According to Flobots vocalist Stephen “Brer Rabbit” Brackett, he discovered his identity as a musician and social activist during a freestyle rap battle years ago.
While spitting names back and forth against his opponent, Brackett clutched his mother’s ceramic rabbit, thrust it in the face of his opponent and declared, “If you’re gonna be this … then I’ll be Brer Rabbit.”
The singer said he felt a strong connection to the fictitious character and the allegorical themes associated with it.
“The story is about the rabbit who seems weak but uses his wit to overcome more powerful characters,” he said.
“It becomes serendipitously perfect in my world view. ”
Brackett’s career has come a long way since freestyling in his stepmother’s living room with his friends. Flobots has become especially known for its 2008 hit single, “Handlebars.”
The group, which is performing at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., seeks to encourage awareness to anyone with an open ear.
“Our shows have 7-year-olds to 86-year-olds and many people from all walks of life,” he said. “The fact that we’re all here for the same purpose, even though we’ve come from different places, is really electrifying.”
Criminal justice junior Mack Doyle first found inspiration to pursue social activism through music from Flobots about four years ago.
He said he never imagined he and his band, Giraffe Attack!, would be opening for a Flobots concert.
“We listened to Flobots back in high school when we formed (Giraffe Attack!),” he said. “Being able to open for somebody who was basically our music inspiration in high school was awesome.”
Like Flobots, Giraffe Attack!’s music has its own social agenda.
Doyle said it’s important for individuals to have self-formed opinions about their surroundings.
“We have songs that are about being informed as a citizen,” he said. “That takes priority for us — that everyone is active politically, whether they believe one way or another. ”
Brackett said it also is important for students with passion to avoid overworking themselves.
“When I was in college, I didn’t realize I needed to take care of myself,” he said.“When you’re working that hard, it’s very easy to burn out.”
Political science junior Emma Tonge said she is eager to see her friends in Giraffe Attack! open for Flobots on Saturday.
“I’m friends with the members of the band, and I’m really excited to see them play alongside a band like Flobots that they had drawn inspiration from, ” she said.
Tonge said she began listening to Flobots when she was 14 and found herself intrigued by what she said was a unique take on the genre.
“Hip-hop that is now considered popular is more about material goods than about a movement, ” she said. “I think that Flobots provides their listeners with more provocative and important ideas for them to think about. ”
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Brackett said although he’s looking forward to performing in Lansing, he’s also excited to interact with fans.
“We really do pride ourselves on our live show,” he said. “We leave everything on stage. If I have any energy left, I haven’t done something right. We don’t mess around with giving people a real show.”
