The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy: Difference between revisions

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
	Michael Franti and Rono Tse
Background information
Origin	Bay Area, San Francisco, United States
Genres	Hip hop, industrial hip hop, alternative hip hop, political hip hop, spoken word poetry
Years active	1990–1993
Labels	4th & B'way, Island
Past members	Michael Franti; Rono Tse; Charlie Hunter; Simone White

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The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy were an American hip-hop musical ensemble, active during the early 1990s.^[2] The band was formed in 1990 by Michael Franti (vocals, production, misc. instruments) and Rono Tse (drums, percussion, programming), who had worked together in The Beatnigs.^[1] They released two albums, the critically acclaimed Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury in 1992, and Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales (with William S. Burroughs) in 1993.

Their first live performance was on August 23, 1991 at the Kennel Club in San Francisco.^[3]

The group was associated with contemporary bands, including House of Pain and Pop Will Eat Itself. They also were somewhat reminiscent of Gil Scott-Heron due to the half-spoken vocal styles of Franti and the up-front political messages in the music.^[2] The Disposable Heroes played many concerts, sometimes opening the bill for more well-known acts such as U2 (on their landmark Zoo TV Tour), Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana and Arrested Development.^[1] Guitarist Charlie Hunter made his recording debut with the Disposable Heroes before earning fame in jazz.

Career

Michael Franti and Rono Tse had both been members of industrial hip hop band The Beatnigs, which released one album on Alternative Tentacles and undertook several international tours before breaking up.^[4]

Explaining the name of the new group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Franti said in 1992 that

"If you're a young black person, your only role models are athletes and entertainers. You see these people used by the corporate system to make money, after which they're thrown on the scrap heap. they're disposable heroes...the name Hiphoprisy deals with the fact that, inevitably, there is hypocrisy in all of our lives, including mine"^[5]

Their debut album, Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury, received critical and underground acclaim upon its release in 1992, but was not commercially successful.^[6] Franti's lyrics address a wide range of social issues, from Mass Media bias and abuse ("Television, the Drug of the Nation") to racial equality ("Socio-Genetic Experiment", in large part inspired by Franti's childhood as a biracial child adopted by a white family), and Homophobia (in "Language of Violence").^[6] The album also included a cover of the Dead Kennedys track "California über alles" (with updated lyrics about Governor Pete Wilson). "Television," which received wide airplay on college and alternative radio stations, had previously been recorded by Michael Franti's first band, The Beatnigs.^[2] In common with other bands of the time on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy used sampling and scratching as a primary tool of music recording, and mixed rock, hip hop and jazz.^[6] The album was listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Among their contemporaries, the band had strong artistic, political, and personal ties to both Meat Beat Manifesto and Consolidated. The recording of Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury was co-produced by Consolidated's Mark Pistel, and prolific Meat Beat Manifesto frontman Jack Dangers assisted with mixing.

In 1993, the duo worked with William S. Burroughs, recording music for a collaborative album entitled Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales.^[6] This album diverged greatly from the style of the band's previous work, as they were largely providing musical background and accompaniment to Burroughs' spoken readings from several of his books. The Disposable Heroes split up shortly after.^[6]

Peter Jenner, who had managed Pink Floyd and The Clash, managed the group.^[7]

Legacy

Michael Franti later formed Spearhead,^[2] while Tse worked with the Mystik Journeymen.^[1] In 1995, Franti said of Spearhead "The big problem with Disposable Heroes was that it was a record people listened to because it was good for them - kind of like broccoli. I want Spearhead to be more like sweet potatoes."^[8]

The style of turntablism developed by the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy was influential on DJ Product©1969, who credited his work, including as a member of the rap rock band Hed PE, as being influenced by Disposable Heroes.^[9]

"Television, the Drug of The Nation" was listed at number 401 on NME's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2014.^[10]

Discography

Albums

Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury (1992)
Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales (1993)^[6]

Singles

"(What Do I Do To Become) Famous and Dandy" (Worker's Playtime, 1990)
"Television, The Drug of the Nation" EP (4th and Broadway, 1991)
"Language of Violence" (4th and Broadway, 1992)
"Live Television" (4th and Broadway, 1992)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hoffmann, Frank (2005). Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop. Infobase Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 9780816069804.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 275. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
^ Island Records promotional material, August 13, 1991
^ Colin Larkin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. pp. 700–702. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
^ Biography - the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Island Records promotional material, March 1992
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 126–7. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
^ Brandle, Lars (November 27, 2004). "Chrysalis Steps Into Management Shoes". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 48. ProQuest 227208946.
^ Wild, David (October 30, 2017). "Homeward bound". Rolling Stone. ProQuest 220151496.
^ "Graphic Nature: DJ Product @1969 [(hed)PE – Self Titled]". beatdust.com. August 13, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
^ Barker, Emily (January 31, 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 500-401". NME. Retrieved July 17, 2019.

External links

[HOFFMANN-1] Hoffmann, Frank (2005). Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop. Infobase Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 9780816069804.

[The_Great_Rock_Discography-2] Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 275. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.

[3] Island Records promotional material, August 13, 1991

[Larkin2011-4] Colin Larkin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. pp. 700–702. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.

[ISLAND92-5] Biography - the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Island Records promotional material, March 1992

[Larkin90-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 126–7. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.

[7] Brandle, Lars (November 27, 2004). "Chrysalis Steps Into Management Shoes". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 48. ProQuest 227208946.

[8] Wild, David (October 30, 2017). "Homeward bound". Rolling Stone. ProQuest 220151496.

[9] "Graphic Nature: DJ Product @1969 [(hed)PE – Self Titled]". beatdust.com. August 13, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2019.

[10] Barker, Emily (January 31, 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 500-401". NME. Retrieved July 17, 2019.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American hip hop band}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
-{{Refimprove|date=June 2010}}
 {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
 | name                = The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 | background          = group_or_band
 | alias               =
-| origin              = [[Bay Area]], [[San Francisco]], [[United States]]
+| origin              = [[Bay Area]], [[San Francisco]], United States
+| genre               = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[industrial hip hop]], [[alternative hip hop]], [[political hip hop]], [[spoken word poetry]]
-| years_active        = 1990–1993
+| years_active        = 1990–1993<ref name="HOFFMANN">{{cite book |last=Hoffmann |first=Frank |date=2005 |title=Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop |publisher=Infobase Publishing |page=62 |isbn=9780816069804 }}</ref>
 | label               = [[4th & B'way Records|4th & B'way]], [[Island Records|Island]]
+| associated_acts     = [[The Beatnigs]]<br/>[[William S. Burroughs]]<br/>[[Consolidated (band)|Consolidated]]<br/>[[Meat Beat Manifesto]]<br/>[[Michael Franti and Spearhead|Spearhead]]
-| associated_acts     =
 | website                 =
 | current_members     =
-| past_members        = [[Michael Franti]]<br/>[[Rono Tse]]<br/>[[Charlie Hunter]]<br/>[[Simone White]]
+| past_members        = [[Michael Franti]]<br/>Rono Tse<br/>[[Charlie Hunter]]<br/>Simone White
 }}
-'''The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy''' was an [[United States|American]] [[industrial hip-hop]] [[musical ensemble|band]], active during the early 1990s.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
+'''The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy''' were an American [[hip-hop]] musical ensemble, active during the early 1990s.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book | first= Martin C. | last= Strong | year= 2000 | title= The Great Rock Discography | edition= 5th | publisher= Mojo Books |location= Edinburgh | page= 275 | isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref> The band was formed in 1990 by [[Michael Franti]] (vocals, production, misc. instruments) and Rono Tse (drums, percussion, programming), who had worked together in [[The Beatnigs]].<ref name="HOFFMANN" /> They released two albums, the critically acclaimed ''[[Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury]]'' in 1992, and ''[[Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales]]'' (with [[William S. Burroughs]]) in 1993.
-| first= Martin C.
-| last= Strong
-| year= 2000
-| title= The Great Rock Discography
-| edition= 5th
-| publisher= Mojo Books
-| location= Edinburgh
-| page= 275
-| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref>
+Their first live performance was on August 23, 1991 at the Kennel Club in San Francisco.<ref>Island Records promotional material, August 13, 1991</ref>
-The band was formed in 1990 by [[Michael Franti]] (vocals, production, misc. instruments) and [[Rono Tse]] (drums, percussion, programming), who had been in the [[Beatnigs]]. The band's name was derived in part from the phrase "The Disposable Heroes of Hypocrisy", used in some [[Socialist]] literature.{{fact|date=June 2013}}
-The group was associated with contemporary bands by genre, including [[House of Pain]] and [[Pop Will Eat Itself]]. They also were somewhat reminiscent of [[Gil Scott-Heron]] due to the half-spoken vocal styles of Franti and the up-front political messages in the music.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The Disposable Heroes played many concerts, sometimes opening the bill for more well-known acts such as [[U2]] (on their landmark [[Zoo TV Tour]]), [[Rage Against the Machine]], [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Arrested Development (hip hop group)|Arrested Development]]. Guitarist [[Charlie Hunter]] made his recording debut with the Disposable Heroes before earning fame in jazz.
+The group was associated with contemporary bands, including [[House of Pain]] and [[Pop Will Eat Itself]]. They also were somewhat reminiscent of [[Gil Scott-Heron]] due to the half-spoken vocal styles of Franti and the up-front political messages in the music.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The Disposable Heroes played many concerts, sometimes opening the bill for more well-known acts such as [[U2]] (on their landmark [[Zoo TV Tour]]), [[Rage Against the Machine]], [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Arrested Development (hip hop group)|Arrested Development]].<ref name="HOFFMANN" /> Guitarist [[Charlie Hunter]] made his recording debut with the Disposable Heroes before earning fame in jazz.
 ==Career==
+[[Michael Franti]] and Rono Tse had both been members of [[industrial hip hop]] band [[The Beatnigs]], which released one album on [[Alternative Tentacles]] and undertook several international tours before breaking up.<ref name="Larkin2011">{{cite book|author=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA701|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|pages=700–702}}</ref>
-Their debut album, ''[[Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury]]'', received critical and underground acclaim upon its release in 1992, but was never commercially successful. Franti's lyrics address a wide range of social issues, from [[Mass Media]] bias and abuse ("Television, the Drug of the Nation") to [[Race (classification of human beings)|racial]] [[social equality|equality]] ("Socio-Genetic Experiment", in large part inspired by Franti's childhood as a biracial child adopted by a white family), and [[Homophobia]] (in "Language of Violence"). The album also included a [[cover version|cover]] of the [[Dead Kennedys]] track "[[California Über Alles]]" (with updated lyrics about Governor [[Pete Wilson]]).  "Television," which received wide airplay on college and alternative radio stations, had previously been recorded by Michael Franti's first band, [[The Beatnigs]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In common with other bands of the time on both sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy used [[Sampling (music)|sampling]] and [[scratching]] as a primary tool of music recording, and mixed rock, hip hop and jazz. The album was listed in the book "[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]".
+Explaining the name of the new group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Franti said in 1992 that
+:"If you're a young black person, your only role models are athletes and entertainers. You see these people used by the corporate system to make money, after which they're thrown on the scrap heap. they're disposable heroes...the name Hiphoprisy deals with the fact that, inevitably, there is hypocrisy in all of our lives, including mine"<ref name=ISLAND92>''Biography - the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.'' Island Records promotional material, March 1992</ref>
+Their debut album, ''[[Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury]]'', received critical and underground acclaim upon its release in 1992, but was not commercially successful.<ref name="Larkin90"/> Franti's lyrics address a wide range of social issues, from [[Mass Media]] bias and abuse ("Television, the Drug of the Nation") to [[Race (classification of human beings)|racial]] [[social equality|equality]] ("Socio-Genetic Experiment", in large part inspired by Franti's childhood as a biracial child adopted by a white family), and [[Homophobia]] (in "Language of Violence").<ref name="Larkin90"/> The album also included a [[cover version|cover]] of the [[Dead Kennedys]] track "[[California über alles]]" (with updated lyrics about Governor [[Pete Wilson]]).  "Television," which received wide airplay on college and alternative radio stations, had previously been recorded by Michael Franti's first band, The Beatnigs.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In common with other bands of the time on both sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy used [[Sampling (music)|sampling]] and [[scratching]] as a primary tool of music recording, and mixed rock, hip hop and jazz.<ref name="Larkin90"/> The album was listed in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.
 Among their contemporaries, the band had strong artistic, political, and personal ties to both [[Meat Beat Manifesto]] and [[Consolidated (band)|Consolidated]].  The recording of ''Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury'' was co-produced by Consolidated's [[Mark Pistel]], and prolific Meat Beat Manifesto frontman [[Jack Dangers]] assisted with mixing.
-In 1993 the duo worked with [[William S. Burroughs]], recording music for a collaborative album entitled ''[[Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales]]''.  This album diverged greatly from the style of the band's previous work, as they were largely providing musical background and accompaniment to Burroughs' spoken readings from several of his books.  The Disposable Heroes split up shortly after.  Michael Franti formed [[Spearhead (band)|Spearhead]],<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> who (to date) have released seven albums, while Tse worked with the Mystik Journeymen.
+In 1993, the duo worked with [[William S. Burroughs]], recording music for a collaborative album entitled ''[[Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales]]''.<ref name="Larkin90"/> This album diverged greatly from the style of the band's previous work, as they were largely providing musical background and accompaniment to Burroughs' spoken readings from several of his books.  The Disposable Heroes split up shortly after.<ref name="Larkin90">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2000|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0427-8|pages=126–7|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
+Peter Jenner, who had managed [[Pink Floyd]] and [[The Clash]], managed the group.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=November 27, 2004 |title=Chrysalis Steps Into Management Shoes |magazine=Billboard |volume=116 |issue=48 |id={{ProQuest|227208946}} }}</ref>
+==Legacy==
+Michael Franti later formed [[Spearhead (band)|Spearhead]],<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> while Tse worked with the Mystik Journeymen.<ref name="HOFFMANN" /> In 1995, Franti said of Spearhead "The big problem with Disposable Heroes was that it was a record people listened to because it was good for them - kind of like broccoli. I want Spearhead to be more like sweet potatoes."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Wild |first=David |date=October 30, 2017 |title=Homeward bound |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]  |id={{ProQuest|220151496}} }}</ref>
+The style of [[turntablism]] developed by the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy was influential on DJ Product©1969, who credited his work, including as a member of the [[rap rock]] band [[Hed PE]], as being influenced by Disposable Heroes.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 13, 2017 |title=Graphic Nature: DJ Product @1969 [(hed)PE – Self Titled] |url=http://www.beatdust.com/graphic-nature/graphic-nature-dj-product-1969-hedpe-self-titled/ |work=beatdust.com |access-date=July 17, 2019 }}</ref>
+"Television, the Drug of The Nation" was listed at number 401 on [[NME]]'s '' The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time'' in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barker |first=Emily |date=January 31, 2014 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 500-401|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-500-401-1421945 |work=NME |access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>
 ==Discography==
+===Albums===
 * ''[[Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury]]'' (1992)
-* ''[[Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales]]'' (1993)
+* ''[[Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales]]'' (1993)<ref name="Larkin90"/>
+===Singles===
+*"(What Do I Do To Become) Famous and Dandy" (Worker's Playtime, 1990)
+*"Television, The Drug of the Nation" EP (4th and Broadway, 1991)
+*"Language of Violence" (4th and Broadway, 1992)
+*"Live Television" (4th and Broadway, 1992)
 ==References==
@@ Line 48: / Line 61: @@
 * [http://www.stayhuman.org/ www.stayhuman.org: Spearhead & Michael Franti website]
 * [http://www.getlyrics.com/artist/disposable+heroes+of+hiphoprisy Lyrics]
-* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5DE103FF936A25750C0A964958260 New York Times review]
+* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5DE103FF936A25750C0A964958260 New York Times review]
 {{Michael Franti}}
+{{Charlie Hunter}}
+{{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, The}}
-[[Category:American hip hop groups]]
+[[Category:American hip-hop duos]]
-[[Category:American musical duos]]
+[[Category:Musical duos from California]]
-[[Category:Hip hop duos]]
 [[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]]
 [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1993]]
-[[Category:Political music]]
+[[Category:Political music groups]]
+[[Category:Musical groups from the San Francisco Bay Area]]

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International	ISNI VIAF
National	United States
Artists	MusicBrainz
Other	IdRef