Mystikal Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs
By Andrew Noz | Feb 21, 2012 | 1:16 pm | Permalink
If an explosion could be condensed into human form and taught to rap, that rapper would be Mystikal. The New Orleanian rap legend's manic, scatter-shot flow took him from local hero to the de facto general of the No Limit Soldiers at the height of their success and propelled him towards genuine pop star status by the turn of the century.
In 2004, his career was abruptly derailed by a six-year prison stay stemming from extortion and sexual assault charges, but he returned to the world and the rap game last year. A seemingly changed man, but no less of a ferocious rapper, he's since inked a deal with hometown hit makers (and his one time rivals) Cash Money.
With today being Fat Tuesday aka Mardi Gras, we got Mystikal to tell the stories behind some of his biggest hits, telling tales of how he opened for Run DMC, beefed with an entire rap sub-genre, and almost slept through No Limit's most memorable posse cut.
Written by Andrew Nosnitsky (@noz)
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edward barnes February 21st, 2012 at 09:39 PM
he left out TIM SMOOTH wrote his 1st Lp!!!!!
wobblie February 22nd, 2012 at 02:42 PM
how can complex co-sign this registered sex offender? call me a "hater" or whatever, fact is that no matter how legendary dude is, there are some things that continue to be reprehensible... and sexual assault (and all forms of violence against women for that matter) is one of 'em.
Bgold February 26th, 2012 at 04:51 AM
Then why read the article? no matter how you feel about this man he will always recieve love for his talents. I dont have to forgive him for his mistakes, he paid that debt to society already!
Dude February 22nd, 2012 at 04:05 PM
Awesome interview. Love that you attached all the songs. If there was a way for you to make an ebook of interviews with artists, or classes on this stuff, I would have to be restrained to keep my money outta your pocket. It's a great portrait of Mystikal as a human being and fan of hip hop that you've provided.
chillin662 February 23rd, 2012 at 08:09 AM
The man right chea... here I Go!!!!
Funk Dogg February 24th, 2012 at 10:00 AM
@ wobblie So how long would someone have to go to jail before he's forgiven for what he's done? Mystikal was in prison for six years. Six fuckin' years! And you still think that's not enough? Man, that's what I'd call reprehensible.
supermerk2 February 24th, 2012 at 09:32 PM
@Funk Dogg He could have gotten ten years, bruh. also what he did, ain't something you forgive lightly, dude robs someone, beats dude up ok...but this shit was on another level.