Like 1998′s 3rd Eye Vision, Souls of Mischief’s Focus was released on the Hieroglyphics own label. Unlike that well polished album, Focus has the feel of a series of unfinished demos. Rather than pass the mic among the group on each song, the four members, Phesto, A-Plus, Opio, and Tajai go it alone on the album’s tracks. They meet with mixed success. The album veers between Tajai’s shimmering, complex “Dues Pay” and Phesto’s brittle, artificial “Way 2 Cold.” Overall the album feels disjointed: Souls of Mischief nearly completely abandons the fluid lyricism of their first album, 93 ‘Til Infinity, opting instead for harsh, spare tracks. Dedicated fans of the Hieroglyphics will be interested, but other would be better off with the group’s debut. – Chris Witt