Despite the moniker, Project Felon is the brainchild of two friends who share a simple love for hip-hop and good times, Playz and Kevlar. “We’ve made mistakes in the past,” explains Playz, “but we’re beyond it. I’ve got kids, they need me and that’s as real as it gets.” Kevlar adds in agreement, “A lot of the time people live in the past and let that determine their future. It’s all about making the right decisions.” With that mantra in mind, Project Felon has been working hard trying to establish Santa Cruz in the hip-hop world. Armed with Playz’s rhymes and beats, along with Kevlar’s freestyle flow, Project Felon’s live performances have earned the duo everything from radio interviews to television spots. But don’t expect any egos or fake bling rap here. “I tell people that the only difference between us is that I have a microphone,” states Kevlar. Playz breaks it down, “We’re not going to rap about what we don’t have.” And even though their album, To Be a Target, is set to drop in a couple of months, you can hear the truth of their words all over Playz’s solo album, Goliath. Lyrics convey the reality of their lives; from the golden days of barbeques and hanging with friends, to living in a beach town with a seedy underbelly. Featuring Kevlar on several tracks, Goliath also highlights local artists such as the soulful Sarah Mays, beat maestro DAE1, and the slammin’ Josiah; all of whom make up Profel Inc., a label and crew started by Project Felon. “We’ve got people who are focused and Profel Inc. is going to be here for a while,” Kevlar says with a grin. So what does the future hold for Project Felon and the artists on Profel Inc.? “I tell people to just hold their breath because the new stuff is going to be ridiculous,” Playz foreshadows. “The project is the felon, you know?”
INFO: 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24. Catalyst, 1011, Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 423-1338. Myspace.com/projectfelon.
