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Mystikal
Real Name: Michael
Tyler
Nickname(s): Mystikal
Hometown: 12th Ward, New Orleans
He is currently 27
years old, father of three children. He went to Cohen High
School, where he was a cheerleader. After he graduated from high
school, he signed up for the Army. At 19 after he just joined the
Army, he was sent off to go fight in Operation Desert Storm.
While in the Army, Mystikal was a U.S. Army combat technician. He
was also caught off base at the wrong time and was sent straight
to military prison. This is how Mystikal got his style and name,
from the rowdy drill sergeants to yelling on the battlefields.
Mystikal says he
wasn't on the front lines, but he was close enough to the
fighting to see the death and destruction war deals. According to
Mystikal, soon he became immune to the sights. For him, the
challenge was more mental than physical, and he says to relieve
the stress, many soldiers would turn to rhyming.
When Mystical came
back, he had a rebellious attitude, and a hit song he penned
while in the stockade. That song, "I'm Not That Nigga,"
would pave the way for his signing by Jive. Mystical's year of
dues paying at countless local talent shows would finally pay
off. A producer, DJ Precise spotted Mystikal and secured a deal
for him at a local label called Big Boy, which released his debut
LP, The Mind Of Mystical.
Today, 27-year old
Mystical, a.k.a. Michael Tyler, reflects on his first taste of
fame then disillusionment as necessary steps to take him to the
next level. After Mystikal's debut album, sold over 600,000
copies and brought him the fame and critical acclaim he had
sought, the bright reflection suddenly dulled. His friend Master
P helped shiny up the mirror.
"Things just
weren't working out to my expectations," says Mystikal.
"P knew my situation before I knew it. He's been there
before. With this No Limit/Jive Records deal, I made a big step
up."
Mystical's sophmore
LP, Unpredictable, is the rappers's step up. Backed by No Limit's
crew of master producers, Beats By The Pound, adn a longtime
musical ally, KLC, Mystikal finally had the sort of backup which
makes for great records. "KL and I go way back," says
Mysikal. "In fact, he was the first producer I ever worked
with, so he knows exactly what beats to put behind me. It's
really like old times.
Master P and
Mystikal share a bond and can relate to one another well because
they both had siblings who were murdered. P's brother Kevin 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.
Mystikal's next albumn will be out on November 10, 1998, and it will be totally all about No Limit.
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