Originally from New Orleans also, his history is a little similar to Young Bleed. Mystikal was the one of the first rappers from New Orleans to get nationwide exposure. He released his first album "Mind Of Mystikal" in 1994 on Big Boy Records. Once he started gettin some recogintion he then signed a contract with the well known Jive Records where "Mind Of Mystikal" was re-released with a few extra cuts.
Mystikal aka Michael Tyler is 26 yrs old. Mystikal was in the Desert Storm war, this where he got his idea to form his original crew, the Boot Camp Clicc. Mystikal made his 1st appearance on No Limit on Steady Mobb'n's album on a song called "Its On". He then reappeared on the "Bout It" soundtrack on "What 'Cha Think". After hearing the song, P was quoted as saying, "this is the type of lyrics that should be said on my label". In a Rolling Stone article, P said him and Mystikal share a bond and can relate to one another well because they both had siblings who were murdered. P's brother Kevin as ya know and Mystikal's sister Michelle Tyler.
Mystikal's tale is a lil deeper because his sister was murdered by her boyfriend,(Damion Neville, grandson of the Neville Brothers' Charles). Mystikal tells the whole story in "Murder 2". Michelle makes an appearance on Mystikal's 1st album on a song called "Not That Nigga" where she sings the chorus.
Courtesy of No Limit/Jive Records
Master P, the gangsta of the moment, may soon pack up the mike on his solo career, but he's made a nice choice of proteges to take over his position. P oversees and produces several of the tracks on this, the second recording by New Orleans-born rapper Mystikal, and the disc illustrates a fine mix of production skills and urgent rhyming. Mystikal raps in a coarse, gravelly tone — it will be a miracle if he can maintain that voice for five to seven years without wrecking his throat — and he's a good writer. Although most of the subject matter is standard gangstaville pulp, Mystikal brings a refreshing flair in his rhyme schemes and cultural references. The production offsets the harsh leads with smooth, nuanced funk; often scratchy rhythm-guitar figures accent the verses while cool basslines percolate underneath. With guest spots from Snoop, Silkk, E-40 and Master P himself, this disc is designed to be with us for a while. Fortunately the leader has the skills to make it work
INTERVIEW TAKEN FROM VIBE MAGAZINE:
I represent a unique-ass city as a unique-ass rapper," says Mystikal. "And that's why niggas respect me." He's proudly sitting in his new Land Cruiser with the leather interior. Our backdrop is New Orleans's clear nighttime sky. And no one familiar with Mystikal's single "Y'all Ain't Ready Yet" (off his album Mind of Mystikal) can deny that there's something to this MC's odd fast-slow-fast tempo, his melodramatic pauses-and his loud, then low, then lower, then louder rhyme patterns. The end result is a boiling sonic gumbo. And it's about time-not much boom-bap has oozed up out of Louisiana's swamplands. There's Big Mike-the impassioned player whose work (alone and with the Geto Boys) put the state on the hip hop map. But Mystikal is far from a Mike clone. He's a swift verbal expressionist straight off the festive, Mardi-Gras-havin' streets of the Big Easy. His is a swanky poetry, custom-designed for players and those who enjoy acting like players. Mystikal, though, knows who he is.
"I've been Mystikal since way back-since [1985's] `La-Di-Da-Di,' " says the 25-year-old storyteller, beaming and spreading clues about his influences. "UTFO, all the Roxanne stuff."
Mystikal's voice, even in conversation, is electric-a bit reminiscent of Little Richard. "I was always down with the rhythms," he says. "Even in church. I used to be jammin'. My moms would say, `You ain't supposed to be dancin' like that in church!' I was all into the groove."
But it wasn't so groovy in 1991 when Mystikal had to report in army fatigues to Saudi Arabia: "I woke up every day saying, `What the hell am I doing here?' " From New Orleans scuffles to international conflicts, the Gulf War veteran has seen a lot. "That was some put-hair-on-your-chest, disgusting shit that you had to take like a man," he says of his wartime experience. "It made me respect life a little more." And his album is deserving of 'nuff respect itself. "It's just starting," says Mystikal about his career and his rare flow. "I might be rappin' backward next year."
