Michael Franti

Michael Franti is an American musician, poet, activist, and documentarian, known for blending hip hop with various musical styles and for his commitment to peace and social justice. After releasing the politically charged debut album ‘Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury’ with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy on Island Records in 1991, Michael Franti cemented his reputation for powerful social commentary. This project, co-founded with Rono Tse in the early 1990s, fused industrial music and hip hop, gaining significant recognition for its impactful lyrics, notably with the track ‘Television, The Drug of The Nation.’ The group’s rising profile led to them opening for U2 during their Zoo TV Tour. Franti’s early career began in 1986 as a member of the industrial punk/spoken word band The Beatnigs, releasing a self-titled LP and the ‘Television’ EP on Alternative Tentacles records.

II’ with Spearhead in 2019. Outside of music, Franti is the founder of the wish-granting nonprofit organization Do It For The Love and owns Soulshine Bali, a yoga resort hotel in Ubud, Bali. Franti’s recent musical endeavors include the release of ‘Work Hard and Be Nice’ in 2020, followed by ‘Follow Your Heart’ in 2022. In 2023, he contributed music to the Woody Harrelson film ‘Champions’ and released his latest album, ‘Big Big Love.’