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

He then parted ways with the former label in favor of its local competitor, Master P's No Limit Records, through which he released his second and third albums, Unpredictable (1997) and Ghetto Fabulous (1998), as well as Goodfellas (1999) as a member of its flagship group, 504 Boyz.

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

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

[2] In 1995, he found himself involved in conflict with fellow New Orleans rappers signed to rival Cash Money, including U.N.L.V.

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.

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 funky flow style, which had the distinction of drawing comparison to legendary R&B soul screamers Little Richard and James Brown,[5] the song also saw a blending of jazz and swing elements with hip-hop.

[6] 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.

On January 15, 2004, he was sentenced to six years in prison[citation needed] after pleading guilty to forcing his hairstylist to perform sex acts.

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

[7] 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".

[10] Mystikal and Busta Rhymes were signed to Cash Money Records by Birdman on November 16 the same year.

Also in 2015, Mystikal appeared on Stevie Stone's Single Rain Dance with Tech N9ne from the 2015 release Malta Bend.

Her boyfriend at the time, Damion Neville, was charged with murder but later was acquitted due to a lack of evidence and a recanted confession.

Negotiations during the trial held the videotape from being entered as evidence and Mystikal agreed to the plea bargain offered by the prosecution, avoiding the mandatory life sentence for sexual battery in Louisiana and expecting to receive probation.

[15] During his incarceration, he appeared in court to be heard on the domestic battery charges as well as for a hearing to determine child support payments for his two youngest children.