in the works. Haven’t started filming but Birmingham, you’ll know when we do…and I suppose anyone else who follows me on Twitter probably, they just won’t be able to come.
Straight Fresh: With the new tape on the way, what’s different for you now – in regards to your approach to creating – compared to when you last dropped a project? I saw you touched on this in a recent interview but I’d like to expand on it if possible.
Sage Williams: Like I said earlier, the song has to make me feel something to get a spot on the tracklist. And what I said about figuring out what songs mean after I write them, a lot of the time I have really shitty ideas for songs but I initially think all my ideas are shitty so I have to actually go through with them and see what comes out. I let it sit and if it doesn’t pop…cèst la vie.
I think with that in consideration then rappers are a type of artist, man, because art is subjective. No one has a right to say whether or not something is art, or who is or isn’t an artist. For example there’s a song I had that’s not going on the album called “Higher Learning”, where I sample the “Get Em High” acapella – “my freshman year I was going through hella problems”. That was such a dope idea to me, like I thought it wasn’t that shitty, but then I had the idea to sample Keith Sweat and that song is fucking nuts. You just never know, man, the music moves on its own terms and it’s our jobs as musicians to capture pieces of it.
Straight Fresh: What are you doing, or have you done, to distinguish yourself between simply coming through with bars/lyrics to the point you’re at now, where concepts are more important and you’re more focused on making every release meaningful? And what triggered the change in your perspective?
Sage Williams: Like I said, life. It just happens with growing up. I met Method Man while I was in the early stages of this record and really had hit a dead end with it. He told me to keep writing. Best advice I ever got, man…keep getting up every day, keep living your life and keep writing. You’ll surprise yourself.
Straight Fresh: For sure. What’s good with that avi you’re using on Twitter? Is there some sort of significance behind the new profile image?
Sage Williams: Yes! Lil Homie is his name. It’s part of a promotion effort for the album. It’s very thought out though – Lil Homie is almost like a canvas for you to paint your expression on. We – me and my designer, Jalen Jones – originally wanted to make a generator but we couldn’t figure out the code. So now we have a gallery of designed Lil Homies for the people to pick from and use as their avatar on social media to show support for the music. It’s a symbol of individuality and expression.
Straight Fresh: You’re now residing in Birmingham, Alabama. There’s obviously a lot of history there but you’re looking to break new ground in that city as far as hip-hop is concerned. What has been the greatest obstacles or struggle to overcome for you so far in Birmingham? And what are you hoping to accomplish?
Sage Williams: I’m actually from Birmingham, I wanted to make that clear. Born and raised…I didn’t just move here, I came back. Birmingham is my home and I love it. I want the hip-hop in Birmingham to finally get the platforms they deserve so we can prosper and go national. More local shows to build up the local fan base so we can have a foundation. Doors are starting to open and I’m excited to see how things play out.
Straight Fresh: Oh, word. That’s what’s up then. What should people expect from a live Sage Williams performance?
Sage Williams: Energy. My main thing I want to incorporate into my performances is energy and crowd interaction. I want it to be fun and feel like a room full of homies.
Straight Fresh: Who are or were your biggest musical influences? And who are your favorite modern artists to listen to today?
Sage Williams: Always Kanye, Jay, Mos Def, 50 Cent…they all were big time influencers. As for modern stuff, I listen to a lot of Future and Young Thug right now. I’m getting into Que. Kendrick is amazing, as is Drake.
Straight Fresh: Who would you most like to collab with on a record?
Sage Williams: I think Erykah Badu would be the most fun. She’s a favorite of mine.
Straight Fresh: And which producers would you most like to link with?
Sage Williams: Metro Boomin and Madlib.
Straight Fresh: After Lost, what’s next for you?
Sage Williams: I’m doing a mixtape after Lost. And some more stuff I’ll be announcing soon. Stay locked!
Straight Fresh: Anything else you’d like to add or leave the Straight Fresh audience with?
Sage Williams: Yo, thanks for reading to the end of the interview – I love you for that. Here’s to everyone prospering and getting money together.
Follow Sage Williams on Twitter: @sagewilliams_ - Straight Fresh

The disadvantage of the new Friday release date is that sometimes I get a couple days behind on releases as I get caught up in the ambiance of the weekend. Sunday has me level headed once again and ready to check out this promising new album from up and comer Sage Williams. Most notably for most, he was on Kevin Abstract’s last album MTV1987 but he’s quite the artist on his own accord.

Below is a stream and free download for the emcee’s new album Lost. For you BROCKHAMPTON fans, the project features Dom McLennon as well as a lot of production from Romil.

DOWNLOAD: Sage Williams – Lost (Album) - Fashionably Early

Sage Williams: also known as an artist who's sound is so dope you're compelled to 'stick your nose all in it.'

Backed by a melody that legitimately sounds like how I'd imagine an extraterrestrial abduction would feel like, Sage tackles an issue near & dear to every starving artists heart - struggle.

"I know the struggle is real, nigga I'm struggling too. I know you feel like you the only struggling youth.
But next time you feel like work don't feel right, be glad you ain't out on the block with nothing to do."

So when life has you feeling like the weight of the world's awkwardly balancing on your shoulders alone, there's somebody close to you with significantly greater problems then those we face from working an 11-9 job where we make a measly $7.75 an hour that hardly allows for our bills to be paid on time.

Shoutout to Sage for the wisdom & for taking the time to submit this to us during our weekly #FUCKTPFT Twitter listening sessions. Grateful we had the chance to come across a record of this caliber.

LOST COMING SOON

Article By: Dylan Fout - The Place For Things

Sage Williams’ Alone releases today off of his upcoming album, Lost. Sage left fans with a bit of high expectancy after the insane premiere of Homecoming several months ago. For the 20 year-old hip-hop artist, inspiration was taken from frequent frustration in dreams versus reality. His deep emotion, including depression, fuels Alone and the entire soon to be released album. Stream Alone right here on Culture Exposure. - Culture Exposure