Sage Francis A HEALTHY DISTRUST (Epitaph)

Rhode Island rapper Sage Francis’s oddball political hip-hop is nothing a label like Def Jam would embrace. So he’s been left in a rap no man’s land — one that the SoCal punk label Epitaph has been kind enough to rescue him from. Francis’s music and lyrics are top-notch, and he’s been a successful national club draw. But it took a label from far outside the realm of hip-hop to take a chance on him, just as Epitaph did with left-field rappers Atmosphere and Eydea & Abilities.

With production from Grey Album mixer Danger Mouse and Anticon’s Alias and Sixtoo, A Healthy Distrust (in stores February 8) is a sonic adventure filled with dashing wordplay. "Slow Down Gandhi" takes aim at the war in Iraq: "Who would you die for/Is it the same machine that leaves the quality of life poor?/An abominable colony of cyborgs/Clogging up the property that I bought with eyesores." On "Escape Artist," his target is hip-hop clichés: "When I say ‘hip,’ you say ‘Shut the fuck up, we ain’t saying shit’/And I’ll respect it/I’ve got a flair for the dramatic exit." The only thing missing is a single. Francis has never been about radio play, but you’d think his jump to a national label would come with at least some attempt at a hit. There are hooks here, but they’re not the kind that leave you repeating them in your spare time. They are, however, the kind that leave you with plenty to think about.

(Sage Francis celebrates the release of A Healthy Distrust this Tuesday, February 8, downstairs at the Middle East, 480 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square; call 617-864-EAST.)