S. Buseje Crump ( SAGE) writer, vocalist and arts activist, began writing and performing poetry while attending Spelman College. She became a founding member of the Young African Writers Collective (YAWC) in 1990. For three years, Sage was the weekly host of YAWC open mic at the Soulsource bookstore
In 1994, Sage became a member of the OysterKnife Writers Collective. Oysterknife was dedicated to ensuring the craft of writing poetry remained as important as performing. She helped organize writing workshops and assisted in publishing ..Got Our Own Souls an anthology of love writings by black men. During the National Black Arts Festival 1994, she participated in a staged reading of her work as a member of OysterKnife and in NBAF 1996 was recognized as an emerging writer. Sage’s poetry has been published by literary journals such as Ethiop’s Ear and Chrysalis.
In 1998, she began working with independent HipHop artists and Sagacity Productions Inc. was created as a vehicle to assist artists in being full-time artists by opening opportunities for exposure in multiple markets. The primary vehicle of exposure was UG2(squared) the underground railroad of HipHop, a traveling showcase for independent artists to perform in cities outside their own. She worked with artists from Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Charlotte, New York, New Jersey and Atlanta. Sage also began her own musical journey as a singer with the gospel ensemble Voices of Light.
During her work with independent artists, she became interested in radio, particularly community radio as a means of communicating important messages to large audiences. After receiving her FCC license, Sage began hosting a weekly radio program; Music is the Message on WRFG 89.3 fm Atlanta. Through Music is the Message, a show dedicated to lyrical content and funk music, she returned to her love of language. In 2003 a collaboration with Tamara Madison led to the incorporation of interviews and performances by spoken word artists focusing on craft, community and conscience entitled First Instrument, airing the first Friday of every month.
Sage believes in the arts as a tool for social change. In 2003, she began an association with The Spirit of Truth Foundation to executive produce We Are Here, a musical recording. This project involved having an open call for artists asking them to donate a weekend to spend in the North Georgia Mountains in ceremony with Native American Elders and record original music in the energy of the event. A recording studio was created in the chapel of a nature preserve and the artists recorded for sixteen hours. In 2005, also in conjunction with the Spirit of Truth Foundation, Sage organized, Artists for Peace, a full day of performances, speeches and film. Artists for Peace featured HBO Def Poets Jon Goode and Abyss, Vocalist Raheem Devaghn with Urban Ave. 31, Atlanta Spoken Word icon Alice Lovelace and Theresa Davis.
In 2007, she founded the Community Theatre Initiative, a theatre group dedicate to the creation and presentation of new work based on themes of community and social justice and participated in the Suzanne Lori Parks groundbreaking theatre project 365 days/365 plays.
Sage Crump is currently the program director for the Performing Arts Exchange at The outhern Arts Federation. The Performing Arts Exchange is a four day marketplace that supports the presentation and touring field through learning exchanges, networking opportunities and the ability to see live performances.
In addition to her position with the Southern Arts Federation, Sage produces a music performance series based on her radio program entitled Music is the Message Live, continues to tour and perform with the Voices of Light, and produces for other artists. She continues to discover ways for innovative artists of all disciplines to share their vision of a clearer today and a better tomorrow.