I decided to check this out, mostly because of the impressive rap feature lineup. Allure, the first group signed to Mariah Carey's Crave Records, has a sound that closely mirrors hers—you can easily picture Mariah singing many of these tracks. While it’s a solid late '90s R&B album with a cohesive vibe, there’s nothing groundbreaking about it. Best Tracks: You're Gonna Love Me, All Cried Out, When You Need Someone

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

Mystikal, like DMX and a select few others in hip-hop, offered something truly unique and is missed when he's not releasing music. Mystikal was an original artist in many respects, and this album—his last to date—is one that grew on me over time. Scott Storch produced two of the album's standout tracks, including the banging title track and 'Alright,' that features his signature, instantly recognizable keys. On the song and album titled 'Unpredictable,' Mystikal opens with "If It Ain't Live, It Ain't Me," a phrase he repurposed from earlier in his career. This self-referencing habit was a hallmark of his style. While the older, less polished, and more rugged production from earlier albums might have suited him better, Mystikal still delivers strong performances over these beats. The Neptunes make a return on this album after producing the hits from Mystikal's previous release, 'Let's Get Ready.' As mentioned earlier, I don’t think Mystikal sounds his best over their production style, but the album opener is undeniably strong. On the other hand, 'Go 'Head'—which features Pharrell—didn’t resonate as much with me. Mystikal shines on hooks, but Pharrell’s involvement here feels less impactful. KLC, a member of No Limit's legendary production team Beats by the Pound, brings the heat with 'Pussy Crook,' a hard-hitting, thumping track. Lyrically, it’s Mystikal boasting about his sexual prowess, which, given his past convictions, hasn’t aged well. That said, it’s hard not to feel energized by the beat. Later in the album, KLC’s 'Paper Stack' also hits hard, though it could have been even better if Mystikal took the spotlight instead of sharing it with others. As with his previous work, Mystikal includes a laid-back, smoking-themed track on this album. While these tracks have typically been unremarkable, 'Smoke One' is one the better ones thanks to its superior instrumentation. Another notable inclusion, found on some editions of the album, is Mystikal's collaboration with Mariah Carey on 'Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica).' It's a fantastic crossover track and a highlight of the album. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Tarantula, If It Ain't Live It Ain't Me, Pussy Crook, Alright, Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica)*

This album is a re-release of Mystikal's self-titled debut, originally recorded in 1994. As you'd expect from music of that era, the production has a noticeably different feel compared to his later work. While Mystikal’s distinctive style is evident, he doesn’t yet showcase the full intensity and maniacal energy that would define his future albums. Some of the songs lack the infectious choruses that became a hallmark of his career. As much as I enjoy mid-’90s hip-hop, I personally prefer the production on his later projects. That said, 'I'm' stands out as one of his best tracks—it captures more of the Mystikal sound we’d come to know in his later years. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: I'm, Not That Nigga, That Nigga Ain't Shit!, Not That Nigga (Remix) 1. Y'all Ain't Ready Yet 71 2. Murderer 74 3. Beware 60 4. Mr. Hood Critic 54 5. I'm 99 6. Out That Boot Camp Clicc 62 7. Not That Nigga 80 8. Smoke Something 60 9. That Nigga Ain't Shit! 75 10. Mind of Mystikal 54 11. Here I Go 60 12. Never Gonna Bounce (The Dream) 74 13. Y'all Ain't Ready Yet (Remix) 70 14. Not That Nigga (Remix) 85 15. Dedicated to Michelle Tyler

Some tracks on this album were recorded while Mystikal was still signed to No Limit, with plans to release an album in late 1999 titled 'Let’s Get Ready to Rumble'. However, that project was shelved due to the end of his contract. Additional songs were later added, culminating in the release of 'Let’s Get Ready'. Notable tracks include 'Jump', which feels like a precursor to Mystikal and Ludacris's hit 'Move Bitch'. 'Neck Uv Da Woods', featuring OutKast, leans heavily toward OutKast's signature sound thanks to the instrumentation, but as with many of Mystikal's collaborations, it works well. 'Ain’t Gonna See Tomorrow' stands out as a dark, introspective, and undeniably strong track. While the album features Mystikal's two biggest hits—the Neptunes-produced 'Danger (Been So Long)' and 'Shake Ya Ass'—it doesn’t quite match the energy or consistency of his previous effort, the underrated 'Ghetto Fabulous'. That album grips you from the outset and maintains its momentum, whereas this one struggles to sustain the same impact. That said, 'Let’s Get Ready' offers plenty of solid tracks without any outright skips, though it lacks the standout moments that elevate a good album into a great one. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Danger (Been So Long), Come See About Me, Ain't Gonna See Tomorrow, Neck Uv Da Woods