Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, poet, activist, documentarian, and rapper. Known for his participation in many musical projects, most with a political and social emphasis, including the Beatnigs and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. He is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues, and he is especially an advocate for peace in the Middle East.[1]
Early life
Michael Franti was born in Oakland, California. His mother, Mary Lofy, had Irish, German, and Belgian ancestry, and his father, Thomas Hopkins, was of African-American and Native American descent.[2][citation needed] He was adopted by Carole Wisti and Charles Franti, a Finnish American couple in Oakland, who at the time had three biological children and one adopted African American son.[3] Charles Franti was a professor in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and died in 2003.[4] Franti's four adoptive siblings are named Rebecca, Sara, Dan, and Matthew.[5] Franti also has four half-siblings, Thea, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur Hopkins.
Franti spent his grade 9 school year at Highland Junior High School in Edmonton, Alberta.[6][7] He then attended Davis Senior High School and University of San Francisco on a full basketball scholarship, where during the 1985–1986 season, he averaged 2.4 pts per game. During his time at school there he met a priest who taught him how to write stories, and soon he was writing poetry. He purchased a bass at a pawn shop and started creating music inspired by hip hop, punk, and reggae that was being played on the campus radio station, KUSF.[8]
Franti began his music career in 1986 as part of the industrialpunk/spoken word band The Beatnigs. While attending the University of San Francisco and living above KUSF he developed a fascination with music and decided to start a band. The Beatnigs included dancer and percussionist Rono Tse;[9] the band released a self-titled LP and an EP Television on Alternative Tentacles records. The records received some critical acclaim but little fame beyond the San Francisco Bay Area.
The 1988 LP release The Beatnigs was recorded at Dancin' Dog Studio in Emeryville and distributed by Alternative Tentacles. In addition to Michael Franti and Ron Tse, the band included Henry Flood on percussion, Andre Flores on keyboards, and Kevin Carnes on vocals. All of the band members made multiple instrumental contributions, including industrial percussion.
The album's lyrics dealt with a range of issues, including the US involvement in the Gulf war, the oil industry, homophobic violence, immigration, Franti's own cultural background and adoption, and more personal politics. The single 'Television, The Drug of The Nation' (previously recorded by Franti's former project, The Beatnigs) gained airplay on college and 'alternative' radio stations for its critique of mainstream television, which as the title implies, blames the media for a political numbing of ordinary people, explicit in the lyrics: "T.V., it satellite links, our United States of unconsciousness, apathetic therapeutic and extremely addictive[10]".
The distinctive work of the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy has been analyzed in various academic papers, including by author Leslie Haywood and editor Jeniffer Drake in the book Third Wave Agenda, Being Feminist and Doing Feminism.[11] The analysis involved the role of masculinity in the misogynist point of view which dominates popular music e.g. in rap music. The authors assert that Franti's lyrics in treating women fairly in relationships is an exception.
According to the Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy is an innovative contemporary hip hop crew; a mixture of articulate manifesto rap which broke down beyond the black and white rhetoric, especially in the song 'Language of Violence', one of the first raps to speak about homophobia.[12]
Michael Franti and Spearhead (1994–present)
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Franti and Spearhead performing at Wakarusa 2006
Background information
Origin
San Francisco
Genres
Roots, Rock, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk, Pop
Years active
1994–present
Members
Michael Franti (vocals) Carl Young (bass) J Bowman (guitar) Mike Blankenship (keyboard) Manas Itiene (drums)
In 1994, Franti dissolved The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and formed a new band called Spearhead with a few studio musicians, including mainstay Carl Young. Their first release, Home, in September 1994, was a departure from the politically charged rap of the Disposable Heroes and drew more from funk and soul music. The album was produced by Franti and Joe Nicolo. The song "Positive", also from the album Home, appeared on the Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool compilation album by the Red Hot Organization. In 1998, Spearhead recorded "I Got Plenty 'o Nuthin" with Ernest Ranglin for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody.
Their follow up album Chocolate Supa Highway was released in March 1997, with several changes in band members between releases. This album featured a return to hip hop elements and a pronounced reggae influence and included guest appearances by notables like Stephen Marley and Joan Osborne.
After releasing the two albums, the band split with Capitol Records (reportedly prompted by the label's repeated urging to perform with other artists like Will Smith).[13] The band instead decided to create its own record label, Boo Boo Wax. Since Capitol Records owned the rights to the name "Spearhead", subsequent albums were all released as "Michael Franti & Spearhead."
His song "Sometimes" was included on the soundtrack to the 1999 film Mystery Men, as well as the soundtrack to the 2006 film Last Holiday. Also, under the "Spearhead" name, their cover version of The Police's 1979 No. 32 hit, "Roxanne", was featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 film Good Burger.
Michael Franti & Spearhead released Stay Human in 2000 under their own label Boo Boo Wax in alignment with indie music label Six Degrees Records. The album's central theme was the unjust nature of the death penalty and other major themes included mass media monopolization, the prison-industrial complex and corporate globalization. In an interview, Franti talked about the message of Stay Human: "Half the record is songs about what's happening in the world right now, and the other half is about how we cope with it as people who are concerned about what's going on", he said. "This specter of war, intimidation, this nation vs. the rest of the world, it wears us out. Half the record is a healthy dose of venting anger about that, and the other half is about how do we hold on to our spirituality, our community and our connectedness to each other."[9]
In 2001 Franti was featured on Lamb's album What Sound, providing backing vocals on the track "I Cry". Also in 2001, Michael Franti & Spearhead released the song "Oh My God", arguably one of Michael Franti & Spearhead's most precise resistance songs. It was analyzed in Catherine Chaput's book Entertaining Fear: Rhetoric and the Political Economy of Social Control. Chaput uses the lyrics of "Oh My God" to show how it is counter-productive to understand politics as distinct from economics and culture. The lyrics make connections across science, popular culture and politics.[14]
Everyone Deserves Music was released in 2003. Franti composed many of the songs from his guitar and, like fellow 21st-century cultural globalists Manu Chao and Ozomatli, continues to synthesize his eclectic influences. In a departure from the industrial sounds of the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes, and the minimalism of early Spearhead, Franti's affirming lyrics are now set to swelling rock chords, while keeping a world-wise groove nodding towards reggae, dancehall, bossa nova, Afrobeat, and funk. Anthems like the title track "Everyone Deserves Music", "Yes I Will" and "Bomb The World" are constructed with a nod to the 1980s rock of The Clash and U2, as well as to classic soul from Stax and Motown. The song "We Don't Stop" (featuring Gift of Gab from Blackalicious and Spearhead's rapper/beatbox technician Radioactive) bridges the two sounds in a "Magnificent Seven" style mash-up. And on "Love Why Did You Go Away" and "What I Be", Franti reveals an alluring, sensual singing voice. "Pray For Grace" and "Bomb The World (Armageddon Version)" pair Franti with the reggae/funk giants Sly and Robbie (Grace Jones, Rolling Stones, Black Uhuru, No Doubt).
Also in 2003, Franti released a mostly acoustic album, Songs from the Front Porch containing rearranged versions of older songs from Chocolate Supa Highway, Stay Human and Everyone Deserves Music as well as a couple of new tracks.
Michael Franti at the Bonnaroo Festival, 2007 – Photo: Raj Gupta
On July 25, 2006, Michael Franti & Spearhead released Yell Fire!, inspired by Franti's trip to Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Iraq. In an effort to share his experiences from his trip and to explore the human cost of war, Franti produced a movie entitled I Know I'm Not Alone, using the songs from his album Yell Fire! as a soundtrack. "One Step Closer To You" from Yell Fire! features Pink on backing vocals. The whole album is available for listening in his website.
Franti and Spearhead have gained a worldwide audience through touring and appearances in alternative media like Mother Jones magazine and Democracy Now!.
Franti continues to tour in addition to producing the annual Power to the Peaceful festival each year since 1998.[15] The festival originated as a way of supporting Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been convicted of murdering a policeman but is considered by some on the Left to be a political prisoner.[16] Michael Franti continues to gain influence in both popular music and social movements largely through extensive touring and word of mouth fan support. Lyrics from his song "Bomb The World", written in the dark aftermath of September 11 such as "You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace" have found their way onto protest signs and t-shirts all over the world from Los Angeles to Berlin, San Francisco to CNN, at demonstrations for peace large and small.[citation needed]
The song "Light Up Ya Lighter" by Michael Franti & Spearhead was included on the soundtrack to Body of War, an award-winning documentary about Tomas Young, a paralyzed Iraq War veteran.
Songs from Yell Fire and All Rebel Rockers are on the soundtrack to The Edge of Never, a documentary about extreme skiers mentoring 15-year-old Kye Peterson in his quest to ski the route in Chamonix, France that killed his father, Trevor Peterson, nine years earlier.
The album All Rebel Rockers was released on September 9, 2008, and was largely recorded in Jamaica at the Anchor studio in St Andrew. The band worked with ubiquitous rhythm team Sly and Robbie and featured multi-talented vocalist Cherine Anderson on the set which entered the Billboard 200 pop chart in September at number 38. The single 'Say Hey (I Love You)' also reached Number 18 on the US Hot 100, providing Franti with his first US Top 20 single.[17] Michael Franti was featured on Aux.tv's show Volume where he spoke about U.S. politics and his efforts to make the world a better place.[18]
Franti played three different events to commemorate President Barack Obama's inauguration: The Green Ball, The Peace Ball and the Rock the Vote Party.
Franti announced[19] in November 2009 that he would be joining musician John Mayer on the Battle Studies Tour in spring 2010.
As part of the band's commitment to environmentalism, Michael Franti and Spearhead avoid the use of water bottles on national tours and run their tour bus on biodiesel.[20]
Franti announced the release of The Sound of Sunshine on his official website in July 2010. It features 12 tracks including two versions of the title track, the new hit single, "Shake It", and staples of his recent live performances including "Hey Hey Hey", "Anytime You Need Me", "The Thing That Helps Me Get Through", and the anthemic arena-rock ballad "I'll Be Waiting". The album was originally set to be released on August 24, but was pushed back to September 21[21] to give the album "more runway."[22]
Michael Franti started the recording process for The Sound of Sunshine in Jamaica but then continued to mix tracks and record in Bali before choosing to bring a portable studio on the road. He continued to record on the road and then test his ideas in front of live audiences to see if they liked it before going back and revamping it the next day.[23] He has since been quoted as saying 90% of the album ended up being recorded on his laptop.[24]
In 2012, he joined the 11th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.[25]
In 2013, Franti released an album entitled All People. The single from this album, "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)", was released on July 30, 2013, and was featured on The Sims 4 and Rayman Legends game trailers.[26]
He released the album SoulRocker in 2016. All the songs began on the acoustic guitar.[27]
In March 2018, Michael Franti announced a new album, Stay Human, Vol. II, would be released in June 2018 and also stands as the soundtrack to his new documentary. In July Michael Franti, via Instagram, announced the album was delayed until Fall 2018. Stay Human, Vol. II was released on January 25, 2019, and on October 12 the first single was released, "Just to Say I Love you".
In 2020, Franti released the album "Work Hard and Be Nice."[28]
Franti's single "Good Day for a Good Day" from his 2022 album "Follow Your Heart" was a top 25 AAA hit.[29]
Michael Franti did the music for the Woody Harrelson film Champions.
Politics
Franti is also an advocate for peace in the Middle East. His 2005 film I Know I'm Not Alone[30] features footage of Iraq, the Palestinian territories, and Israel. Franti decided to embark on this three-week journey with friends to view the human cost of war in the Middle East first-hand. Franti states, "This film came out of my frustration with watching the nightly news and hearing generals, politicians, and pundits explaining the political and economic cost of the war in the Middle East, without ever mentioning the human cost. I wanted to hear about the war by the people affected by it most: doctors, nurses, poets, artists, soldiers, and my personal favorite, musicians."[31]
The film aims to speak to multiple generations and to give a better understanding of the people who still live in war-torn countries. He did not embark on the trip for the film with any special government groups or organizations. "When I first had the idea for this journey, I had no idea how to get to Iraq and almost no idea how to make a film. After discovering that all you need to get into Iraq is a plane ticket, I prayed that movie making would be that simple..."[8] he said. After his trip to the Middle East, Franti argued that it was poverty more than religion that created tensions in the Gaza region. "The poverty was so severe," said Franti. "This really helped me to understand the frustration the Palestinian youth have. Ultimately, my belief is that it is poverty more than religion that creates tensions and frustrations. If you are struggling to feed your family, living on less than US$2 (Dh7.34) a day, as most Gaza residents are, and can see that past the checkpoint in Israel people live like in Los Angeles, then that really is going to cause mounting tensions."[32]
In 2001 Franti was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Award by Global Exchange, an international NGO based in San Francisco, for his work to end war.
Music and politics have always been a part of Franti's art, as seen early in his career with the song "Music and Politics", released during the "Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy" phase. The song consists of Franti reciting spoken word with a soft electric guitar riffing in the background.
Although Franti's point of view about the role of music in politics and the style of music he uses to express himself have changed, he still writes about politics and continues to work as an activist towards social change.[34] The album All Rebel Rockers from 2008 (US #39) already with Spearhead was also a vehicle to express Franti's political views through music. According to Franti, the album was inspired by contemporary issues like climate change, the price of gas going up and down, the stock market and the auto industry, and the Obama presidency.[35]
His trip to the Middle East and his other world travel have helped shape his global political perspective. Franti works with the charitable cause Ubuntu Education Fund,[36] has promoted vegan diets, has promoted being barefoot, and followed the Occupy Wall Street movement during one of Michael Franti and Spearhead's tours.[32]
Do It For The Love
Franti's wish-granting non-profit organization, Do It For The Love, is a project he founded in 2013 with his wife Sara Agah Franti, with a mission to bring individuals with life-threatening illnesses and trauma, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans to live concerts in the goal to inspire joy through the healing power of music.[37]
His foundation has bridged connections between fans of all ages with their musical heroes, with the participation of notable artists such as Billie Eilish, JoJo Siwa, Pentatonix, and Franti himself.[38]
Soulshine Bali
Michael Franti owns a yoga resort hotel in the southern part of Ubud, Bali, called Soulshine. It is considered "Michael Franti's oasis of yoga, soul, and rock n' roll."[39] His resort was originally named Stay Human Yoga Retreat Center when it first opened in 2011, a joint venture between Franti and Carla Swanson.[40]
In a 2020 interview, Franti explained what drew him to Bali, Indonesia specifically sharing, "the first time I came to Bali I fell in love with the Balinese culture. People here are so incredible. That was in 2007. Bali is an island of creative geniuses, and what I mean by that is everybody, whether you’re a banker, shop owner or something like that, everyone does some form of art...they all really work together and they’re all super-creative and just very kind people. I fell in love with the culture. It’s a beautiful tropical Island here, so that’s great."[41]
He explained the organic nature of this venture, "I thought it would be a good place to buy a little piece of land and, hopefully, build a little vacation home. So, we built five rooms with a yoga studio on top and it was like, 'If you build it, they will come.' Sure enough, we started getting teachers bringing in groups of students here. Over the years we kept putting the money back into building more rooms and we are up to 32 rooms now."[41]
Soulshine has hosted many retreats led by people such as Trevor Hall and FullyRaw Kristina, serving organically grown food from their own farms. In 2020, the yoga resort additionally expanded into a day club.[41][42]
In June 2020, Franti began hosting his "Stay At Home Concert World Tour" within his own yoga resort, taking part of the "virtual concert revolution" as a response to the COVID-19 Health Pandemic.[43]
Personal life
Franti has three children: Cappy, Ade and Taj.[44] He is married to emergency room nurse and jewelry designer Sara Agah.[45] He was previously married to Tara Franti-Rye from 1998 until 2004; she is the mother of Ade.[46]
In 2000, Franti decided not to wear any shoes, initially for three days. Since then, he has chosen to go barefoot except for occasionally wearing flip-flops as required to board an airplane or to be served in a restaurant.[48] Franti prefers bare feet.[49]
In 2014, Michael Franti's second eldest, Ade, was diagnosed with a kidney disease called Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). This disease has left Ade with just 50% function in his kidneys. Upon Michael speaking of this diagnosis, he says, "My son being diagnosed was the worst news I ever got in my whole life...we didn't know if he could graduate from high school or what kind of life he was going to have. We don't know where it's going to go next, but he inspires me everyday."[50]
In September 2018, Michael Franti's son, Taj Franti, was born. Taj is Michael's third child, and his first one with Sara Agah.[51]
Franti's music was featured twice on HBO's urban drama The Wire. "Oh My God" and "Rock The Nation", both from the album Stay Human, were used in two different episodes during the series' first season.[69] Franti's song "Everybody Ona Move" was featured in the pilot episode of Privileged on the CW in 2008 and also in a 2009 PlayStation 3 commercial. "Yell Fire" was used to promote the FX channel series Rescue Me and was also used in the closing credits of the pilot episode of Virtuality on Fox. Showtime'sWeeds featured Franti's song "Ganja Babe" in its first season, his interpretation of the Weeds theme song "Little Boxes" in Season 3, and "Say Hey" during a flash mob scene in the premiere episode of Season 5. Boston Red Sox centerfielder Shane Victorino uses the song "Light up Ya Lighter" as his batter walk-up music. "Say Hey (I Love You)" was used on the third episode of NBC's series Mercy, as well as in the opening scene of the 2010 film Valentine's Day. The same song was also used in 2010 in a commercial for Corona Light beer. The song is also featured on the soundtrack of EA Sports game, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Franti collaborated with Slacker Radio, picking the tunes and providing commentaries, to create a radio station[74] playing his favorite artists.
Franti premiered his own documentary Stay Human on April 27, 2018, at the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival. Written on his website about the film, Franti states, "my new film Stay Human takes us on a journey through music and stories of some of the most inspiring individuals on the planet. Amazing people that I've met on my travels around the globe, who have chosen to overcome cynicism with optimism, hope, tenacity, music, and love – and remind us all what it means to STAY HUMAN."[75]
Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 262.
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