Mystikal | |
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 Mystikal in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | G Money |
| Born | Michael Lawrence Tyler (1970-09-22)September 22, 1970 (age 55) New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern hip-hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Formerly of | 504 Boyz |
Michael Lawrence Tyler (born September 22, 1970), better known by his stage nameMystikal, is an American rapper and actor fromNew Orleans, Louisiana. He is noted for his brash, obstreperous vocal delivery, characterized by aSouthern rasp. He signed with the New Orleans-based record labelBig Boy Records to release his self-titled debut studio album (1994), which was re-released byJive Records the following year as his major label debut,Mind of Mystikal (1995). He then parted ways with the former label in favor of its local competitor,Master P'sNo Limit Records, through which he released his second and third albums,Unpredictable (1997) andGhetto Fabulous (1998), as well asGoodfellas (1999) as a member of its flagship group,504 Boyz.
Following his departure from No Limit, he remained signed in a joint venture with Jive Records. His 2000 singles, "Shake Ya Ass" (featuringPharrell Williams) and "Danger (Been So Long)" (featuringNivea), peaked at numbers 13 and 14 on theBillboard Hot 100, respectively. Both preceded the release of his fourth album,Let's Get Ready (2000), which debuted atop theBillboard 200; it was followed by a direct sequel,Turantula (2001), which saw a commercial decline.
Tyler was born and raisedNew Orleans, Louisiana's12th Ward. His father, who ran a small neighborhood store, died when Tyler was seven. He attendedCohen High School and afterward joined theUnited States Army as acombat engineer.
As an aspiring rapper, he opened forRun-DMC andDoug E. Fresh at an outdoor concert at the Treme Center. Leroy "Precise" Edwards, the in-house producer for theKenner, Louisiana-headquarteredindependent record labelBig Boy Records, was in the audience, and granted him a contract with the label.[1] Mystikal's debut album,Mystikal, was released onBig Boy in 1994. The album was one of Big Boy's most successful albums and gained major success for Mystikal. The album's success caught the attention of major record labels, which resulted in Mystikal signing toJive Records later that year.[2] In 1995, he found himself involved in conflict with fellow New Orleansrappers signed to rivalCash Money, including U.N.L.V. and The B.G.'z. They dissed him on tracks like "Drag 'Em in Tha River" by U.N.L.V. and "Fuck Big Boy" by The B.G.'z. He struck back with "Beware" and "Here I Go" which were on his second album,Mind of Mystikal. Mystikal's sister, Michelle Tyler, sang the chorus on "Not That Nigga" and her fate became a major influence on Mystikal's music after her death in September 1994.[3] The songs "Dedicated to Michelle Tyler", "Murder" (both onMind of Mystikal), "Murder 2", "Shine" (both onUnpredictable) and "Murder III" (onLet's Get Ready) refer to her death. Mystikal and Lil Wayne would eventually squash their feud and become collaborators.[4]
Mystikal signed toJive and releasedMind of Mystikal in 1995. He signed toMaster P'sNo Limit in 1996 and releasedUnpredictable in November 1997. He appeared on many of the No Limit albums released from 1997 through a chunk of 2000. He also collaborated with Mariah Carey on herRainbow album on the track 'Did I Do That'. In late 1998, he releasedGhetto Fabulous. That was his last album with the label, and he and No Limit parted ways in July 2000.[5]
In 1999, he had begun recording his fourth album before leaving No Limit.Let's Get Ready was released in 2000 and contained "Danger (Been So Long)", which featured rising pop starNivea, and was theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songsnumber-one single in June 2001.Let's Get Ready debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, making it Mystikal's only chart-topping album to date. The album also featured the popular,Neptunes-produced hit "Shake Ya Ass". The song attained cult-like popularity and can be heard in the background of numerous movies.
Mystikal's most recent solo release was the 2001 albumTarantula, which contained the hit single, "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall)". Though it presented Mystikal's typical and funky flow style, which had the distinction of drawing comparison to legendary R&B soul screamersLittle Richard andJames Brown,[6] the song also saw a blending ofjazz andswing elements withhip-hop. The well received album was nominated for aGrammy Award forBest Rap Album in 2003, and Mystikal was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance that same year.[7] Mystikal was also featured prominently in the single, "Move Bitch" byLudacris as well as "I Don't Give a Fuck" byLil Jon & The East Side Boyz along withKrayzie Bone, both in 2002. In 2003 he starred in the film13 Dead Men. In 2003, Mystikal was indicted on charges ofsexual battery andextortion. On January 15, 2004, he was sentenced to six years in prison[citation needed] after pleading guilty to forcing his hairstylist to perform sex acts. He served the full six years of his sentence and was released on January 14, 2010.[citation needed]
Mystikal headlined a concert at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts onMardi Gras, February 16, 2010.[8] Mystikal's first song after being released from prison was an underground track with former No Limit labelmate Fiend entitled "I Don't Like You".[9] A few weeks later, Atlanta-based, New Orleans–born R&B artistLloyd released "Set Me Free" featuring Mystikal. The music video for "Set Me Free" was released on May 18, 2010, and was shot in New Orleans, primarily from theCalliope Projects.[10]
In an interview in May 2010, he stated that he was still obligated to Jive Records for one more album and would be taking the necessary time to ensure the album would be his best to date.[9] He made a promo song called "Papercuts" featuringFiend andLil Wayne. In 2011, he performed at theGathering of the Juggalos.[11] Mystikal andBusta Rhymes were signed toCash Money Records byBirdman on November 16 the same year. His first single for the label, "Original", was released shortly thereafter and featured new label-mates Birdman andLil Wayne.
In 2014, Mystikal guest performed on the single "Feel Right" forMark Ronson's albumUptown Special. The song and video were released in 2015.
Also in 2015, Mystikal appeared onStevie Stone's SingleRain Dance withTech N9ne from the 2015 releaseMalta Bend.
In January 2016, he performed in shows inBahrain andBulgaria withDanny![citation needed] In February 2016, Mystikal toured the United States.
In April 2016, Mystikal was featured on "Just a Lil' Thick (She Juicy)" byTrinidad James along withLil Dicky.
In 2017, he was featured on "FYM" byJoyner Lucas, from his commercial mixtape508-507-2209.
On his 24th birthday, Mystikal found his sister Michelle Tyler dead in her bedroom, having been stabbed and strangled. Her boyfriend at the time, Damion Neville, was charged with murder but later was acquitted due to a lack of evidence and a recanted confession.[3]
On June 26, 2003, Mystikal pleaded guilty tosexual battery andextortion of his hairstylist. On January 15, 2004, Mystikal was sentenced to six years in state prison. The rapper and two bodyguards forced the woman to perform oral sex, and accused her of stealing $80,000 in checks. As part of a plea bargain, all three pleaded guilty. Mystikal initially claimed that the incident was consensual, but a videotape of the incident was later found at his home shortly after the charges were made. Negotiations during the trial held the videotape from being entered as evidence and Mystikal agreed to the plea bargain offered by the prosecution, avoiding the mandatory life sentence for sexual battery inLouisiana and expecting to receive probation. However, the case took a twist when the judge viewed the videotape at the sentencing, took into account Mystikal's two prior arrests (for drug and gun possession), and had him remanded into custody to begin serving a six-year sentence immediately. Mystikal's bodyguards, Leland Ellis and Vercy Carter, also pleaded guilty to sexual battery.[7]
In August 2005, while incarcerated on the state sexual battery and extortion charges, Mystikal was charged federally with twomisdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns for 1998 and 1999. On January 12, 2006, he was convicted infederal court of the tax offenses, but was allowed to serve the one-year federal sentence concurrent with his six-year state sentence.[12] Mystikal was incarcerated at Louisiana'sElayn Hunt Correctional Center. On January 19, 2006, Mystikal was denied parole at a parole board hearing.[13] On January 11, 2007, Mystikal was released from custody on the federal misdemeanor tax convictions (as his one-year sentence had expired), but he remained in custody on the six-year sentence for the Louisiana state felony convictions. The news of his release caused confusion among fans who heard the news and mistakenly thought he had been released on parole.[14] He was released January 14, 2010.[15] After his release, Mystikal was registered as a sex offender.
On February 22, 2012, Mystikal was arrested again following a dispute with his domestic partner and was later given a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse battery. He was detained for nine days and then released on bail. On April 16, he was given a three-month jail sentence for violating the terms of his probation he was given following his release from prison in January 2010. He was given credit for the nine days already served, reducing his confinement to 81 days. He began serving his sentence on May 14 at the EastBaton Rouge Parish Jail.[16] During his incarceration, he appeared in court to be heard on the domestic battery charges as well as for a hearing to determine child support payments for his two youngest children. Mystikal was released from jail in August 2012.
On August 21, 2017, Mystikal turned himself into theCaddo Parish Sheriff's Department after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was subsequently charged with rape.[17] He was held at the Caddo Correctional Center on a $3 million bond[18] until February 14, 2019, when he was able to post bond. The charges were later dropped.[19]
Mystikal has been held without bond in Ascension Parish since July 30, 2022, on rape and domestic abuse charges.[20] If convicted of first-degree rape, he will face a mandatory life sentence.[21]
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