Road Tested cover

Road Tested

Sage Francis · 2005

67 min · 21 tracks · hip-hop · alternative hip-hop

A raw tapestry of spoken word and alternative hip-hop that challenges societal norms through vivid storytelling.

Why this album works

'Road Tested' is significant for its candid approach to personal and political themes, reflecting the ethos of alternative hip-hop during the mid-2000s. The album received positive reviews from critics, cementing Francis's influence on subsequent artists in the genre who sought to blend introspective lyrics with innovative sounds.
Best for
dynamic flow with peaks vivid storytelling exploration thought-provoking spoken word pieces
Context
Released in 2005, 'Road Tested' is a compilation album that follows Sage Francis's breakthrough with 'Personal Journals' (2002) and 'A Healthy Distrust' (2005). This collection showcases his evolution as a lyricist and performer, consolidating his reputation in the underground hip-hop scene. By this time, Francis had garnered a dedicated following, leveraging his eclectic style to address social issues.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Holy Rollin' (SOS 05) 0:16
  • 2 Runaways (Gruvis Malt 03) 4:36
  • 3 Sign From God (Gimme Fund 04) 0:14
  • 4 Bang Bang Boogie / Climb Trees (Gruvis Malt 03) 3:20
  • 5 Broken Wings (Gruvis Malt 03) 4:24
  • 6 Specialist (Gruvis Malt 03) 4:02
  • 7 Kiddie Litter Spoken Word (04) 2:30
  • 8 Sea Lion Extended (SOS 05) 4:15
  • 9 Inherited Scars (Gruvis Malt 03) 3:54
  • 10 White Wedding (Gruvis Malt 03) 1:13
  • 11 Makeshift Patriot (Gruvis Malt 03) 4:51
  • 12 Majority Rule (Gruvis Malt 03) 2:36
  • 13 Rewrite / 50 Ways (Gruvis Malt 03) 4:56
  • 14 Crack Pipes / Product Placement (SOS 05) 3:31
  • 15 Dirty (Gruvis Malt 05) 2:28
  • 16 What's Your Name (Gruvis Malt 05) 1:38
  • 17 Underbite Ben Finds God Spoken Word (03) 4:19
  • 18 Cafe Girl / Capaccino (Gimme Fund 04) 4:06
  • 19 Slum Lord Intermission (03) 1:17
  • 20 Next Testament (Gimme Fund 04) 3:31
  • 21 Bridle Extended (SOS 05) 5:21

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata