Mandolyn Wind Ludlum (born March 28, 1974), better known by her stage name Mystic, is an American singer and rapper from the

San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay is a large tidal estuary in the U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the big cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. San Francisco Bay drains water from a ...

Area.Birchmeier, Jason
Mystic Biography
, Allmusic, retrieved 2012-01-24 After touring and recording with Digital Underground she released her debut solo album in 2001.

Biography

Born Mandolyn Wind Ludlum on a

hippie A hippie, also spelled hippy, especially in British English, is someone associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to different countries around ...

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").Chonin, Neva (2002)
Going 360 degrees: Mystic turns her pain into acclaimed album
, '' San Francisco Chronicle'', February 3, 2002, retrieved 2012-01-26Lentz, Andrew (2002)
Mystic Moods
, ''

LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose paren ...

'', June 19, 2002, retrieved 2012-01-26 She grew up in rural California, Hawaii, Mexico, and Oregon before settling in her eventual home base, Oakland, California.Brown, Ann (2001)
On the Verge: Mystic
, '' CMJ New Music Monthly'', July 2001, p. 38, retrieved 2012-01-24 She began taking part in MC Battles in the Bay Area in the early 1990s. After dropping out of high school 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''.Keast, Darren (2001)
Into The Mystic
, '' SF Weekly'', July 25, 2001, retrieved 2012-01-25Baker, Soren (2001)
Mystic Uses Age To Her Advantage On Album
,

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

, April 19, 2001, retrieved 2012-01-25 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.Kenon, Marci (2001)
Mystic Doesn't Mince Her Words
, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'', June 2, 2001, p. 51, retrieved 2012-01-24Capobianco, Ken (2001) "Hip-Hop Her Way Without the Attitude, Mystic Gives Fans Music That Matters", '' Boston Globe'', September 21, 2001, p. C14 She worked as a writer for Rude Gal Music before establishing herself as a solo artist. 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 A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...

by Bahamadia.Mitchell, Gail (2001)
Mystic and Her Quest for Goodvibe's 'Freedom'
, ''

'', November 24, 2001, p. 13, retrieved 2012-01-26 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 ''Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom'' is the debut album by Mystic, released on June 19, 2001 through GoodVibe Recordings and JCOR Entertainment. The album elicited highly positive reviews from critics, who praised the album's lyrics and theme ...

'', which was labelled as "conscious rap" and saw her receiving comparisons with Lauryn Hill.Mendez Berry, Elizabeth (2003)
Back to Life
, '' Vibe'', June 2003, p. 106-110, retrieved 2012-01-24Baker, Soren (2001) "MYSTIC, Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom", '' Los Angeles Times'', July 29, 2001, p. 1 (Calendar/Entertainment)Conaway, Matt
''Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom'' Review
, Allmusic, retrieved 2012-01-24Allen, Kyle (2001)
Mystic ''Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom''
, '' CMJ New Music Monthly'', August 2001, p. 74, retrieved 2012-01-24Hageman, Lisa (2001)
The Year in Hip Hop
, ''CMJ New Music Report'', December 2001, p. 20-21, retrieved 2012-01-24 She participated in the summer 2001 Tree of Life tour with her labelmates to promote the album, whose lead single, "The Life", was featured in the ESPN show '' The Life'' and a commercial for

Bud Light Anheuser-Busch, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, is the largest brewing company in the United States, with a market share of 45 percent in 2016. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and nearly 20 in othe ...

in 2004. She also toured with The Black Eyed Peas in 2001. 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.Keast, Darren (2002)
Smooth Operator
, '' SF Weekly'', November 20, 2002, retrieved 2012-01-24 Mystic was also nominated for a BET Award in 2002 in the ' Best female hip-hop artist' category.Aaliyah Tops BET Awards Nominations
, ''

'', retrieved 2012-01-26 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.Koslow, Jessica (2003)
Mystic ''Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom''
, '' CMJ New Music Monthly'', June 2003, p. 43, retrieved 2012-01-24 As of early 2007, Mystic was on a European tour along with fellow artists Dave Ghetto, Hezekiah, and DJ Munch and working on her second album. 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.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 Mystic currently serves as the Bay Area Coordinator for the

Hip Hop Caucus The Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a national, non-profit organization in the United States, which aims to promote political activism for young U.S. voters using hip-hop music and culture. The group's programs are intended to promote social and political ...

, a non-profit organization that aims to promote political activism for young U.S. voters using hip-hop music and culture.Hip Hop Caucus (2017)
Hip Hop Caucus: Team
Hip Hop Caucus, retrieved 2017-06-04

Discography

Albums

* ''

'' (2001), Goodvibe - US #170,Charts & Awards
Allmusic, retrieved 2012-01-24 reissued (2003), DreamWorks * ''Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom (Learning to Breath)'' (2003), Goodvibe, DreamWorks * ''Beautiful Resistance'' (2014), Beautiful Soundworks * ''Dreaming In Cursive: The Girl Who Loved Sparklers'' (2022), Beautiful Soundworks/Soulspazm

Singles

* "Current Events" (2000), GoodVibe * "The Life" (2001), GoodVibe * "The Life" remix by Erik Rico (2001), GoodVibe - featuring Talib Kweli & Kam * "Girlfriend Sistagirl" (2001), GoodVibe - promo-only * "Elusive Freedom" / "The Judas Factor" (2001), Raptivism * "No Competition" (2003), DreamWorks/GoodVibe * "Breathe (Better Days)" (2003), DreamWorks/GoodVibe - featuring Donell Jones * "The Forecast" (2004), GoodVibe * "OK...Alright" (2006), Supa Crucial - digital download only

Compilation appearances

* ''The Funeral: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture'' (1996), BMG/Critique - "Gloomy Sunday" * ''The New Groove: The Blue Note Remix Project'' (1996), Blue Note - "Kofi" * ''Dark Angel - The Original TV Series Soundtrack'' (2002), Artemis/

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...

- "The Life" * ''MTV2 Handpicked'' (2002),

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

- "The Life" * ''Biker Boyz: Music From The Motion Picture'' (2002), DreamWorks - "No Competition" * ''Underground Airplay Version 1.0'' (2001), Rawkus - "Current Events" * Budweiser commercial (20??), - "The Life"

Contributions

The Conscious Daughters The Conscious Daughters (TCD) were an American female hip hop duo from the Bay Area, California, United States, consisting of Carla "CMG" Green and Karryl "Special One" Smith. The duo signed in 1993 to Paris's record label, Scarface Records, a ...

- '' Gamers'' (1996) Priority Records - vocals on "It Don't Stop" and "All Star Freestyle", background vocals on "Who Got Da Mic" and "TCD Fo' Life (West Coast Bomb)" * Digital Underground - ''Who Got the Gravy?'' (1998), Jake/

Interscope Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Musi ...

- vocals on "April Showers" *

Kam Kaam (Gurmukhi: ਕਾਮ ''Kāma'') in common usage, the term stands for 'excessive passion for sexual pleasure' and it is in this sense that it is considered to be an evil in Sikhism. In Sikhism it is believed that Kaam can be overcome ...

- ''

Kamnesia ''Kamnesia'' is the third album by rapper, Kam. It was released on March 20, 2001, for Hard Tyme Records, JCOR Entertainment/Interscope Records and featured production from DJ Wino, DJ Pooh and Jazze Pha. ''Kamnesia'' peaked at No. 69 on the Top ...

'' (2001), JCOR Records, vocals on "Bang Bang" and "What I Look Like" *

Maroon 5 Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, drummer Matt ...

- '' Songs About Jane'' (2002), Octone/ J Records- background vocals on " Sunday Morning" * Dave Ghetto – "Hey Young World Pt. 2" (2005), Counterflow - vocals on "Hey Young World Pt. 2" * Ras Kass - ''

Institutionalized Institutionalization is a concept in sociology. It may also refer to: * Committing someone to a psychiatric hospital * Having the institutional syndrome, the psychological and mental health effects of living for a long time in an institution o ...

'' (2005), Re-Up Entertainment - vocals on "Unconditional" * Aceyalone - "

Grand Imperial (album) ''Grand Imperial'' is a mixtape by American rapper Aceyalone, released on Project Blowed and Decon in 2006. Critical reception Marisa Brown of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, praising the RJD2 Ramble Jon Krohn (born May 27, 1976), b ...

" (2006), Project Blowed/Decon-vocals on "Everything Changes" * Waxolutionists - ''We Paint Colors'' (2009), Sunshine Enterprises - vocals on "Dance With Me" & "Feet Don't Fail Me"

DVD

* ''Soundz of Spirit'' (2003) - documentary film

References

External links

*
True Skool Bio
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mystic African-American women rappers Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area Living people 20th-century African-American women singers American hip hop singers Underground rappers 1974 births 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American women musicians 21st-century African-American women 21st-century African-American musicians 21st-century women rappers