Mystikal
Mystikal |
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Michael L. Tyler (born September 22, 1970 [citation needed]), better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper who grew up in the 12th Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is one of the few artists from Master P's New Orleans-based No Limit label to achieve both critical and commercial success.
In 2003, Mystikal pleaded guilty to sexual battery and extortion. He is currently serving a six year prison sentence in the Louisiana State Prison system.[1]
High school and military service
Michael Tyler went to Walter L. Cohen High in New Orleans. Following his graduation from high school in 1988, he enlisted in the United States Army.
Music career
Mystikal's debut album, Mystikal, was 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. 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.
Mystikal signed to Jive Records and released Mind of Mystikal in 1995. The album sold well, and he signed to Master P's No Limit Records for Unpredictable in 1997. Unpredictable also sold well, and garnered Mystikal critical praise, though his real breakthrough was Let's Get Ready, released in 2000. Let's Get Ready contained "Danger (Been So Long)," which featured rising pop star Nivea, and was the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one single in June, 2001. The album also featured the popular, Neptunes-produced hit "Shake Ya Ass." Let's Get Ready debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200, making it Mystikal's only chart-topping album to date.
Mystikal's most recent solo release was the 2001 album Tarantula, which contained the hit single, "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall)". Though it presented Mystikal's typical and unique flow style, the song also saw a blending of jazz and swing elements with hip-hop. The well received album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2003, and Mystikal was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance that same year.[2] Mystikal was also featured prominently in the single, "Move Bitch" by Ludacris as well as "I Don't Give a Fuck" by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz along with Krayzie Bone, both in 2002. In 2003 he starred in the film 13 Dead Men.
Legal issues
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 on Mystikal, and 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]
Mystikal was incarcerated at Louisiana's Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. On January 19, 2006, Mystikal was denied parole at a parole board hearing.[4]
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.[1]
Discography
Solo albums
| Album information |
|---|
Mystikal
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Mind of Mystikal
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Unpredictable
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Ghetto Fabulous
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Let's Get Ready
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Tarantula
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2010
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Compilation albums
| Album information |
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Prince of the South... The Hits
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Chopped & Screwed
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References
- ^ a b Strong, Nolan (2007-01-26). "Mystikal Still Incarcerated, Reps Clarify 'Released' Status". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Rapper Mystikal sentenced to six years". CNN.com. 2004-01-16. Retrieved 2006-09-23.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Cite error: The named reference "Rapper Mystikal sentenced to six years" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Nolan Strong (2006-01-20). "AHH Stray News: 50 Cent Sued, Mystikal, Ms. Dynamite, Dilated Peoples". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2006-09-23.
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