Representative Albums: "Let's Get Ready," "Tarantula," "Prince of the South...The Hits"
Representative Songs: "Shake Ya Ass," "Danger (Been So Long)," "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Aga"
Biography
Originally one of the leading rappers on Master P's No Limit record label, Mystikal quickly evolved beyond the label's clichéd thug trappings and found himself one of the Dirty South's most recognized rappers, alongside Juvenile. Like No Limit itself, Mystikal is a New Orleans native. He released an eponymous debut on the independent label Big Boy in 1995. It earned the attention of Jive Records, who signed him later that year. His official, major-label debut, Mind of Mystikal, was released early in 1996 and became a major hit in the rap underground, falling just short of going gold. He then hooked up with Master P and No Limit; the union produced Unpredictable, which was released in the fall of 1997 and helped the rapper build a substantial following. Ghetto Fabulous followed in early 1999, falling just short of debuting at number one on the album charts. Consolidating his status as a hot property, Mystikal wasted no time in issuing a follow-up; Let's Get Ready appeared in the fall of 2000, eclipsing his preceding releases in sales terms, as expected. Driven by the James Brown-like "Shake Ya Ass" as a lead single -- an MTV staple before the album even hit the streets -- it had become increasingly difficult to trace Mystikal's roots back to the trademark sound and motifs of the thuggish No Limit camp. Let's Get Ready demonstrated the wide-reaching ambitions that had only been hinted at in successive releases, eliminating the No Limit stigma and finally making his unique rhyme delivery accessible enough to cross over to the masses. In 2001, Mystikal's bombastic rap stylings came together for a fifth album, Tarantula. "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)" was one of 2002's hottest singles; the next year Mystikal garnered two Grammy nods for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album. The hit-grabbing compilation Prince of the South dropped in 2004 with the new single "Oochie Pop." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Big Boy Records (1994-1996) No Limit Records (1997-1999) Jive Records (1995-Present)
Big Truck Records (2000-Present)
Michael Lawrence Tyler, better known by his stage nameMystikal, (born September 22, 1971) is an American rapper who grew up in the 12th Ward near Tchoupitoulas Street of New Orleans.
Mystikal's debut album, Mystikal, released on local, New Orleans-based independent record label Big Boy Records in 1994. He found himself in some conflicts with fellow local rappers from Cash Money Records including U.N.L.V. Lil Wayne and B.G. amongst others. They dissed him on tracks like Drag 'em in tha River by U.N.L.V. and Fuck Big Boy by B.G. He struck back with the diss Beware which was on his sophomore effort Mind of Mystikal. Mystikal's sister, Michelle Tyler, who sang the chorus on "Not That Nigga" was murdered (stabbed) by her boyfriend, Damion Neville (grandson of the Neville Brothers' Charles Neville), prior to the album's release. The songs "Dedicated To Michelle Tyler" and "Murder 2" on the Mind of Mystikal and Unpredictable albums, respectively, refer to Mystikal's sister's murder.
On January 16, 2004, Mystikal was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to forcing his hairstylist to perform sex acts. He also admitted to extortion. The rapper and two bodyguards forced the woman to perform oral sex, have sex with them, and accused her of stealing $80,000 in checks. Mystikal initially denied the assault, but confessed after a videotape of the crime was found at his home. Bodyguards Leland "Pokie" Ellis and Vercy "V" Carter also pled guilty to sexual battery.[2]
In August 2005, while incarcerated on the state sexual battery and extortion charges, Mystikal was charged federally with two misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns for 1998 and 1999. On January 12, 2006, he was convicted in federal court of the tax offenses, but was allowed to serve the one year federal sentence concurrent with his six year state sentence.[3]
On January 11, 2007, Mystikal was released from custody on the federal misdemeanor tax convictions (as his one-year sentence had expired), but he remains in custody on the 6-year sentence for the Louisiana state felony convictions. His projected release date is January 14, 2010. [1]
