Michael Franti

Not to be confused withMichael Franks (musician).

Michael Franti
Franti in 2011
Background information
Born	(1966-04-21)April 21, 1966 Oakland, California,U.S.
Origin	San Francisco,California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop funk reggae jazz reggae fusion folk jam band dancehall ska punk rock pop industrial avant-garde
Occupations	Composer musician entertainer poet rapper
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Alternative Tentacles Island Capitol Boo Boo Wax Six Degrees ANTI-
Member of	Michael Franti and Spearhead
Formerly of	The Beatnigs The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
Website	michaelfranti

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, includingthe Beatnigsandthe Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.He is the creator and lead vocalist ofMichael Franti & Spearhead,a band which blendship hopwith a variety of other styles includingfunk,reggae,jazz,folk,androck.He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum ofpeaceandsocial justiceissues; he is especially an advocate for peace in theMiddle East.

Early life

Michael Franti was born inOakland, California.His mother, Mary Lofy, hadIrish,German,andBelgianancestry; his father, Thomas Hopkins, was ofAfrican AmericanandNative Americandescent.He was adopted by Carole Wisti and Charles Franti, aFinnish Americancouple in Oakland, who at the time had three biological children and one adopted African American son.Charles Franti was a professor in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine of theUC Davis School of Veterinary Medicineand died in 2003.Franti's four adoptive siblings are Rebecca, Sara, Dan, and Matthew.Michael also has four half-siblings, Thea, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur Hopkins.

Franti went to grade 9 at Highland Junior High School inEdmonton,Alberta.Then he attendedDavis Senior High SchoolandUniversity of San Franciscoon 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 guitar at a pawn shop and started creating music inspired by hip hop, punk, and reggae which was being played on the campus radio station,KUSF.

Career

The Beatnigs (1986–1990)

Franti began his music career in 1986 as part of theindustrialpunk/spoken wordbandthe Beatnigs.While attending theUniversity of San Franciscoand living aboveKUSFhe developed a fascination with music and decided to start a band. The Beatnigs included dancer and percussionist Rono Tse;the band released a self-titled LP and an EPTelevisiononAlternative Tentaclesrecords. The records received some critical acclaim but little fame beyond theSan Francisco Bay Area.

The 1988 LP releaseThe Beatnigswas recorded at Dancin' Dog Studio inEmeryvilleand distributed byAlternative 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.

Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (1991–93)

Main article:The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy

His next project,the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy,found Franti continuing his collaboration with Tse, and working with jazz guitaristCharlie Hunter,as well aselectronic musiciansMark Pistel(Consolidated) andJack Dangers(Meat Beat Manifesto). The Disposable Heroes wrote politically charged lyrics that railed against the injustices of the world, set to a fusion ofindustrial musicand hip hop. Their first album,Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury(onIsland Records),won plaudits for its social commentary, and they were chosen byU2to open for theirZoo TV Tour.

The album's lyrics dealt with a range of issues, including the US involvement in theGulf 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 andalternative radiostations 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".

The Disposable Heroes recorded music accompanying novelistWilliam Burroughs' readings for an album entitledSpare Ass Annie and Other Tales.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 bookThird Wave Agenda, Being Feminist and Doing Feminism.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 theEncyclopedia 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.

Michael Franti and Spearhead (1994–present)

Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Franti and Spearhead performing in 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)
Past members	MC RadioActive
Website	michaelfranti

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 andsoul music.The album was produced by Franti andJoe Nicolo.The song "Positive", also from the albumHome,appeared on theStolen Moments: Red Hot + Coolcompilation album by theRed Hot Organization.In 1998, Spearhead recorded "I Got Plenty 'o Nuthin" withErnest Ranglinfor theRed Hot Organization's compilation albumRed Hot + Rhapsody.

Their follow-up album,Chocolate Supa Highwaywas 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 likeStephen MarleyandJoan 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 likeWill Smith).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 filmMystery Men,as well as the soundtrack to the 2006 filmLast 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 filmGood Burger.

Michael Franti & Spearhead releasedStay Humanin 2000 under their own label Boo Boo Wax in alignment withindie musiclabelSix Degrees Records.The album's central theme was the unjust nature of the death penalty and other major themes included mass mediamonopolization,theprison-industrial complexand corporateglobalization.In an interview, Franti talked about the message ofStay 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."

In 2001, Franti was featured onLamb's albumWhat 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.

Everyone Deserves Musicwas released in 2003. Franti composed many of the songs from his guitar and, like fellow 21st-century cultural globalistsManu ChaoandOzomatli,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,Boss a 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 ofThe Clashand U2, as well as to classic soul fromStaxandMotown.The song "We Don't Stop" (featuringGift of GabfromBlackaliciousand Spearhead's rapper/beatboxtechnician 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 giantsSly and Robbie(Grace Jones, Rolling Stones, Black Uhuru, No Doubt).

Also in 2003, Franti released a mostly acoustic album,Songs from the Front Porchcontaining rearranged versions of older songs fromChocolate Supa Highway,Stay HumanandEveryone Deserves Musicas well as a couple of new tracks.

Michael Franti at the Bonnaroo Festival, 2007 – Photo: Raj Gupta

On July 25, 2006, Michael Franti & Spearhead releasedYell Fire!,inspired by Franti's trip to Israel, theWest Bank,theGaza StripandIraq.In an effort to share his experiences from his trip and to explore the human cost of war, Franti produced a movie entitledI Know I'm Not Alone,using the songs from his albumYell Fire!as a soundtrack. "One Step Closer To You" fromYell Fire!featuresPinkon 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 likeMother Jonesmagazine andDemocracy Now!. Franti continues to tour in addition to producing the annual Power to the Peaceful festival each year since 1998.The festival originated as a way of supportingMumia Abu-Jamal,who has been convicted of murdering a policeman but is considered by some on the Left to be a political prisoner.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 ofSeptember 11such as "You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace" have found their way ontoprotest signsandt-shirtsall over the world from Los Angeles to Berlin, San Francisco toCNN,atdemonstrationsfor peace large and small.

The song "Light Up Ya Lighter" by Michael Franti & Spearhead was included on the soundtrack toBody of War,an award-winning documentary aboutTomas Young,a paralyzedIraq Warveteran. Songs fromYell FireandAll Rebel Rockersare on the soundtrack toThe 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 albumAll Rebel Rockerswas released on September 9, 2008, and was largely recorded in Jamaica at the Anchor studio in St Andrew. The band worked with ubiquitous rhythm teamSly and Robbieand featured multi-talented vocalistCherine Andersonon 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.Michael Franti was featured onAux.tv's show Volume where he spoke about U.S. politics and his efforts to make the world a better place.

Franti played three different events to commemorate PresidentBarack Obama's inauguration: The Green Ball, The Peace Ball and theRock the VoteParty. Franti announcedin November 2009 that he would be joining musicianJohn Mayeron 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 onbiodiesel.

Franti announced the release ofThe Sound of Sunshineon 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 21to give the album "more runway."

Franti started the recording process forThe Sound of Sunshinein 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.He has since been quoted as saying 90% of the album ended up being recorded on his laptop.In 2012, he joined the 11th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.

In 2013, Franti released an album entitledAll People.The single from this album, "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)", was released on July 30, 2013, and was featured onThe Sims 4andRayman Legendsgame trailers.He released the albumSoulRockerin 2016. All the songs began on the acoustic guitar.In March 2018, 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 Franti, via Instagram, announced the album was delayed until Fall 2018.Stay Human, Vol. IIwas 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."His single "Good Day for a Good Day" from his 2022 album "Follow Your Heart" was a top 25 AAA hit.He did the music for the Woody Harrelson filmChampions.

Politics

Franti is also an advocate for peace in the Middle East. His 2005 filmI Know I'm Not Alonefeatures footage of Iraq, thePalestinian 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 said, "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."

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..."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."

In 2001, Franti was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Award byGlobal Exchange,an international NGO based in San Francisco, for his work to end war. In 2006, he was invited by AustralianLabourMPJenny Macklinto show the film at Australia'sParliament Housein Canberra.

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 recitingspoken wordwith 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.The albumAll Rebel Rockersfrom 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 theObama presidency.

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,has promotedvegandiets, has promoted beingbarefoot,and followed theOccupy Wall Street movementduring one of Michael Franti and Spearhead's tours.

Do It for the Love

Franti's wish-granting nonprofit 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.

His foundation has bridged connections between fans of all ages with their musical heroes, with the participation of notable artists such asBillie Eilish,JoJo Siwa,Pentatonix,and Franti himself.

Soulshine Bali

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."His resort was originally namedStay Human Yoga Retreat Centerwhen it first opened in 2011, a joint venture between Franti and Carla Swanson.

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 aresoincredible. 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 allsuper-creativeand justverykind people. I fell in love with the culture. It's a beautiful tropical Island here, so that's great. "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."Soulshine has hosted many retreats led by people such asTrevor HallandFullyRaw Kristina,serving organically grown food from their own farms. In 2020, the yoga resort additionally expanded into a day club.

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.

Personal life

Franti has three children.He is married to emergency room nurse and jewelry designer Sara Agah.He was previously married to Tara Franti-Rye from 1998 until 2004; she is the mother of Ade.

Inspired by one of his children, Franti became avegan.

In 2000, Michael decided not to wear any shoes, initially for three days. Since then, he has chosen to go barefoot except for occasionally wearingflip-flopsas required to board an airplane or to be served in a restaurant.He prefers bare feet.In 2014, Michael's second eldest, Ade, was diagnosed with a kidney disease calledFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS). The disease has left Ade with just 50% function in his kidneys. Michael said, "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."

In September 2018, Franti's third child, was born. It is his first child with Agah.

Discography

Solo

• 2000:Live at the Baobab
• 2002Passion
• 2003:Songs from the Front Porch

Spearhead

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions								Sales
		US	US Rock	AUS	BEL	CAN	NLD	NZ	UK
Home	Released: September 20, 1994 Label:Capitol	—	—	44	44	—	—	24	147
Chocolate Supa Highway	Released: March 25, 1997 Label:Capitol	—	—	56	—	—	79	25	68
Stay Human	Released: May 15, 2001 Label: Boo Boo Wax	—	—	30	—	—	—	32	—	ARIA:Gold
Everyone Deserves Music	Released: June 17, 2003 Label: Boo Boo Wax	—	—	9	28	—	34	26	—	ARIA: Gold
Yell Fire!	Released: July 25, 2006 Label:ANTI-	125	—	14	19	—	20	—	—
All Rebel Rockers	Released: September 8, 2008 Label:ANTI-	39	13	18	40	—	25	—	—
The Sound of Sunshine	Released: September 21, 2010 Label:Capitol	17	5	34	—	—	—	—	—
All People	Released: July 30, 2013 Label:Capitol	30	4	—	—	25	—	—	—
SoulRocker	Released: June 3, 2016 Label: Fantasy Records	38	5	—	175	96	—	—	—
Stay Human, Vol. II	Released: January 25, 2019 Label:Thirty Tigers	62	9	—	—	—	—	—	—
Work Hard & Be Nice	Released: June 19, 2020 Label:Thirty Tigers	—	48	—	—	—	—	—	—
Follow Your Heart	Released: June 3, 2022 Label:Thirty Tigers	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Big Big Love	Released: November 3, 2023 Label:Thirty Tigers	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

Singles

• 1994: "Of Course You Can"UKNo. 74
• 1994: "People in tha Middle"AUSNo. 69,UK No. 49
• 1995: "Hole in the Bucket" AUS No. 87,UK No. 55
• 1995: "Positive"
• 1997: "U Can't Sing R Song"
• 1997: "Why Oh Why" UK No. 45
• 1997: "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)" (feat. Stephen Marley) (promo-only)
• 1997: "Keep Me Lifted"
• 2001: "Rock the Nation"
• 2001: "Sometimes"
• 2002: "Soulshine" (Australia-only EP)
• 2003: "Bomb the World" AUS No. 70
• 2003: "Everyone Deserves Music" AUS No. 39
• 2006: "I Know I'm Not Alone" #27US AAA
• 2006: "Light up Ya Lighter"
• 2008: "Obama Song" (feat. SoliLaquists of Sound, Cherine Anderson & Anthony B) (Digital Only)
• 2008: "Say Hey (I Love You)"No. 18US#14US AAA
• 2009: "Hey World" #21US AAA
• 2010: "Shake It" (feat. Lady Saw)
• 2010: "The Sound of Sunshine"(feat. Jovanotti, for Italy only) #1US AAA
• 2010: "Hey Hey Hey" #5US AAA
• 2011: "I'll Be Waiting" #22US AAA
• 2013: "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" #5US AAA
• 2013: "Life is Better With You" #13US AAA
• 2013: "11 59" (feat. Sonna Rele)
• 2014: "Same As It Ever Was (Start Today)"
• 2015: "Once A Day" (feat. Sonna Rele) #17US AAA
• 2018: "The Flower" (feat.Victoria Canal)
• 2020: "I Got You" #1US AAA
• 2020: "Work Hard and Be Nice" #40US AAA
• 2021: "Good Day for a Good Day" #24US AAA

Live albums and compilations

• 1994:Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool
• 1998:Red Hot + Rhapsody
• 1998:Hempilation, Vol. 2: Free the Weed
• 2005:Weeds (Music from the Original TV Series)
• 2005:Live in Sydney
• 2005:Love Kamikaze (Singles and Remixes)
• 2005:Live: Alaska
• 2005:Power to the Peaceful Festival 2005 (CD & DVD)
• 2006:Snakes on a Plane: The Album
• 2007:Yell Fire! Live
• 2008:CLIF GreenNotes Protect the Places We Play
• 2008:The Wire: And All the Pieces Matter -- Five Years of Music from The Wire

Collaborations

• 1992:Infinity within (album)(Deee-Lite,"Fuddy Duddy Judge" feat. Michael Franti)
• 1994:Echomania(Dub Syndicate,"No No" feat. Michael Franti)
• 1995:Blue in the Face (Movie Soundtrack)( "To My Ba-Bay!" w/ Spearhead &Zap Mama)
• 1997:Seven,"Poetry Man" (withZap MamaandKing Britt) and "Baba Hooker" (withZap Mama)
• 1997:Black Enough?(Steel Pulsefeat. Michael Franti of Spearhead)
• 1999:Dal Basso(Jovanottifeat. Michael Franti)
• 2001:Stay Human,"Listener Supported" (withZap Mama)

  Steady Pull(Jonatha Brooke feat. Michael Franti)

• 2002:1 Giant Leap(Jamie Catto& Duncan Bridgeman, "Passion" feat. Michael Franti)
• 2003:The World Around(Buscemi feat. Michael Franti)

  Little Drummer Boy (Blind Boys Of Alabama feat. Michael Franti)

  There's Enough For All Of Us(Hardage feat. Michael Franti)

  My Love(E-Life feat. Michael Franti)

• 2005:Look at All the Love We Found: A Tribute To Sublime( "What I Got" w/ Michael Franti & Spearhead featuringGift of Gab)
• 2006:What's This?(Franti,Gabriel RíosandFlip Kowlier)
• 2007:Supermoon,"Hey Brotha" (withZap Mama)
• 2008:Mani libere 2008(Jovanottifeat. Michael Franti)

  The End(Sugarush Beat Company feat. Michael Franti)

• 2009:All Rebel Rockers,"High Low" (withZap Mama)
• 2010:El Vecindario,"Monkey Man" (withMacaco)
• 2011:Battiti di ali di farfalla(with LorenzoJovanottiCherubini)
• 2011:The Sound of Sunshine(with LorenzoJovanottiCherubini)

  "P.O.W." (With Honest Bob)(From the album The Game)

  "I Love The Future + Praize Creation Dub + Dignity Of Struggle" (With The Fire This Time)(From the album Still Dancing On John Waynes Head)

• 2014:È Tardi(withCaparezza)
• 2014:I Believe(withSOJAandNahko Bear)

The Beatnigs

• 1988:The Beatnigs

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy

• 1992:Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury
• 1993:Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales(withWilliam S. Burroughs)

Appearances in media

Franti's music was featured twice on HBO's urban dramaThe Wire."Oh My God" and "Rock The Nation", both from the albumStay Human,were used in two different episodes during the series' first season.Franti's song "Everybody Ona Move" was featured in the pilot episode ofPrivilegedonthe CWin 2008 and also in a 2009PlayStation 3commercial. "Yell Fire" was used to promote theFX channelseriesRescue Meand was also used in the closing credits of the pilot episode ofVirtualityonFox.Showtime'sWeedsfeatured 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 aflash mobscene in the premiere episode of Season 5.Boston Red SoxcenterfielderShane Victorinouses the song "Light up Ya Lighter" as his batter walk-up music. "Say Hey (I Love You)" was used on the third episode ofNBC's seriesMercy,as well as in the opening scene of the 2010 filmValentine's Day.The same song was also used in 2010 in a commercial forCorona Lightbeer. The song is also featured on the soundtrack ofEA Sportsgame,2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

He appeared as himself in the 2010 music documentarySounds Like a Revolution.

"I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" was featured on the "Arrival" official trailer forThe Sims 4duringGamescom 2013at theCologne Trade FairinCologne,Germany on August 20, 2013.It was also featured in the launch trailer forRayman Legendsand the final trailer forCoco.

Franti has collaborated withSlacker Radio,picking the tunes and providing commentaries, to create a radio station playing his favorite artists.

Franti premiered his own documentaryStay Humanon April 27, 2018, at theAsbury 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."

External links

• Official website
• Michael Franti Interview at TheWaster
• Michael Franti and Spearhead@ theInternet Archive(live music archive)
• Michael FrantiatIMDb