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

"If it don't bang, take me out the game, call me out my name/Put me out my house, beat me out my change/Let 'em read my poem and tell 'em to seal my doom" Don't worry. You're safe Mystikal. This album bangs. Mystikal must have gone home every night after recording and relied on sign language with his family, considering the amount of strain he seems to put on his vocal cords when he spits. The intensity of his delivery is undeniable. I listened to this right after Master P's 'Ghetto D', and from the moment it started, I was bouncing—something that Ghetto D doesn’t manage to achieve. The energy here is contagious, and Mystikal doesn’t rely on one flow throughout the verses; he switches it up constantly. The game was much better off with him in it. 'Life Ain't Cool' is the obligatory tribute to mums with Silkk rapping like DMX. Silk also provides an enjoyable but very different verse on the banger, 'Let's Go Do It'. On the dope collab with Naughty By Nature, Treach finishes the hook with what sounds like Ice Cube's "yah yah". The Busta Rhymes collab isn't a let down either. 'I'm on Fire' is worth mentioning too for its creativity where Mystikal tells the story of being on literal fire. Who else has done that? The worst moment is 'I Smell Smoke' from Mystikal's smoke series of tracks and 'Stack Yo Chips', to a lesser extent, that are missing any energy and drag on. Other than that, the consistency is strong and the highs are quite high, with many tracks with replay value. Like most No Limit albums, some fat could have been trimmed with the sound being similar in some tracks, but this is an underrated album. It'll get you bopping your head to the high energy bangin' production and Mystikal's one of a kind rapping. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★★ Best Tracks: Round Out the Tank, That's The N***a, Watcha Want Watcha Need, Dirty South / Dirty Jerz', Let's Go Do It 1. Round Out the Tank 93 2. There He Go 80 3. Keep It Hype 74 4. That's the N**a 87 5. Ghetto Fabulous 71 6. Life Ain't Cool 64 7. I'm on Fire 74 8. Watcha Want, Watcha Need 93 9. The Stick Up 64 10. I Smell Smoke 50 11. Respect My Mind 63 12. Stack Yo Chips 54 13. Dirty South / Dirty Jerz' 90 14. Yaah! 70 15. Let's Go Do It 86 16. What's Your Alias? 72

I’ve always found it strange when the artist of a solo album doesn’t take the first verse. It’s a little more understandable with Master P, known for spotlighting his roster, but still—it stands out. 'Make 'Em Say Uhh!' is undeniably catchy, the opening track is solid, sampling 'Eric B. Is President,' while 'Stop Hatin' leans heavily on samples too, borrowing from Timex Social Club’s 'Rumors' and 'Come and Get Some' has some dope aggression in the production and rapping that is missing from many other songs. Unfortunately, that’s where anything above good ends. Nothing on the album rises above that, and much of its 80-minute runtime settles into the average No Limit formula. By the time you hit the hour mark, it starts to feel like a slog. After a couple of spins, there is nothing that I am dying to play again and most is forgettable late '90s hip hop. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Ghetto D, Stop Hatin', Make 'Em Say Uhh!, Come and Get Some