Mystic (singer)

Last updated
Mystic
Birth nameMandolyn Wind Ludlum
Also known asDU Goddess
Born (1974-03-28) March 28, 1974 (age 50) [1]
Lower Lake, California, United States
Origin Oakland, California
Genres Hip hop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1990–present
Labels
Website mysticworldwide.com

Mandolyn Wind Ludlum (born March 28, 1974), [1] better known by her stage name Mystic, is an American singer and rapper from the San Francisco Bay Area. [2] After touring and recording with Digital Underground, she released her debut solo album in 2001.

Contents

Early life

Born Mandolyn Wind Ludlum on a hippie commune in Lower Lake, California to a white mother and African-American father, she was raised by her mother after her parents split up when she was three years old (an experience she explores in her song "Fatherless Child"). [3] [4] She grew up in rural California, Hawaii, Mexico, and Oregon before settling in her eventual home base, Oakland, California, in 9th grade. [5] [6] [7] [8] Most of her life has been in the Bay Area, and she says that she's from Oakland because it's where she "became a woman" and discovered herself. [9]

Music career

1991–1996: Career beginnings

Ludlum began taking part in MC Battles in the Bay Area in the early 1990s. [4] After dropping out of high school at the end of 11th grade [9] [10] in 1991, she began teaching art in 1996, and also began her recording career, her version of "Gloomy Sunday" appearing on the soundtrack to Abel Ferrara's film The Funeral . [7] [11] [12]

1997–1999: Digital Underground

Early on in her musical career, she collaborated with fellow female producer The Angel and toured with Digital Underground between 1997 and 1999, appearing on Digital Underground's Who Got The Gravy album under the name DU Goddess. [6] [13] She worked as a writer for Rude Gal Music before establishing herself as a solo artist. [6]

She signed a solo contract with Goodvibe Recordings in 1999 (signing on the same day her father died of a heroin overdose) after label co-chair Matt Kahane heard her on a mixtape by Bahamadia. [3] [14]

2001–2003: Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom

She worked with respected underground hip-hop producers including Shock G and A-Plus on her 2001 critically acclaimed debut album, Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom , which was labelled as "conscious rap" and saw her receiving comparisons with Lauryn Hill. [2] [7] [15] [16] [17] [18] The album performed poorly in the United States, debuting at number 190, stalling out at number 170 on the Billboard 200 and failing to enter the top 40 of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, peaking at 46. [19] [20] She participated in the summer 2001 Tree of Life tour with her labelmates to promote the album, [2] [6] whose lead single, "The Life", was featured in the ESPN show The Life and a commercial for Bud Light in 2004. She also toured with The Black Eyed Peas in 2001. [14]

The album track "W" featuring her collaboration with Planet Asia was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001 for the brand new category, at the time, of Best Rap/Song Collaboration. [7] [21] Mystic was also nominated for a BET Award in 2002 in the 'Best female hip-hop artist' category. [22]

The album was reissued with five extra tracks in 2003 on the DreamWorks label, including two new tracks produced by Kanye West, one a collaboration with Mos Def. [7] [23]

2007–2011: European tour and digital album release

In 2007, Mystic toured in Europe along with Dave Ghetto, Hezekiah, and DJ Munch. The tour began in Berlin, and they toured through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. [24]

In August 2011, Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom was released as a digital download for the first time via Universal Music Group, with a website also opened featuring stories from fans related to the album. [25]

2013–2019: Music haitus, academia, non-profit work, and return to music with Beautiful Resistance

Mystic eventually took a haitus from music to focus on her education, earning a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UC Berkeley in 2015, and a Master of Science in Comparative and International Education from the University of Oxford in 2019. [10] [26] [27] [28]

She became inspired to keep making music by one of her professors at UC Berkeley, [9] and in 2014, she returned to music with the independent release Beautiful Resistance, released through her own label, Beautifull Soundworks. [26]

Mystic has always been interested in making an impact and sharing a story with her music. She believes "one of the roles of hip-hop as a public art form is to bring traumas out of darkness and into the light, where they can be examined and processed—maybe even let go—in communion with others," and practiced this by rapping about losing her father to a drug overdose and experiencing sexual abuse. She was able to use her music as empowerment, to break the shackles of shame and give a voice to stigmatized struggles. [10]

From 2007-2021, Mystic also worked with the Hip Hop Caucus, a non-profit organization that aims to promote political activism for young U.S. voters using hip-hop music and culture. [29] She held a number of positions over the years, including Organizer, Bay Area Coordinator, Project Manager, Bay Area Advisor, and Program Manager. [30] [31] [28]

2022: Dreaming in Cursive: The Girl Who Loved Sparklers and A Black Love Trilogy

In 2022, Mystic released her first solo album in eight years, Dreaming in Cursive: The Girl Who Loved Sparklers. [26] [32] She described this album as her "healed Black woman music", focusing on affirmation and love. [5] [33]

Her latest project, currently in post-production, is a short film called A Black Love Trilogy, which she co-wrote, co-directed and stars in. [32] [26] [33] [34]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilation appearances

Contributions

DVD

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Lyte</span> American rapper (born 1970)

Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles "10% Dis" and "Paper Thin".

Lynise Walters, known professionally as Queen Pen, is an American rapper. Born in Brooklyn, New York City, she was discovered by producer Teddy Riley at an IHOP restaurant in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Riley later invited her to "spit lyrics" for Blackstreet's 1996 single "No Diggity", which became her and Riley's most successful recording. Walters signed with Riley's Lil Man Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release her debut album, My Melody (1997), which spawned the single, "All My Love" peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album contained production largely handled by Riley and writing contributions from fellow Brooklyn native Jay-Z.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Latifah</span> American rapper, actress and singer (born 1970)

Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, and actress. She has received various accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two NAACP Image Awards, in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erykah Badu</span> American singer (born 1971)

Erica Abi Wright, known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut album Baduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Elliott</span> American rapper (born 1971)

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott, also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s, who were part of the larger musical collective Swing Mob—led by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. The former group's commercially unsuccessful debut album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994), was released by Elektra Records and met with positive critical reception. She collaborated with album's producer and Swing Mob cohort Timbaland to work in songwriting and production for other acts, yielding commercially successful releases for 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil' Kim</span> American rapper (born 1974)

Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashanti (singer)</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1980)

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was discovered as a teenager by record producer Irv Gotti, and signed with his label Murder Inc. Records, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2002. That same year, she guest appeared on the singles "What's Luv?" by Fat Joe, and "Always on Time" by labelmate Ja Rule, which peaked at numbers two and one on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively; the latter, with her 2002 debut single "Foolish", made her the first female artist to occupy the top two positions the chart simultaneously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nivea (singer)</span> American R&B singer (born 1982)

Nivea B. Hamilton, known mononymously as Nivea, is an American R&B singer. She has released three studio albums: her self-titled debut (2001), followed up by Complicated (2005), Animalistic (2006), and an independently released extended play Nivea: Undercover (2011). In 2019, she released her album Mirrors.

<i>Hard Core</i> (Lil Kim album) 1996 studio album by Lil Kim

Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on November 12, 1996, by Undeas Recordings, Big Beat Records, and Atlantic Records. After achieving success with the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. and their album Conspiracy (1995), Kim began working on her solo album with the Notorious B.I.G. serving as the executive producer. She collaborated with a number of producers, such as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Stevie J., David "Ski" Willis and Jermaine Dupri, among others. Other rappers, including Jay-Z, Lil' Cease and Puff Daddy were featured on the album.

<i>Stankonia</i> 2000 studio album by Outkast

Stankonia is the fourth studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on October 31, 2000, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The album was recorded in the duo's recently purchased Atlanta recording facility Stankonia Studios, which allowed for fewer time and recording constraints, and featured production work from Earthtone III and longtime collaborators Organized Noize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papoose (rapper)</span> American rapper

Shamele Mackie, known professionally as Papoose, is an American rapper. Known for his freestyles and prolific mixtape output, Papoose began his career in 1998 and has released four studio albums and 29 mixtapes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrisette Michele</span> American singer from New York

Chrisette Michele Payne is an American R&B and soul singer. She won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song "Be OK".

<i>Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom</i> 2001 studio album by Mystic

Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom is the debut studio album by American Oakland-based rapper and singer Mystic. It was released on June 19, 2001 through GoodVibe Recordings. Production was handled by Dotrix 4000, The Angel, CD, Chops, Relative, Spontaneous, Adam, AmpLive, A-Plus, Manifest, Shock G and Walter Taylor.

<i>Two Eleven</i> 2012 studio album by Brandy

Two Eleven is the sixth studio album by American singer Brandy. Released on October 16, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasing her previous album, Human (2008). The album's title is taken from Norwood's birthday; it is also the day on which her idol and friend, entertainer Whitney Houston died eight months before Two Eleven's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amen (Meek Mill song)</span> 2012 song by Meek Mill featuring Drake

"Amen" is a song by American rapper Meek Mill from his debut studio album, Dreams and Nightmares (2012). Featuring Canadian rapper Drake, the song includes background vocals from Jeremih. It was produced by Key Wane and Jahlil Beats, with the first serving as a songwriter alongside the vocalists. Due to the interpolation of the Doobie Brothers' "Minute by Minute", written by Lester Abrams and Michael McDonald, they also received songwriting credits. The song was thought of by Key Wane in New York's Times Square, after he prayed when experiencing failure. On June 19, 2012, it was released for digital download and streaming as the album's lead single by Maybach Music Group and Warner Bros. Records. At the time of release, Philadelphia reverend Jomo K. Johnson encouraged boycotting the song over alleged usage of the church for sinful activities, leading to the two debating publicly on Hot 107.9. Mill eventually apologized for any offense and Johnson called off the boycott, forgiving him. A hip hop number with pop and R&B elements, the song relies on a gospel beat, with lyrics focused on sexual exploitation and wealth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom (Nicki Minaj song)</span> 2012 single by Nicki Minaj

"Freedom" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on November 2, 2012 by Young Money, Cash Money and Universal Republic as the second single from the reissue of Minaj's second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up (2012). It was written by Minaj, Matthew Burnett, and Matthew Samuels. Production was helmed by Samuels under his stage name Boi-1da. The song was released for digital download by Cash Money Records in the US and Canada on November 2, 2012 and in other countries on November 6, 2012. It was serviced to US urban radio on November 27 and to mainstream radio in the United Kingdom the following day. "Freedom" is a downtempo hip hop and R&B song that features a "sonically breezy" soundscape, complied with ambient riffs, pop-inspired synths, and soft pop choruses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Away (song)</span> 2001 single by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring Ginuwine and Tweet

"Take Away" is a song by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written by Elliott and Timbaland for her third studio album, Miss E... So Addictive (2001), while production was helmed by the latter, with Elliott and Craig Brockman served as co-producers. The downtempo track features guest vocals from R&B singer Ginuwine. While the album version of "Take Away" credits background vocals by 702 member, Kameelah Williams, the single version replaces Williams's vocals with then-newcomer, Elliott's former protégée Tweet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe</span> 2013 single by Kendrick Lamar

"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" edited for radio as "Trick, Don't Kill My Vibe" or simply "Don't Kill My Vibe", is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, produced by frequent collaborator Sounwave of Top Dawg Entertainment in-house production team Digi+Phonics, heavily samples "Tiden Flyver", by Danish electronic group Boom Clap Bachelors. It was originally intended to be a collaboration with American singer Lady Gaga, but her contributions were ultimately excluded from the final recording due to timing issues. A remix of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" featuring American rapper Jay-Z was sent to radio as the album's fifth single on March 21, 2013, with the original version and another remix featuring British singer Emeli Sandé later being released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vic Mensa</span> American rapper (born 1993)

Victor Kwesi Mensah, known professionally as Vic Mensa, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Chicago, he was a member of the regional hip hop groups Kids These Days and Savemoney prior to releasing his debut solo mixtape, Innanetape (2013). As a solo artist, Mensa has been signed to Virgin EMI Records, Def Jam Recordings, Capitol Records, and Roc Nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gangsta Boo</span> American rapper (1979–2023)

Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, known professionally as Gangsta Boo, was an American rapper. She rose to prominence as a member of Three 6 Mafia, which she joined at the age of 14. After releasing six albums, she left the group and its record label after the release of her second solo album, Both Worlds *69 (2001), due to financial disputes and issues regarding promotion of the album. She subsequently released several solo albums and became known for collaborating with artists such as Eminem, Run the Jewels, La Chat, Latto, GloRilla, Outkast, Foxy Brown, Tinashe, Lil Jon and Yelawolf.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mandolyn Ludlum". California Birth Index, 1905–1995. California Office of Health Information and Research.
  2. 1 2 3 Birchmeier, Jason "Mystic Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2012-01-24
  3. 1 2 Chonin, Neva (2002) "Going 360 degrees: Mystic turns her pain into acclaimed album", San Francisco Chronicle , February 3, 2002, retrieved 2012-01-26
  4. 1 2 Lentz, Andrew (19 June 2002). "Mystic Moods". LA Weekly . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. 1 2 Watt, Brian; Gonzalez, Alexander (13 February 2023). "Why Hip-Hop Artist Mystic is Devoting February to Revolutionary Love". KQED . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kenon, Marci (2001) "Mystic Doesn't Mince Her Words", Billboard , June 2, 2001, p. 51, retrieved 2012-01-24
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Mendez Berry, Elizabeth. "Back to Life". Vibe (June 2003). Retrieved 24 January 2012.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Brown, Ann (2001) "On the Verge: Mystic", CMJ New Music Monthly , July 2001, p. 38, retrieved 2012-01-24
  9. 1 2 3 King, Jamilah (18 August 2014). "Mystic's 13-Year Journey Toward 'Beautiful Resistance'". ColorLines . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Voynovskaya, Nastia (1 December 2021). "In Hip-Hop and Academia, Mystic Defines Her Own Success Story". KQED . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Keast, Darren (25 July 2001). "Into the Mystic". SF Weekly . Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. ↑ Baker, Soren (19 April 2001). "Mystic Uses Age To Her Advantage On Album". MTV News . Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Capobianco, Ken (2001) "Hip-Hop Her Way Without the Attitude, Mystic Gives Fans Music That Matters", Boston Globe , September 21, 2001, p. C14
  14. 1 2 Mitchell, Gail (2001) "Mystic and Her Quest for Goodvibe's 'Freedom'", Billboard , November 24, 2001, p. 13, retrieved 2012-01-26
  15. ↑ Baker, Soren (2001) "MYSTIC, Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom", Los Angeles Times , July 29, 2001, p. 1 (Calendar/Entertainment)
  16. ↑ Conaway, Matt "Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2012-01-24
  17. ↑ Allen, Kyle (2001) "Mystic Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom", CMJ New Music Monthly , August 2001, p. 74, retrieved 2012-01-24
  18. ↑ Hageman, Lisa (2001) "The Year in Hip Hop", CMJ New Music Report, December 2001, p. 20-21, retrieved 2012-01-24
  19. ↑ "The Billboard 200". Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 36. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 8, 2001. p. 87. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 37. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 15, 2001. p. 42. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ Keast, Darren (2002) "Smooth Operator", SF Weekly , November 20, 2002, retrieved 2012-01-24
  22. ↑ "Aaliyah Tops BET Awards Nominations", Billboard , retrieved 2012-01-26
  23. ↑ Koslow, Jessica (2003) "Mystic Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom", CMJ New Music Monthly , June 2003, p. 43, retrieved 2012-01-24
  24. ↑ "Dave Ghetto, Mystic & Hezekiah on Tour!". Rap.de (in German). 9 March 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  25. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (2011) "Mystic To Reissue Debut "Cuts For Luck And Scars For Freedom” To Digital Retail", HipHopDX, July 6, 2011, retrieved 2012-01-25
  26. 1 2 3 4 Garrett, Ural (1 November 2022). "Interview: Oakland Underground Rap Legend Mystic Gets Candid About New Music, The Death of Digital Underground's Shock G". BET . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  27. ↑ D, Davey (2 September 2022). "Bay Area Artist Mystic Is Still Resisting Beautifully BAY AREA ARTIST MYSTIC IS STILL RESISTING BEAUTIFULLY". Hard Knock Radio. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Mandolyn "Mystic" Ludlum". LinkedIn . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  29. ↑ "Our Team: 2016". Hip Hop Caucus . Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  30. ↑ "Team: 2020". Hip Hop Caucus . Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  31. ↑ "Team: 2021". Hip Hop Caucus . Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  32. 1 2 Voynovskaya, Nastia (21 September 2022). "Love and Magic Abound on Mystic's 'Dreaming in Cursive: The Girl Who Loved Sparklers'". KQED . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  33. 1 2 Collins, Brandy (31 October 2022). "Bay Area hip-hop artist Mystic puts love at the center of new album". The Oaklandside. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  34. ↑ THE MUSIC SNOB (31 October 2022). "Digital Underground's Mystic Shares Part One Of Upcoming Short Film". stupidDOPE.com. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  35. ↑ Charts & Awards, Allmusic, retrieved 2012-01-24
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.