High school and military service

Michael Tyler went to Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans. Following his graduation from high school in 1988, Tyler enlisted in the United States Army where he served in the Gulf War.

Music career

Mystikal's debut album, Mystikal, was released on local, New Orleans-based independent record label Big Boy Records in 1994. Mystikal's sister, Michelle Tyler, who sang the chorus on "Not That Nigga" was murdered (stabbed) by her boyfriend, Damion Neville (grandson of the Neville Brothers' Charles Neville), prior to the album's release. The songs "Dedicated To Michelle Tyler" and "Murder 2" on the Mind of Mystikal and Unpredictable albums, respectively, refer to Mystikal's sister's murder.

Mystikal 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. Unpredictable 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. 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.

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.

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.

Mystikal was incarcerated at Louisiana's Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. His assigned prison number is 00469659. On January 19, 2006, Mystikal was denied parole at a parole board hearing.

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.

On the sketch comedy show Mind of Mencia, Carlos Mencia does an impression of Mystikal doing a song about his prison sentence in his Bow Down sketch.

Discography

Solo albums

Compilation albums