Just Press Play

An Interview With an Iraq War Vet Turned Rapper

This Veteran’s Day, I decided to spotlight an artist who is also a Veteran, and has since returned to civilian life.

The artist known as Play, spent a few years in the US Army, serving as a 25 U Signal Support Specialist, which in regular English meant he worked on communication equipment, from radios to computers and the mapping system inside the vehicles. At the Time he was known as Sergeant Felton.To hear him tell it, he was part of The Geek Squad with guns and grenades. He served two tours of Iraq, and was good enough to answer a few questions about his service and how it impacted his art.

M. Alberto Rivera: Did you create music prior to joining the Army?

Play: I wasn’t doing music before I joined. Just listening and admiring.

MAR: How did your time in Iraq impact you as an artist?

Play: As an artist, Iraq was so inspirational so many emotions and such confinement just does something to the creative soul. With no outside influences like clubs parties women it made me focus on the art of writing songs.

MAR: Do you have a favorite memory from either deployment?

Play: Aww I have quite a few favorite moments some were caught on video or I have pictures.I learned how to play Uno one morning and decided to challenge one of the Lieutanents to a few games with the catch being that if I lost I had to wear a dress from one of the markets.Of course I lost!Lol and now I have a picture of me with a M4 wearing a peach dress.Oh and my Matrix remake movie.Lol

MAR: How was your return to the US?

Play: Like a lot of soldiers my return has been a relearning process.After going out on missions everyday and being so amped up and seeing so much you really never loose that edge you just learn to rechannel it and use it through different outlets.I’m so happy that I found music and music found me.

MAR: What do you hope people take away from your music?

Play: I hope people hear my music and relate to some of the stories feel good about some of the songs like Be Myself and party to Codicia and still get the lyrical messages I try to put in to every song.