In the days before they were called "Michael Franti and Spearhead" they were just plain Spearhead. The change was superficially insignificant, but it did seem to mark the start of a disturbing trend in the content of his music. Spearhead's songs, and The Beatnigs before them, were filled with angry, politically driven almost Public Enemy-ish anti-government lyrics stating African Americans were being intentionally marginalized by the government and demonized in the media. Oh yea and basketball, he loves playing basketball and weaves it in to his lyrics whenever he can.
Regarding the media, he makes a great observation in the first verse of Dream Team [video | lyrics] off the Spearhead album Home:
"It seemed strange to me, was it strange to you?
Brother's on the street and everyone is scared a ya
So how could ten Africans represent America?
Bullshit, it didn't mean a thing
'cause in the same year we saw Rodney King"
It all seems so long ago now, but it is pretty amazing that these two events occurred in the same year. Franti then proceeds to put together his "Dream Team" of black cultural heroes, many of whom are very controversial and interesting people that most people don't know much about. It is a pretty badass lineup:
"Well Chuck D's announcing Flava Flav is doing color
Halftime entertainment by Dre and Ed Lover
Malcolm X is the coach he's drawing up the strategy
We're chopping apart all America's anatomy
'cause they're the ones we're up against of course
Our general manager is Chief Crazy Horse
Huey Newton 'cause he was extra hard
He is the one who will be playing at the shooting guard
I dreamed Charles Barkley would be
Played by Marcus Garvey
He'd be throwing people off his back and making
Sure they never got a rebound rebound
He throws it to the outlet
Nat Turner 'cause he can turn the corner when
When he's out there
He be flying through the air and throwing passes like
He really doesn't care
Behind the back and in
Between the legs
He's handling the rock as gently as an egg
He's throwing it into Angela Davis's neighborhood
She's posting up down in the extra hard wood
She grabs the pill and then she puts her shoulder down
Get out the way 'cause she's gonna throw down now
Boom oh my god! I just can't believe it
Get another backboard or better yet leave it"
If you don't recognize some of these name like Nat Turner or Angela Davis, follow the links above because he has included them with the likes of Malcom X an Garvey for a reason.
In recent years, "Michael Franti and Spearhead" are writing poppy songs with a notably more positive message. This seems to coincide with his trips to many war torn areas to spread his music and message of peace. On Home though, he's at his best going all out and its a classic as a result.
Full Franti Dream Team Lineup: (missing a forward though)
Announcers - Chuck D and Flava Flav
Entertainment - Dr. Dre (nope not the one with shitty headphones) and Ed Lover
General Manger - Chief Crazy Horse
Head Coach - Malcom X
Center- Angela Davis
Forward - Marcus Garvey
Point Guard - Nat Turner
Shooting Guard - Huey Newton
Bench Coaches - Dr. King, Rosa Parks
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