This lefty Bay Area rapper had a surprise 2009 hit with the light-hearted, reggae-tinged ''Say Hey (I Love You).'' The follow-up album sets evocations of hard-won happiness to similarly strummy, globally grooved hip-hop. On The Sound of Sunshine, ''I'll Be Waiting'' reaches for U2 grandeur, but Michael Franti is best as an amiable neo-Marley busker, asking for change, love, and maybe one more shot at crossover gold. B+
Download These:
The title track, a spiritual wake-up call The Sound of Sunshine at amazon.com
Dance-pop redemption song Hey Hey Hey at amazon.com
