Michael Franti
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Michael Franti (born 1967) is an African-American poet, musician, and composer. Franti is currently the singer-songwriter for Spearhead, a band that mixes hip-hop with a wide variety of other styles including funk, reggae, folk, and rock.
Franti was part of the industrial punk band, The Beatnigs with DJ Rono Tse. His next project, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy found him working with jazz guitarist, Charlie Hunter. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy wrote biting, progressive lyrics that railed against the injustice of the world and yearned for democratic reform. Everything Franti wrote about, from violence in hip hop, to racism and homophobia, were and still are politically relevant to this day.
At the time, some in the rap community attempted to dismiss Michael Franti's critique of the rampant, overt violence present in gangsta rap by ridiculing Franti's white parents who had adopted him as a child. In some ways, this attack pushed Franti even harder to discover and remain true to his roots as an African-American. Franti's supporters note that he pushes for peace and justice, regardless of race, and attempts to address contemporary social issues in America such as AIDS, homelessness, kidnappings, police brutality and the death penalty. They also note that he is a tireless crusader for peace in the Middle East, having recently returned from a visit to several countries in the region. Franti is also an ethical vegan.
See also
External links
- Michael Franti (http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Michael%20Franti.html)it:Michael Franti