Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Franti & Spearhead is a San Francisco group led by Michael Franti, active from 1994 to the present. The act combines hip hop, reggae, funk and related styles with politically engaged lyrics, and its lineup includes J Bowman, Victor Castro, DJ Choco, Bob Crawford, Michael Franti, James Gray, Manas Itiene, Jennifer Kloetzel, Ramon Lazo, Raleigh Neal, Gordon Ramos, Jolene Rust, Dave Shul, Trinna Simmons, Cecily Ward, Carl Young and Ras I Zulu.
Background
Franti is a spoken word artist and political activist from San Francisco. He builds Spearhead around themes of social justice and personal freedom, and his songs address subjects such as the criminal justice system, corporatization, AIDS, gay rights, homelessness, the death penalty, drug addiction and suicide.
Releases and development
The group releases Home in 1994, which becomes its best-known early album. It includes the single “Hole in the Bucket”, a song about homelessness, and “Positive”, which deals with AIDS. Chocolate Supa Highway follows in 1997 and moves toward a harsher mix of techno, rock and funk while turning to subjects including kidnappings and police brutality. In 2001, Stay Human continues Franti’s focus on protest and hope, with songs centred on a fictional death penalty case and on love, individuality and self-expression.
Earlier projects
Before Spearhead, Franti performs in The Beatnigs and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. These projects have a more experimental industrial sound while still dealing with social and political issues.
Other work
Franti also records the “Obama Song” as a free download in celebration of Barack Obama’s election.
forum Join the Discussion
Sign in to joinNo comments yet
Be the first to weigh in.