This Is Book’s Music

Soul Mafia are a band whose premise is to create their own custom hybrid of hip-hop and rock so that they’re able to set themselves apart from everyone else who is doing the same. What I do hear on MK Ultra (Pursuance) is the potential of a group who know what they’re doing, and nothing is going to stop them from reaching that goal.

Initially, the first group I thought of was Linkin Park, I guess because Mike Shinoda has done well with them and Fort Minor so perhaps they were used as a template for Soul Mafia. They have some good stories, and occasionally it sounds as if they’re putting on stories normally heard in hard rock and heavy metal and using them within the boundaries of hip-hop. Other times I hear an accessible formula that will get them airtime in television shows and movies, something that’s not too abrasive but enough to make people go “ooh, that sounds a bit sinister to me”.

There are a few moments on MK Ultra that leave me wanting much more, and when the flow of the raps don’t quite match up with the band, I moved to the next song. I would’ve preferred if they had not released it or made an attempt to release a revision. Other than that, no harm done with Soul Mafia. If they’re able to match the power of their name, they could be ruthless.

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