Soul mafia are hard to pin down with their full-length album, 'MK Ultra.'  Whether they are delivering some heavy guitar laced punk-powered pop with 'Wasted' or dropping a more soulful yet still hard edge with 'Rainbow Girl,' bringing some rock-rap crossover with 'Unsung' or showing a little hip-hop meets pop on 'I Can't Get Enough,' it is clear that this 12 track album is for the open-minded.  However, with artists seemingly more willing to drift across genres and fans eager to soak it all up, Soul Mafia could rise above the one-track mindsets of previous generations with this accomplished album.  With a fusion of hip-hop, rock, soul, jazz and a healthy dose of pop Soul Mafia swerve categorization like the plague.  The four-man outfit bring a changeable mood all underpinned by G.C.'s guitar work and the solid drum work of Lil Dee.  Elsewhere prism brings some solid synth work among his arsenal of musical skills and IAM brings vocal assistance to the table.  With a feel that would translate effortlessly to the live arena there is every chance that this act will be tearing up stages across the U.S. and - given the right push - further afield.  With Joe Budden slated for the remix of the solidly hip-hop 'All I Need,' it is clear that Soul Mafia are already turning heads. Yes, those wanting no frills hip-hop will find this to be too rock orientated for their tastes and may do better to cherry-pick tracks rather than grabbing the whole album - but those more open to styles will relish Soul Mafia's penchant for swapping styles mid-track and tune to tune.  Soul Mafia will no doubt find a strong following among fans of rock / rap crossover music but, with Lil Wayne being just one of those spreading out into different areas, this act could see their appeal grow outside of the traditional college set and to a wider demographic.          

Soul Mafia - MK Ultra