Michael Franti
Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966, in Oakland, California) is an African,… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966, in Oakland, California) is an African, Irish, and German American poet, musician, and composer. Franti is the creator and driving force behind Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, folk, and rock.
Franti was part of the industrial punk band The Beatnigs with DJ Rono Tse, which released a self-titled LP, and an EP Television on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles records. His next project, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, found Franti continuing his collaboration with Tse, and working with jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter, and electronic musicians Mark Pistel (Consolidated) and Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto). The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy wrote biting, progressive lyrics that railed against the injustice of the world and yearned for democratic reform, set to a fusion of industrial and hip hop. Their first album won acclaim for its social commentary, and they were chosen by U2 to open for their Zoo TV Tour.
Franti and the Disposable Heroes put together another record of music accompanying novelist William Burroughs' readings for an album entitled Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales. This album diverged greatly from the style of the band's previous work, as they were largely providing musical background and accompaniment to Burroughs' spoken readings from several of his books.
In 1994, Franti formed a new band called Spearhead. While he continued to create politically and socially conscious lyrics, Spearhead's music drew more from funk and soul than the industrial sound of his previous groups. Spearhead released their first album, Home, in September of 1994. Their follow up album Chocolate Supa Highway was released in March of 1997. It should be noted that these two albums were released under the band name "Spearhead", while the name on all subsequent albums would be "Michael Franti & Spearhead".
In 1999, Franti retreated from the major-label grind to explore his music and politics. He returned the following year as an organizer and cultural worker tied to the rising movements against the death penalty, the prison-industrial complex and corporate globalization, voicing his observations through his music.
Stay Human was released in 2000 on his own indie label, Boo Boo Wax and Six Degrees. The album's themes are justice and survival, touching on issues like media monopolization and incarceration.
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 noise of the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes, and the minimalism of early Spearhead, Franti's affirming lyrics are now set to appropriately swelling rock chords, while keeping a world-wise groove nodding towards reggae, dancehall, bossa nova, Afrobeat, and funk.
On July 25, 2006, Michael Franti & Spearhead released their new album, entitled Yell Fire!, inspired by Franti's trip to war-torn Baghdad, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Largely written during that trip and recorded in Jamaica, Yell Fire! contains contributions from Sly & Robby and has a more reggae-influenced vibe than previous work.
Michael Franti has been barefoot since 2000.
Franti was part of the industrial punk band The Beatnigs with DJ Rono Tse, which released a self-titled LP, and an EP Television on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles records. His next project, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, found Franti continuing his collaboration with Tse, and working with jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter, and electronic musicians Mark Pistel (Consolidated) and Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto). The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy wrote biting, progressive lyrics that railed against the injustice of the world and yearned for democratic reform, set to a fusion of industrial and hip hop. Their first album won acclaim for its social commentary, and they were chosen by U2 to open for their Zoo TV Tour.
Franti and the Disposable Heroes put together another record of music accompanying novelist William Burroughs' readings for an album entitled Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales. This album diverged greatly from the style of the band's previous work, as they were largely providing musical background and accompaniment to Burroughs' spoken readings from several of his books.
In 1994, Franti formed a new band called Spearhead. While he continued to create politically and socially conscious lyrics, Spearhead's music drew more from funk and soul than the industrial sound of his previous groups. Spearhead released their first album, Home, in September of 1994. Their follow up album Chocolate Supa Highway was released in March of 1997. It should be noted that these two albums were released under the band name "Spearhead", while the name on all subsequent albums would be "Michael Franti & Spearhead".
In 1999, Franti retreated from the major-label grind to explore his music and politics. He returned the following year as an organizer and cultural worker tied to the rising movements against the death penalty, the prison-industrial complex and corporate globalization, voicing his observations through his music.
Stay Human was released in 2000 on his own indie label, Boo Boo Wax and Six Degrees. The album's themes are justice and survival, touching on issues like media monopolization and incarceration.
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 noise of the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes, and the minimalism of early Spearhead, Franti's affirming lyrics are now set to appropriately swelling rock chords, while keeping a world-wise groove nodding towards reggae, dancehall, bossa nova, Afrobeat, and funk.
On July 25, 2006, Michael Franti & Spearhead released their new album, entitled Yell Fire!, inspired by Franti's trip to war-torn Baghdad, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Largely written during that trip and recorded in Jamaica, Yell Fire! contains contributions from Sly & Robby and has a more reggae-influenced vibe than previous work.
Michael Franti has been barefoot since 2000.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Michael Franti Lyrics
03 Life In The City Some say you only get so many breaths, when they're…
A Minute's All I Need A Minutes All I Need A minutes all I need To say…
All Night Long Ain't Long Enough Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah…
Anybody Seen My Mind Everybody wants to be what they want to be Everybody want…
Bomb The World Please, tell me the reason Behind the colors that you fly Lo…
Bomb The World / please tell me the reason behind the colors that you fly l…
Caught Without An Umbrella Memories come down and me once again caught without an umbr…
Closer I've been down for far too long Till my faith was…
Closer To The Sky I'm so very happy just to be here I'm so glad…
Crazy Sometimes I can't breathe And when I wake up in the…
Crime To Be Broke In America I take the needle off the record and shove it…
Do Ya Love One, two, three four Yoo hoo hoo, ah Another morning has com…
Dream Team Red Black Green, Red Gold Green Dat's how we know we…
East To The West Woo-hoo! To the East to the West To the North and South To…
Every Single Soul Every single soul is like a poem, you know It got…
Everyone Deserves Music Everyone deserves music, sweet music Everyone deserves musi…
Feelin' Free I want to thank you for the seeds you've plant…
Firefly I'll be your firefly Shinin' bright When dark clouds Come ac…
Food For the Masses I love family 'cause family brings inspirations one love t…
Ganja Babe Heavy medicine Ya see my eyes are feeling red again I'm brin…
Gas Gauge At days arrival one man at the table eatin' corn…
Hello Bonjour I don't need a passport To walk on this earth, Anywhere I…
Hey Hey Hey It's been a long time coming that I had to…
Hey Now Now [Chorus] Don't tell the DJ got to turn it low We keep…
i All I want is you All I want is you All I…
I Know I'm Not Alone Whatever happen to the sun It seems to always come Back when…
I Want You All I want is you All I want is you All I…
I Wish That I Could be You I Wish I Could Be You (Chorus) I wish that I could…
I'm Alive Everybody wants me to be who they want me to…
Keepin' it Natural When we first meet Hollywood couldn't have writ Another scr…
Light Up Ya Lighter It never makes no sense, it never makes no sense Fire,…
Listener Supported Six foot six above sea level I grab the mic because…
Love One, two, three four Yoo hoo hoo, ah Another morning has com…
Love Invincible When I fall down, I need a helping hand. And when…
Love Me Unique Seems like everyday gets a little bit longer Seems like yest…
Never Too Late Don't fear your best friends, because a best friend will nev…
Obama Song Barack Obama! Yes we can yeah! Barack Obama! We all…
Oh My God [Chorus] Oh-my, oh-my God! Out here mama they got us livin' …
Once A Day Here we are Become number one, number one worldwide Number o…
One Step Closer To You I've been down for far too long Till my faith was…
Only Thing Missing Was You I was rocking like a lonely man Drifting off the seas And…
People In The Middle I am not a muslim but I read the final…
Positive Make me, make me sweat til I'm wet, til I'm…
Pray for Grace Why must I feel like this today I'm a soldier…
Red Beans & Rice I don't eat red meat but I'm not a vegetarian I…
Rock the Nation We livin' in a mean time and an aggressive time A…
Say Hey (This one goes out to you and yours, worldwide) I say…
Skin on the Drum I was born botanical the soul of an animal deep beneath th…
Sometimes [Chorus] Sometimes, I feel like I can do anything and Someti…
Soulshine The world around gotcha down You got high blood pressure, pe…
Speaking of Tongues You don't have to be so scared to share what's…
Stay Human I remember when I was just a boy Mama said this…
Stay Human (Streets Are Alive Mi) Starvation is the creation of the devil, a rebel I'm bringin…
Stay Human (Streets Are Alive Mix) Starvation is a creation of the devil a rebel I'm bringin' f…
Subterranean Homesick Blues Johnny's in the basement Mixing up the medicine I'm on the p…
Sweet Little Lies You tell me lies, lies, lies Sweet little lies When I cann…
Thank You When I was a younger man People say don't dream too…
The Sound Of Sunshine One two three, uh huh Yo yo I wake up in the…
Time To Go Home Those who start wars, never fight them And those who fight…
We don [Chorus] We don't mind See we've been doin' it all the tim…
We Don't Stop They gotta war for oil, a war for gold A war…
What Happens Next Words " All of us are winners and all are beginners All…
What I Be If I told you what I'd seen, Would you believe me…
Why O Why I say my prayers every morning just like orange juice I…
Words Everybody wants a good life And a home Everybody wants a…
Yell Fire A revolution never come with a warning A revolution never se…
Yell Fire! A revolution never come with a warning A revolution never s…
Yes I Will Yoo hoo hoo hoo, yoo hoo hoo Yoo hoo hoo hoo,…