Unpredictable 1997 Album

Mystikal

I've revisited Mystikal's albums over the past week or two, and while I felt I was originally overly critical of some of his work, my opinion hasn’t changed on this one. Often cited as his best, I actually think this is Mystikal's worst album. That signature No Limit sound is prominent here—and not in a good way. The average, standard beats that plague many No Limit releases are all too present. Mystikal’s energy helps salvage some tracks, but it’s not enough to elevate the album as a whole. One standout is the Scarface-themed 'Did I Do That'. Like 'I'm' from his debut, it’s one of Mystikal’s best songs and works really well—but moments like this are rare here. 'It Yearns' is hard as nails and is the kind of song that most of my favourite Mystikal tracks fall under. The song samples four tracks, most notably ESG's frequently sampled 'UFO'. Meanwhile, the bluesy 'Sleepin' With Me' showcases Mystikal’s engaging storytelling, which is a recurring strength across his projects, and stands out as one of the better tracks. The album's closer, 'Shine', dials down the aggression and works well, ending things on a positive note. Other notable tracks include 'Murder 2', a powerful message aimed at the man who murdered Mystikal's sister—a theme that would reappear throughout his career. '13 Years' reflects on his journey to No Limit Records. 'Dick on the Track' might seem dismissible at first glance, but Mystikal approaches it creatively, combining personification of music with themes of sex. Unfortunately, the opener, 'Born 2 Be a Soldier', doesn’t leave much of an impression. While the rappers deliver, the instrumentation falls flat. 'Ain’t No Limit' suffers the same fate. 'Ghetto Child' takes a more introspective and emotional route, but it lacks a hook to make it memorable. 'Here We Go' is a weak track, and 'We Got the Clout' is hookless, leaving much of the album’s middle section feeling uninspired, but it does improve. In the end, I still believe this is Mystikal’s weakest effort. Aside from 'Did I Do That', there aren’t any amazing tracks. Compared to his other albums, this one lacks the production quality, memorable hooks, and, in many cases, stronger features that define his best work. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: 13 Years, Did I Do It, Sleepin' With Me, It Yearns 1. Born 2 Be a Soldier 60 2. Murder 2 70 3. 13 Years 80 4. Unpredictable 70 5. Ain't No Limit 56 6. Ghetto Child 50 7. Did I Do It 99 8. Here We Go 50 9. We Got the Clout 40 10. Still Smokin' 50 11. U Can't Handle This 64 12. The Man Right Chea 50 13. Dick on the Track 66 14. Sleepin' With Me 75 15. It Yearns 90 16. Gangstas 63 17. Shine 74