Mystikal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mystikal | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Michael L. Tyler | |
| Born | September 22, 1970 (age 36) | |
| Origin |  New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
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| Genre(s) | Hip hop, New Orleans rap | |
| Years active | 1995–present | |
| Label(s) | Big Boy Records No Limit Records Jive Records |
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Michael L. Tyler (born September 22, 1970), known by the 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 pled guilty to sexual battery and extortion. He is currently serving a six year prison sentence in the Louisiana State Prison system. He was eligible for parole in 2005, but was denied parole. He will be eligible again in 2007.[1]
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[edit] High school and military service
Michael Tyler went to Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans. Following his graduation from high school, Tyler enlisted in the United States Army and served as a combat engineer detecting mines during Operation Desert Storm.
[edit] Music career
Mystikal's debut album, Mystikal, was released on local, New Orleans-based independent record label Big Boy Records in 1994. He 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. Unpreditctable 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, in 2002.
[edit] 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, after they 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 is currently incarcerated at Louisiana's Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, which is located just outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His assigned prison number is 00469659. On January 19, 2006, Mystikal was denied parole at a parole board hearing. [3]
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]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
| Album cover | Album information |
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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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[edit] Compilation albums
| Album cover | Album information |
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Prince of the South...The Hits
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Chopped & Screwed
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[edit] Trivia
- "Shake Ya Ass" was featured in the movie Scary Movie 2, where it was played on the piano by Father Harris (Andy Richter).
- Mystikal's sister, Michelle Tyler, was a singer who sang the chorus on "Not That Nigga" from Mystikal's 1995 debut album, Mystikal. She was murdered (stabbed) by her boyfriend, Damion Neville (grandson of the Neville Brothers' Charles Neville) in 1994, prior to the album's release. Mystikal's songs "Dedicated To Michelle Tyler" and "Murder 2" on the Mind of Mystikal and Unpredictable albums, respectively, reference his sister's murder.
- Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine performed "Shake Ya Ass" as a lounge style cover on their 2002 album Tuxicity.
- In the movie About a Boy starring Hugh Grant, the main character Marcus (Nicholas Hoult) sings to the tune of "Shake Ya Ass" on his portable CD player.
- Although barely noticeable, the song "Shake Ya Ass" was played in the film Two Can Play That Game, in the scene where the company Conny (Gabrielle Union) worked for hosted a party.
- In the movie Zoolander, the song "Shake Ya Ass" is played when Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel McDonald (Owen Wilson) are in disguise.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Strong, Nolan (2007-01-26). Mystikal Still Incarcerated, Reps Clarify 'Released' Status. AllHipHop.com. Retrieved on January 26, 2007.
- ^ a b Rapper Mystikal sentenced to six years. CNN.com (2004-01-16). Retrieved on September 23, 2006.
- ^ a b Nolan Strong; Christine S. Kim (2006-01-20). AHH Stray News: 50 Cent Sued, Mystikal, Ms. Dynamite, Dilated Peoples. AllHipHop.com. Retrieved on September 23, 2006.
