View source for Michael Franti

{{Short description|American musician (born 1966)}}
{{Distinguish|Michael Franks (musician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background        = person
| name              = Michael Franti
| image             = MichaelFranti-0Q7A8310.jpg
| alt               = Michael Franti wearing a light denim jacket over an orange shirt smiling for a portrait against a white brick wall
| caption           = Franti in 2025
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1966|4|21}}
| birth_place       = [[Oakland, California]], U.S.
| origin            = [[San Francisco]], California, U.S.
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Composer
* musician
* entertainer
* poet
* [[rapper]]}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]<ref>[https://www.shazam.com/artist/michael-franti-and-spearhead/337362970 Michael Franti] Shazam.com Retrieved 15 January 2025</ref>
* [[alternative hip hop]]
* [[neo soul]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Rock music|rock]]
* [[reggae fusion]]
* [[protest song]]
* [[folk rock]]
* [[Folk music|folk]]
* [[reggae]]
* [[hip hop music|hip hop]]
* [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]]}}
| years_active      = 1986–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative Tentacles]]
* [[Island Records|Island]]
* [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
* Boo Boo Wax
* [[Six Degrees Records|Six Degrees]]
* [[ANTI-]]}}
| current_member_of = Michael Franti and Spearhead
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Beatnigs]]|[[The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy]]}}
| website           = {{URL|michaelfranti.com}}
}}

'''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 which blends [[hip hop music|hip hop]] with a variety of other styles including [[funk]], [[reggae]], [[jazz]], [[folk music|folk]], and [[rock music|rock]]. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of [[peace movement|peace]] and [[social justice]] issues; he is especially an advocate for peace in the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Michael-Franti-got-his-guitar-then-headed-to-2488311.php|title = Michael Franti got his guitar, then headed to Iraq. Any requests for anti-war music?|date = September 7, 2010|access-date = October 20, 2015|website = [[The San Francisco Chronicle]]|last = Vaziri|first = Aidin}}</ref>

==Early life==
Michael Franti was born in [[Oakland, California]]. His mother, Mary Lofy, had [[Irish American|Irish]], [[German American|German]], and [[Belgian American|Belgian]] ancestry; his father, Thomas Hopkins, was of [[African Americans|African American]] and [[indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] descent.<ref>As described by Franti in his 2018 film 'Stay Human'</ref>{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} 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.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web|url=http://seattle.consciouschoice.com/2008/05/conversations0805.html|title=We Don’t Stop Michael Franti Talks Peace, Love and Music Interview by Gregory Dicum|website=Conscious Choice|date=July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204174754/http://seattle.consciouschoice.com/2008/05/conversations0805.html|archive-date=February 4, 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/inmemoriam/html/CharlesE.Franti.htm |website=In Memoriam-Franti |access-date=May 25, 2023 |title=Charles E. Franti }}</ref> Franti's four adoptive siblings are Rebecca, Sara, Dan, and Matthew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAYOLO/2003-05/1054337475 |title=RootsWeb: CAYOLO-L [CAYolo&#93; Charles E. FRANTI (1933–2003) (obit.) |publisher=Archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=April 9, 2011}}</ref> Michael also has four half-siblings, Thea, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur Hopkins.

Franti went to grade 9 at Highland Junior High School in [[Edmonton]], Alberta.<ref>Michael Franti himself during concert in Edmonton on October 2, 2013, at The Winspear</ref><ref>Michael Franti, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, 2014</ref> Then he attended [[Davis Senior High School (California)|Davis Senior High School]] and [[University of San Francisco]] on a full basketball scholarship, averaging 2.4 pts per game during the 1985–1986 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pehling |first=Dave |date=May 12, 2023 |title=Mill Valley Music Festival returns with headliners Michael Franti and Spearhead, Cake - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/mill-valley-music-festival-returns-with-headliners-michael-franti-and-spearhead-cake/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228162055/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/mill-valley-music-festival-returns-with-headliners-michael-franti-and-spearhead-cake/ |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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 (defunct)|KUSF]].<ref name="iknowimnotalone.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.iknowimnotalone.com/ |title=I Know I'm Not Alone |publisher=Iknowimnotalone.com |access-date=April 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424065724/http://www.iknowimnotalone.com/ |archive-date=April 24, 2011 }}</ref>

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2016}}

===The Beatnigs (1986–1990)===
Franti began his music career in 1986 as part of the [[Industrial music|industrial]] [[Punk rock|punk]]/[[spoken word]] band [[the Beatnigs]]. While attending the [[University of San Francisco]] and living above [[KUSF (defunct)|KUSF]] he developed a fascination with music and decided to start a band. The Beatnigs included dancer and percussionist Rono Tse;<ref name="bandbio"/> 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 group recorded at Dancin' Dog Studio in [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]] and was distributed by [[Alternative Tentacles]]. In addition to Michael Franti (bass, vocals) and Ron Tse (percussion, vocals) the band included Henry Flood (percussion, vocals) Andre Flores (keyboards, vocals) Kevin Carnes (drums, vocals) and Louis 'Troy' Dixon (percussion, vocals). All members made multiple instrumental contributions.

===Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (1991–93)===
{{Main|The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy}}

His next project, [[the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy]], found Franti continuing his collaboration with Tse, and working with jazz guitarist [[Charlie Hunter]], as well as [[electronic music]]ians [[Mark Pistel]] ([[Consolidated (band)|Consolidated]]) and [[Jack Dangers]] ([[Meat Beat Manifesto]]). The Disposable Heroes wrote politically charged lyrics that railed against the injustices of the world, set to a fusion of [[industrial music]] and hip hop. Their first album, ''[[Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury]]'' (on [[Island Records]]),<ref name="bandbio" /> won plaudits for its social commentary, and they were chosen by [[U2]] to open for their [[Zoo TV Tour]].

The album's lyrics dealt with a range of issues, including the US involvement in the [[Gulf War|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 (album)|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".<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://artists.letssingit.com/disposable-heroes-of-hiphoprisy-lyrics-television-the-drug-of-the-nation-d1dw3jc#axzz3pB1jUhwU|title = "Television, The Drug Of The Nation" Lyrics|access-date = October 18, 2015|website = Lets Sing It}}</ref>

The Disposable Heroes recorded music accompanying novelist [[William Burroughs]]' readings for an album entitled ''[[Spare 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 book ''Third Wave Agenda, Being Feminist and Doing Feminism''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Heywood|first=Leslie|url=https://archive.org/details/thirdwaveagendab0000unse|title=Third Wave Agenda: Being Feminist, Doing Feminism|date=October 1, 1997|publisher=Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1 edition|isbn=0816630054|url-access=registration}}</ref> The analysis involved the role of masculinity in the misogynist point of view which dominates popular music e.g. [[Misogyny in rap music|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.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|last = Larkin|first = Colin|publisher = Omnibus Press|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref>

===Michael Franti and Spearhead (1994–present)===
{{Infobox musical artist
| background        = group_or_band
| name              = Michael Franti & Spearhead
| image             = MFat Waka.jpg
| caption           = Michael Franti and Spearhead performing in 2006
| image_size        = 
| alias             = 
| origin            = San Francisco
| genre             = {{hlist|Roots|rock|reggae|hip hop|soul|funk|pop}}
| years_active      = 1994–present
| label             = 
| website           = {{URL|michaelfranti.com}}
| current_members   = * Michael Franti (vocals)
* Carl Young (bass)
* J Bowman (guitar)
* Mike Blankenship (keyboard)
* Manas Itiene (drums)
| past_members      = MC RadioActive
}}

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 (Spearhead album)|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 (musician)|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]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metroactive.com/metro/02.15.06/franti-0607.html |title=Music & Nightlife in Santa Cruz, CA &#124; Music Review &#124; Michael Franti |publisher=Metroactive.com |access-date=April 9, 2011}}</ref> 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 (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 (album)|Stay Human]]'' in 2000 under their own label Boo Boo Wax in alignment with [[indie (music)|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 [[monopoly|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."<ref name="bandbio">[http://www.spearheadvibrations.com/band.htm]{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2001, Franti was featured on [[Lamb (electronic band)|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.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Entertaining Fear: Rhetoric and the Political Economy of Social Control|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nVNc4gRvlbgC|publisher = Peter Lang|date = January 1, 2010|isbn = 9781433105852|first = Catherine|last = Chaput}}</ref>

''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 (song)|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 Records|Stax]] and [[Motown]]. The song "We Don't Stop" (featuring [[Gift of Gab (rapper)|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.
[[File:Michael-Franti.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Michael Franti at the [[2007 Bonnaroo Music Festival]]]]
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 (singer)|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)|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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schwartz |first=Greg M. |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/63873/power-to-the-peaceful-festival/ |title=Power to the Peaceful Festival |publisher=Popmatters.com |date=September 30, 2008|access-date=April 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520023209/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/63873/power-to-the-peaceful-festival/|archive-date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2007/09/power-to-the-peaceful-festival-begins-tomorrow.html |title=Power to the Peaceful Festival begins tomorrow |author=Bowen, Rebecca |date=September 7, 2007 |publisher=Paste |access-date=April 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616051937/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2007/09/power-to-the-peaceful-festival-begins-tomorrow.html|archive-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref> 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|Bomb The World]]", written in the dark aftermath of [[September 11, 2001 attacks|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 art|protest signs]] and [[t-shirt]]s all over the world from Los Angeles to Berlin, San Francisco to [[CNN]], at [[demonstration (people)|demonstrations]] for peace large and small.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/502/michael_franti_and_spearhead_on_point/ |title=Michael Franti interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2010 |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |access-date=September 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307014827/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/502/michael_franti_and_spearhead_on_point/|archive-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aux.tv/users/MichaelFranti/ |title=Artists: MichaelFranti |publisher=Aux.tv |access-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020042740/http://www.aux.tv/users/MichaelFranti/ |archive-date=October 20, 2009 }}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelfranti.com |title=Home &#124; Michael Franti & Spearhead |publisher=Michaelfranti.com |access-date=August 4, 2014}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="science-spirit.org">{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.science-spirit.org/newdirections.php?article_id=569|title=The Entertainment Enlightenment: Singing His Peace|magazine=[[Science & Spirit]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071003120332/http://www.science-spirit.org/newdirections.php?article_id=569|archive-date=October 3, 2007}}</ref>

Franti announced the release of ''[[The Sound of Sunshine (Michael Franti & Spearhead album)|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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelfranti.com/community/blogs/album-blog-sound-sunshine-track-listing-commentary |title=Album Blog: The Sound of Sunshine Track Listing (with commentary) |publisher=Michael Franti |access-date=April 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206054006/http://michaelfranti.com/community/blogs/album-blog-sound-sunshine-track-listing-commentary |archive-date=February 6, 2011 }}</ref> to give the album "more runway."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957201/michael-franti-pushes-up-sound-of-sunshine-release |title=Michael Franti Pushes Up 'Sound of Sunshine' Release |publisher=Billboard.com |date=September 14, 2009 |access-date=April 9, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Michael Franti and Spearhead @ Fremantle Park (17 4 2011) (5648207117).jpg|thumb|Michael Franti & Spearhead performing at the [[West Coast Blues & Roots Festival]] in Fremantle Park in 2011|alt=Michael Franti wearing a white t-shirt with handwritten slogans, playing an electric guitar onstage]]
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelfranti.com/michael-franti-vocals-guitar |title=Vocals / Guitar |publisher=Michael Franti |date=April 5, 2011 |access-date=April 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206024316/https://michaelfranti.com/michael-franti-vocals-guitar |archive-date=February 6, 2011 }}</ref> He has since been quoted as saying 90% of the album ended up being recorded on his laptop.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928021908/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/686/michael_franti_and_spearhead_right_down/ |title=Michael Franti & Spearhead interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' June 2011 |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |access-date=September 12, 2011|archive-url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/686/michael_franti_and_spearhead_right_down/|archive-date=September 28, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, he joined the 11th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/judges/11th-annual-ima-judges/ |title=11th Annual Independent Music Awards Judging Panel |publisher=Independentmusicawards.com |access-date=August 4, 2014}}</ref>

In 2013, Franti released ''[[All People]]''. The single, "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)", was released on July 30, 2013, and was featured on ''[[The Sims 4]]'' and ''[[Rayman Legends]]'' game trailers.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.jambase.com/Artists/9085/Michael-Franti-and-Spearhead/Bio|title = Michael Franti & Spearhead Bio|access-date = October 20, 2015|website = Jam Base}}</ref> He released the album ''SoulRocker'' in 2016. All the songs began on the acoustic guitar.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenhaus|first=Mike|url=https://relix.com/articles/detail/the_core_michael_franti/|title=The Core: Michael Franti|website=[[Relix]]|date=July 21, 2016}}</ref> 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. 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."<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|2437649400}} |title=MUSIC REVIEWS |newspaper=Weekend Australian |date=August 29, 2020 }}</ref> His single "Good Day for a Good Day" from his 2022 album "Follow Your Heart" was a top 25 AAA hit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Summitt |first=Jessica |date=April 15, 2022 |title=Michael Franti & Spearhead – "Brighter Day": DJ Pick of the Week – |url=https://lightning100.com/keith/michael-franti-spearhead-brighter-day/ |access-date=April 26, 2022 |website=Lightning 100 |language=en-US}}</ref> He did the music for the Woody Harrelson film ''[[Champions (2023 film)|Champions]]''.

==Politics==
Franti is also an advocate for peace in the Middle East. His 2005 film ''I Know I'm Not Alone''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439618/|title = I Know I'm Not Alone|website = [[IMDb]]|date = January 28, 2005}}</ref> features footage of [[Iraq]], the [[Palestinian territories]], and [[Israel]]. Franti decided to embark on a 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."<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilshire|first=Peter|title='I Know I'm Not Alone': A Middle-Eastern Musical Odyssey|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1153294881.html|newspaper=Australian Screen Education|date=April 1, 2006}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

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..."<ref name="iknowimnotalone.com" /> 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."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/singer-and-activist-michael-franti-brings-love-to-the-cause|title = Singer and activist Michael Franti brings love to the cause|date = October 16, 2011|access-date = October 20, 2015|website = The National|last = Cartwright|first = Garth}}</ref>

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. In 2006, he was invited by Australian [[Australian Labor Party|Labour]] MP [[Jenny Macklin]] to show the film at Australia's [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]] in Canberra.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jacqueline Maley & Alexa Moses|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Bare Foot Forward |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/stay-in-touch/celebrity-blog-clog/2006/09/03/1157222007550.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 |access-date=September 21, 2008|date=September 4, 2006}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://radio.com/2013/08/01/michael-franti-blends-edm-with-social-activism-on-new-album-all-people/|title = Michael Franti Blends EDM With Social Activism On New Album 'All People'|access-date = October 21, 2015|website = Radio.com|last = Carlin|first = Shannon}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.utne.com/arts/utnecast-the-music-and-politics-michael-franti.aspx|title = UtneCast: The Music and Politics of Michael Franti|date = February 19, 2008|access-date = October 21, 2015|website = Utne Cast|last = Gordon|first = Bennett}}</ref>

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,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ubuntupathways.org/|title=Ubuntu Pathways|website=Ubuntu Pathways}}</ref> has promoted [[vegan]] diets, has promoted being [[barefoot]], and followed the [[Occupy Wall Street movement]] during one of Michael Franti and Spearhead's tours.<ref name=":0" />

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Mission|url=https://www.doitforthelove.org/mission|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Do It For The Love|language=en-US}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wish Stories|url=https://www.doitforthelove.org/wishes|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Do It For The Love|language=en-US}}</ref>

==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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soulshinebali.com/|title=Soulshine Bali – A Yoga Retreat Hotel|website=Soulshine Bali – A Yoga Retreat Hotel|language=en|access-date=September 3, 2018}}</ref> His resort was originally named ''Stay Human Yoga Retreat Center'' when it first opened in 2011, a joint venture between Franti and Carla Swanson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-1243/Q-A-with-Michael-Franti-of-Spearhead-Rock-Star-on-Yoga-Meditation-Greening-His-Tour.html|title=Q & A with Michael Franti of Spearhead: Rock Star on Yoga, Meditation, Greening His Tour|date=August 11, 2010|work=mindbodygreen|access-date=September 3, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

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."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=September 14, 2020|title=Michael Franti's 'Work' Ethic|url=https://jambands.com/features/2020/09/13/michael-frantis-work-ethic/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Jambands|language=en-US}}</ref> 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."<ref name=":1" /> Soulshine has hosted many retreats led by people such as [[Trevor Hall (singer)|Trevor Hall]] and [[Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram|FullyRaw Kristina]], serving organically grown food from their own farms.  In 2020, the yoga resort additionally expanded into a day club.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Soulshine Bali: Hotel – Retreats – Day Club|url=https://www.soulshinebali.com/|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=Soulshine Bali|language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Herzog|first=Kenny|date=September 16, 2020|title=Michael Franti Spearheads the Virtual-Concert Revolution While Keeping His Small Business Afloat|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/356151|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=Entrepreneur|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Franti has four children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Franti: Is Not Alone (Relix Revisited) |url=http://www.relix.com/features/2010/10/21/michael-franti-is-not-alone-relix-revisited?2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201185638/http://www.relix.com/features/2010/10/21/michael-franti-is-not-alone-relix-revisited?2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |publisher=Relix Magazine |access-date=November 10, 2012 }}</ref> He is married to emergency room nurse and jewelry designer Sara Agah.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlhyeSik4Mo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ZlhyeSik4Mo |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|access-date=February 20, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was previously married to Tara Franti-Rye from 1998 until 2004; she is the mother of Ade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/what-i-know-about-women-20140219-32zqv.html|title=What I know about women|last=Rocca|first=Jane|date=February 23, 2014|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=July 10, 2016}}</ref>

Inspired by one of his children, Franti became a [[vegan]].{{When|date=October 2024}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woCSH2bQXes  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/woCSH2bQXes |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=michael franti on veganism |publisher=YouTube |date=September 25, 2006 |access-date=April 9, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2000, Michael 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.collegecrier.com/interviews/int-0038.asp|title=Michael Franti Barefoot Bodhisattva|website=College Grier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707092205/http://www.collegecrier.com/interviews/int-0038.asp|archive-date=July 7, 2007}}</ref> He prefers bare feet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gabler |first=Jay |url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2009/02/06/nine-questions-michael-franti.html |title=Nine questions for Michael Franti &#124; Twin Cities Daily Planet &#124; Minneapolis – St. Paul |publisher=Tcdailyplanet.net |date=February 7, 2009|access-date=September 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526221804/https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2009/02/06/nine-questions-michael-franti.html|archive-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref> In 2014, Michael's second eldest, Ade, was diagnosed with a kidney disease called [[focal 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."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/michael_franti_bringing_positi.html|title=Michael Franti brings positive vibes back to LaureLive festival|work=cleveland.com|access-date=October 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2018, Franti's third child, was born. It was his first child with Agah. His fourth child, and second with Agah, was born on May 15, 2025.<ref>{{cite web | title=Instagram | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DKIRqbaz646/?hl=en&img_index=1 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.michaelfranti.com/tag/michael-franti-is-having-a-baby/|title=Michael Franti is having a baby {{!}} Michael Franti & Spearhead|website=michaelfranti.com|access-date=September 3, 2018}}</ref>

On August 11, 2025, musician [[Victoria Canal]] accused Franti of grooming and sexual assault eight years earlier when she was touring with him.<Ref>{{cite news |url=https://people.com/michael-franti-responds-victoria-canal-grooming-sexual-abuse-allegations-11792592 |title=Michael Franti Responds After His Cruise Is Canceled amid Victoria Canal's Grooming and Sexual Abuse Allegations |date=August 18, 2025 |last=Longmire |first=Becca |newspaper=[[People Magazine]] |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref> Franti was dropped from his scheduled Soulshine cruise concerts because of the controversy. Franti responded to the accusation by saying that "the relationship was completely consensual".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/michael-franti-soulshine-canceled-20821657.php |title=Michael Franti denies abuse allegations after Soulshine cruise canceled |date=August 17, 2025 |last=Vaziri |first=Aidin |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Solo===
* 2000: ''Live at the Baobab''
* 2002  ''Passion''
* 2003: ''Songs from the Front Porch''

===Spearhead===
====Studio albums====

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="8"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Sales
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;" |[[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-franti-spearhead/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Michael Franti & Spearhead Chart History: Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310755/michael-franti/chart?f=305 |title=Michael Franti Chart History: Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;" |[[Rock Albums|US<br />Rock]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-franti-spearhead/chart-history/rck/ |title=Michael Franti & Spearhead Chart History: Rock Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310755/michael-franti/chart?f=408 |title=Michael Franti Chart History: Rock Albums |magazine=Billboard }}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;"|[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus>Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
* Top 50 peaks: {{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com//showinterpret.asp?interpret=Spearhead|title=australian-charts.com > Spearhead in Australian Charts|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=December 10, 2016}}
* Top 100 peaks to December 2010: {{cite Ryan|page=262}}
* "People in tha Middle": {{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/3WwqLq5.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 05 Feb 1995|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])|access-date=December 10, 2016}}
* "Hole in the Bucket": {{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/DaLtrDE.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 11 Jun 1995|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=April 25, 2017}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;"|[[Ultratop|BEL]]<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?search=spearhead&cat=a |title=Spearhead  |work=Ultratop}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;" | [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br /><ref name=folk>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310757/michael-franti-spearhead/chart?f=3091 |title=Michael Franti & Spearhead – Chart history – Canadian Albums |magazine=Billboard }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310755/michael-franti/chart?f=309 |title=Michael Franti – Chart history – Canadian Albums |magazine=Billboard }}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;"|[[MegaCharts|NLD]]<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl//search.asp?search=Spearhead&cat=a |title=Spearhead   |work=Dutc charts}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz//search.asp?search=Spearhead&cat=a |title=Spearhead  |work=charts.nz}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.6em;"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="uk">UK chart peaks:
* Top 100 peaks: {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31021/spearhead/|title=Official Charts Company > Spearhead|publisher=[[Official Charts Company|The Official UK Charts Company]]|access-date=December 10, 2016}}
* Top 200 peaks to December 2010: {{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM|title=Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > DJ S – The System Of Life|publisher=zobbel.de|access-date=December 10, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Home (Spearhead album)|Home]]''
|
* Released: September 20, 1994
* Label: [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| —
| —
| 44
| 44
| —
| —
| 24
| 147
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Chocolate Supa Highway]]''
|
* Released: March 25, 1997
* Label: Capitol
| —
| —
| 56
| —
| —
| 79
| 25
| 68
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Stay Human (album)|Stay Human]]''

|
* Released: May 15, 2001
* Label: Boo Boo Wax
| —
| —
| 30
| —
| —
| —
| 32
| —
|
* [[ARIA]]: Gold<ref name=ARIACert04/>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Everyone Deserves Music]]''
|
* Released: June 17, 2003
* Label: Boo Boo Wax
| —
| —
| 9
| 28
| —
| 34
| 26
| —
|
* ARIA: Gold<ref name=ARIACert04>{{cite certification|region=Australia|artist=Michael Franti|type=album|certyear=2004|access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Yell Fire!]]''
|
* Released: July 25, 2006
* Label: [[Anti- (record label)|Anti-]]
| 125
| —
| 14
| 19
| —
| 20
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[All Rebel Rockers]]''

|
* Released: September 8, 2008
* Label: Anti-
| 39
| 13
| 18
| 40
| —
| 25
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[The Sound of Sunshine (Michael Franti & Spearhead album)|The Sound of Sunshine]]''
|
* Released: September 21, 2010
* Label: Capitol
| 17
| 5
| 34
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[All People]]''
|
* Released: July 30, 2013
* Label: Capitol
| 30
| 4
| —
| —
| 25
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Soulrocker (Spearhead album)|SoulRocker]]''
|
* Released: June 3, 2016
* Label: Fantasy
| 38
| 5
| —
| 175
| 96
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Stay Human, Vol. II''
|
* Released: January 25, 2019
* Label: [[Thirty Tigers]]
| 62
| 9
| —{{efn-ua|''Stay Human Vol. II'' did not enter the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Albums Chart]], but peaked at number 23 on the ARIA Digital Albums Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/874BA87B6EAA81A458A56BF6711E8D1F8A83BED402815BECC940A742E140DAC8/ARIA%20Digital%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=24|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|date=February 4, 2019|access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref>}}
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Work Hard & Be Nice''
|
* Released: June 19, 2020
* Label: Thirty Tigers
|  —{{efn-ua|''Stay Human Vol. II'' did not enter the [[Billboard 200]], but peaked at number 16 on the US Album Sales Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-franti-spearhead/chart-history/tsl/|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=June 30, 2020}}</ref>}}
| 48
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Follow Your Heart''
|
* Released: June 3, 2022
* Label: Thirty Tigers
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|—
|-
!scope="row" | ''Big Big Love''
|
* Released: November 3, 2023
* Label: Thirty Tigers
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

'''Notes'''
{{notelist-ua}}

====Singles====
* 1994: "Of Course You Can" [[UK Singles Chart|UK]] No. 74<ref name="uk"/>
* 1994: "People in tha Middle" [[ARIA Charts|AUS]] No. 69,<ref name=aus/> UK No. 49<ref name="uk"/>
* 1995: "Hole in the Bucket" AUS No. 87,<ref name=aus/> UK No. 55<ref name="uk"/>
* 1995: "Positive"
* 1997: "U Can't Sing R Song"
* 1997: "Why Oh Why" UK No. 45<ref name="uk"/>
* 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<ref name=aus/>
* 2003: "Everyone Deserves Music" AUS No. 39<ref name=aus/>
* 2006: "I Know I'm Not Alone" #27 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-franti-spearhead/chart-history/aaa/ |title=Michael Franti & Spearhead – Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=November 23, 2020}}</ref>
* 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. 18 [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<ref name="billboard1">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-franti-spearhead/chart-history/aaa/ |title=Michael Franti – Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=August 4, 2014}}</ref> #14 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2009: "Hey World" #21 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2010: "Shake It" (feat. Lady Saw)
* 2010: "[[The Sound of Sunshine (song)|The Sound of Sunshine]]" (feat. Jovanotti, for Italy only) #1 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2010: "Hey Hey Hey" #5 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2011: "I'll Be Waiting" #22 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2013: "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" #5 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2013: "Life is Better With You" #13 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2013: "11 59" (feat. Sonna Rele)
* 2014: "Same As It Ever Was (Start Today)"
* 2015: "Once A Day" (feat. Sonna Rele) #17 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2018: "The Flower" (feat. [[Victoria Canal]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1xQAeME3R38rcV46Q2AkI0|title=The Flower (featuring Victoria Canal) - Single by Michael Franti & Spearhead|website=[[Spotify]] }}</ref>
* 2020: "I Got You" #1 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2020: "Work Hard and Be Nice" #40 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2021: "Good Day for a Good Day" #24 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>
* 2025: "Break Up With Everything" #32 [[Adult Alternative Songs|US AAA]]<ref name="Billboard"/>

====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|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|Blue in the Face (Movie Soundtrack)]]'' ("To My Ba-Bay!" w/ Spearhead & [[Zap Mama]])
* 1997: ''Seven'', "Poetry Man" (with [[Zap Mama]] and [[King Britt]]) and "Baba Hooker" (with [[Zap Mama]])
* 1997: ''Black Enough?'' ([[Steel Pulse]] feat. Michael Franti of Spearhead)
* 1999: ''Dal Basso'' ([[Jovanotti]] feat. Michael Franti)
* 2001: ''Stay Human'', "Listener Supported" (with [[Zap Mama]])
*: ''Steady Pull'' (Jonatha Brooke feat. Michael Franti)
* 2002: ''[[1 Giant Leap (album)|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|Look at All the Love We Found: A Tribute To Sublime]]'' ("What I Got" w/ Michael Franti      & Spearhead featuring [[Gift of Gab (rapper)|Gift of Gab]])
* 2006: ''What's This?'' (Franti, [[Gabriel Ríos]] and [[Flip Kowlier]])
* 2007: ''Supermoon'', "Hey Brotha" (with [[Zap Mama]])
* 2008: ''Mani libere 2008'' ([[Jovanotti]] feat. Michael Franti)
*: ''The End'' (Sugarush Beat Company feat. Michael Franti)
* 2009: ''All Rebel Rockers'', "High Low" (with [[Zap Mama]])
* 2010: ''El Vecindario'', "Monkey Man" (with [[Macaco (band)|Macaco]])
* 2011: ''Battiti di ali di farfalla'' (with Lorenzo [[Jovanotti]] Cherubini)
* 2011: ''The Sound of Sunshine'' (with Lorenzo [[Jovanotti]] Cherubini)
*: "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'' (with [[Caparezza]])
* 2014: ''I Believe'' (with [[SOJA]] and [[Nahko Bear]])

===The Beatnigs===
* 1988: ''[[The Beatnigs (album)|The Beatnigs]]''

===The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy===
* 1992: ''[[Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury]]''
* 1993: ''[[Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales]]'' (with [[William S. Burroughs]])
{{col-end}}

===Appearances in media===
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenthousand.org/?p=128/ |title=The Ten Thousand Things |publisher=Tenthousand.org |date=July 29, 2005 |access-date=September 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805123054/http://www.tenthousand.org/?p=128%2F |archive-date=August 5, 2009 }}</ref> Franti's song "Everybody Ona Move" was featured in the pilot episode of ''[[Privileged (TV series)|Privileged]]'' on [[the CW]] in 2008 and also in a 2009 [[PlayStation 3]] commercial.  "Yell Fire" was used to promote the [[FX (TV channel)|FX channel]] series ''[[Rescue Me (U.S. TV series)|Rescue Me]]'' and was also used in the closing credits of the pilot episode of [[Virtuality (TV series)|''Virtuality'']] on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]. [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime's]] ''[[Weeds (TV series)|Weeds]]'' 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 (TV series)|Mercy]]'', as well as in the opening scene of the 2010 film ''[[Valentine's Day (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 (video game)|2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa]]''.

He appeared as himself in the 2010 music documentary ''[[Sounds Like a Revolution]]''.

"I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)" was featured on the "Arrival" official trailer for ''[[The Sims 4]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLmN1D1P2RI |title=The Sims 4 "Arrival" Official Trailer |website=[[YouTube]] |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> during [[Gamescom 2013]] at the [[Koelnmesse|Cologne Trade Fair]] in [[Cologne]], Germany on August 20, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://live-event.ea.com/gamescom |title=EA at Gamescom 2013 – Press Conference |publisher=[[Electronic Arts]] |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820042220/http://live-event.ea.com/gamescom/ |archive-date=August 20, 2011 }}</ref> It was also featured in the launch trailer for ''[[Rayman Legends]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMIKs1PKrEM  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yMIKs1PKrEM |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Rayman Legends Launch Trailer |website=[[YouTube]] |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=September 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the final trailer for ''[[Coco (2017 film)|Coco]]''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Disney•Pixar|title=Coco Official Final Trailer|date=November 6, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvr68u6k5sI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Rvr68u6k5sI |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=February 13, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Franti has collaborated with [[Slacker (music service)|Slacker Radio]], picking the tunes and providing commentaries, to create a radio station playing his favorite artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livexlive.com/station/michael-franti-i-am-the-dj|title=Michael Franti: I Am the DJ – LiveXLive – Premium Live Music|website=LiveXLive}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.michaelfranti.com/stay-human-film-premiere-april-27th-at-asbury-park-music-film-festival/|title=Stay Human Film Premiere {{!}} Michael Franti & Spearhead|website=www.michaelfranti.com|language=en-US|access-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref>

[[A2 Milk Company|A2 Milk Co]] used an arrangement of "Life is Better with You" as the soundtrack to its US national TV ad campaign in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/o4Hu/a2-life-is-better-with-you-song-by-michael-franti-and-spearhead |title=a2 TV Spot, 'Life Is Better With You' |date=October 23, 2019 |language=en |others=Song by Michael Franti & Spearhead |via=www.ispot.tv}}</ref> The advertisement was shown on ABC, NBC, Bravo, Food Network and HGTV networks during major shows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/93975-the-a2-milk-co-launches-tv-ad-campaign |title=The a2 Milk Co. launches TV ad campaign |website=dairyfoods.com |date=2019-11-22 |access-date=2025-02-08}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Michael Franti}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{official website|michaelfranti.com}}
* [http://www.thewaster.com/interview/michael-franti-the-piper-of-the-sun/ Michael Franti Interview at TheWaster.com]
* [https://archive.org/details/MichaelFrantiandSpearhead Michael Franti and Spearhead] @ the [[Internet Archive]] (live music archive)
* {{IMDb name|id=0291779|name= Michael Franti}}
{{Michael Franti}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franti, Michael}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists]]
[[Category:American people of Belgian descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Davis, California]]
[[Category:Musicians from Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Rappers from California]]
[[Category:Reggae fusion artists]]
[[Category:San Francisco Dons men's basketball players]]<!--per WP:CAT, people belong in the lowest-level category in a category tree; the bball players cat rolls up into the USF alumni cat-->
[[Category:Capitol Records artists]]
[[Category:Davis Senior High School (California) alumni]]
[[Category:Activists from California]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:Six Degrees Records artists]]
[[Category:Alternative Tentacles artists]]
[[Category:Anti- (record label) artists]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Thirty Tigers artists]]