Mystikal

Michael Lawrence Tyler, professionally known as Mystikal, was born on September 22, 1970, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up in the city’s 12th Ward, he experienced personal tragedy early in life with the death of his father when he was seven. After attending Cohen High School, he served in the United States Army as a combat engineer, gaining experience that preceded his music career.

His musical journey began when he signed with Big Boy Records in 1994, releasing his self-titled debut album, “Mystikal.” This initial success led to a re-release of his work on Jive Records as “Mind of Mystikal” in 1995. A significant turning point in his career came with his association with Master P’s No Limit Records, where he released “Unpredictable” (1997) and “Ghetto Fabulous” (1998).

Mystikal’s career progression included successful singles such as “Shake Ya Ass” (2000) and “Danger (Been So Long)” (2000), both of which featured on his chart-topping album “Let’s Get Ready” (2000). The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking a peak in his commercial success. His 2001 album, “Tarantula,” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album in 2003, with Mystikal also nominated for Best Male Rap Solo Performance. He collaborated with artists like Mariah Carey, Ludacris, and Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, and appeared in the 2003 film “13 Dead Men.” After a period of incarceration, Mystikal re-emerged in 2010, releasing new music and performing, and later signed with Cash Money Records in 2011. He continued to collaborate with various artists, including Mark Ronson on the single “Feel Right” (2015), Stevie Stone on “Rain Dance” (2015) alongside Tech N9ne, Trinidad James on “Just a Lil’ Thick (She Juicy)” (2016), and Joyner Lucas on “FYM” (2017).