Mystikal

Michael Lawrence Tyler (born September 22, 1970), better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper and actor from Louisiana.

He initially gained fame in the mid-1990s as an artist under Master P's regionally successful independent label, No Limit Records.

Mystikal's debut album, Mystikal, was released on New Orleans-based independent record label Big Boy in 1994.

The album was one of Big Boy's most successful albums and gained major success for 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.

The songs "Dedicated to Michelle Tyler", "Murder" (both on Mind of Mystikal), "Murder 2", "Shine" (both on Unpredictable) and "Murder III" (on Let's Get Ready) refer to her death.

Mystikal and Lil Wayne would eventually squash their feud and become collaborators.

In 1995, he found himself involved in conflict with fellow New Orleans rappers signed to rival Cash 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 signed to Jive and released Mind of Mystikal in 1995.

He signed to Master P's No Limit in 1996 and released Unpredictable 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 her Rainbow album on the track 'Did I Do That'.

In late 1998, he released Ghetto Fabulous.

In 1999, he had begun recording his fourth album before leaving No Limit.

Mystikal is known for brash, obstreperous vocal delivery characterized by a distinctive rasp, as well as his 2000 singles: "Shake Ya Ass" (featuring Pharrell Williams) and "Danger (Been So Long)" (featuring Nivea).

The songs reached numbers 13 and 14 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded his fourth album, Let's Get Ready (2000), which peaked the Billboard 200 upon release.

That was his last album with the label, and he and No Limit parted ways in 2000.

Let's Get Ready was released in 2000 and 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.

Let's Get Ready debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it Mystikal's only chart-topping album to date.

The album also featured the popular, Neptunes-produced hit "Shake Ya Ass".

Mystikal's final studio album to date was the 2001 album Tarantula, 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 screamers Little Richard and James Brown, the song also saw a blending of jazz and swing elements with hip-hop.

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.

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.

In 2003 he starred in the film 13 Dead Men.

In 2003, Mystikal was indicted on charges of sexual battery and extortion.

On January 15, 2004, he was sentenced to six years in prison 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.

Mystikal headlined a concert at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts on Mardi Gras, February 16, 2010.

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".

A few weeks later, Atlanta-based, New Orleans-born R&B artist Lloyd 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 the Calliope Projects.

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.

He made a promo song called "Papercuts" featuring Fiend and Lil Wayne.

In 2011, he performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos.

Tyler grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana's 12th Ward.

His father, who ran a small neighborhood store, died when Tyler was seven.

He attended Cohen High School and afterward joined the United States Army as a combat engineer.

As an aspiring rapper, he opened for Run-DMC and Doug E. Fresh at an outdoor concert at the Treme Center.

Leroy "Precise" Edwards, the house producer for Big Boy Records, was in the audience, and granted him a contract.