Who are we?

Through a sound both nostalgic and revolutionary, the alternative hip-hop group, Central Florida Project, is attracting audiences with clever wordplay and rhythmic beats. Outside the box of traditional genre, they blend the sounds of various styles, pulling influence from hip-hop, rap, and rock. Their songs are creative melodies layered with powerful lyrical content. Incorporating both old-school and new-school hip-hop sounds, they blend upbeat tracks with smooth rhythm and clever wordplay. Central Florida Project fills every piece with rich vocals and powerful messages, luring listeners in with their every word.

Based out of Lakeland FL, CFP is represented by three members, Mystro Harv, Jay the Jay, and Saquoia. From a young age, each of them found an infatuation with music. Mystro was raised by a musically inclined family, began singing as a child in the church choir, and eventually learned to play the trombone in the school band. As a kid, Jay’s parents took him to rock concerts. He found appreciation in screamo and post-hardcore, learned to play guitar, and made appearances at local open mic nights. A former football player, in elementary school Saquoia was gifted an iPod by his father, a hip-hop enthusiast, who introduced Saquoia to music by Lil Wayne and Lil John. Even while he was focused on school sports, Saquoia always felt a passion for rap and hip-hop. As a young teen, he and Jay formed a friendship and began dabbling with freestyling over beats. When Jay met Mystro through work at the hospital, he knew he had found their third member.  As soon as they all gathered in the same room, everything clicked. Their first song came together effortlessly. From there, they began putting in the work toward their vision and Central Florida Project was born.  

In the early days of inception, the members of CFP were primarily studio hermits. These three talented creatives practiced honing their skill set and establishing their unique sound as a group. Each of them brought their eccentric style, adding a unique dynamic to their work as a collective. A deep brotherhood formed between them as they embarked on a voyage to become heroes of their own reality. On December 10, 2021, they released their first album, CFP Takeover. One month later, the guys appeared for their first live performance at a local open mic night. The audience loved them and the venue invited CFP back for their own show. They secured a following in their area and continue to host events with other local acts. Talent performers with high-energy stage presence, they are determined to keep the crowd engaged. Audiences sing along with CFP and turn out for every event. Unlike some hip-hop performers, this trio only keeps their backup vocals while onstage, ultimately mixing up fresh live versions of their work. Each show is unique, keeping fans intrigued. Their comradery is electric and CFP channels that spark into everything they do.

Throughout their journey, they faced much adversity. CFP is relentless on its journey, however, and each struggle is only a stepping stone on the path to success. They are reaping the rewards of their work as they continue to grow. Their profound lyrical flow and ability to remain authentically themselves set them apart from the stale mediocrity of the industry. CFP is also shifting the spotlight to their underrepresented home of Polk County, Florida. Highly diverse, the area is rich in culture and Central Florida Project is proud of where they are from. With so many big names centered in places like New York or Las Angeles, CFP is providing an example for others to look up to. They are proof that regardless of where you are, anyone can reach success with hard work and determination.

With exciting performances and a growing fanbase, Central Florida Project is establishing itself as a collective of true entertainers. They stand apart from their contemporaries by taking a hand in almost every aspect of creation. From writing lyrics to creating beats and music videos, CFP is rising high above the rest. They are solidifying their longevity in the industry by cultivating intimacy with listeners and releasing optimistic songs that bring a wave of positivity to the world. Weaving a web of community, they are offering more than just music, but generational change to audiences of all backgrounds. Central Florida Project is on a mission of art that is repurposing human struggle for something remarkable.

“We want to offer you a reservoir of empathy and wisdom when it deserves credit. We share our music with the hope that it brings the same progress to your lives that it does to ours. Please fasten your seat belts and join us on this journey to making music whole again. This is an invitation to enjoy this craft with us and help us spread positivity in these crazy times. We are the Central Florida Project and we welcome you along for the ride.”

– CFP

Music by Central Florida Project is available on all major platforms. Listen today!