Mystikal Unpredictable Lyrics

Don't mistake the rollicking, cantankerous, belligerent, and scattershot verbal delivery of Mystikal as a marker of ignorance. Behind those layers of verbal masking lies some of the most insightful and capable lyricism coming out of the entire No Limit camp. Not that that's a high bar to cross, but Mystikal is apt to fall into the cracks, too easily dismissed as a vocal novelty. On Unpredictable, supported by the requisite Beats by the Pound production team, he dances with the usual themes, though his lyrics and presence are a notch above the rest. Most absorbing are "Murder 2" and "Shine," both tracks written for his murdered sister. The latter is an ode, and the former a harrowing fantasy of revenge against her killer, both delivered with an additional, pained twinge of vocal expressivity. --Jon Caramanica