Entertainment Weekly (1/11/02, p.70) - "...His versatile rasp jumps from staccato growl to legato murmur and defines the rhythm, while the Neptunes' spare beats sit smartly in the background..." - Rating: B-
Vibe (2/02, p.125) - 3 discs out of 5 - "...This release proves that he's still worthy of the spotlight - TARANTULA's best cuts capture the party swagger that made him famous..."
NME (Magazine) (2/16/02, p.40) - 7 out of 10 - "...Strangely compelling..."
Personnel includes: Mystikal, Butch Cassidy, Juvenile, Redman, Method Man, KLC, Byou2ful, Shonnie, Beezy Boy, Dart (rap vocals); Rich Tapper (guitar); Pharrell Williams (horns, background vocals); Chad Hugo (horns); Mitch DeStefano (bass); Chad Hugo (horns); DJ Scratch (turntables); Big V-90, $tevie Green, DJ Ron, Evelyn Mojica, Lara Vaidya (background vocals).
Producers include: Juvenile, The Neptunes, Rockwilder, Scott Storch, DJ Ron.
Engineers include: Andrew Coleman, Pat "The Natural" Viala, KLC.
TARANTULA was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album.
"Bouncin' (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall)" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Male Rap Solo Performance.
Southern rapper Mystikal came so far so fast from his initial thug-life/No Limit Records image that anyone keeping even a casual eye on his progress over the years should find the stylistic and thematic breadth of TARANTULA to be no great surprise. Opening track "Bouncin' Back," which features uberproducers the Neptunes, doesn't sample James Brown like zillions of other rappers might; it inhabits the James Brown spirit, offering a very clear picture of what would happen if the Godfather of Soul ever went the hip-hop route. The accessible, highly melodic backing on "Settle the Score" contrasts perfectly with the verbal jousting of Mystikal and Juvenile. When Mystikal's not getting down over cracking, old-school funk tracks, he's interacting with spare, angular synth riffs in a thoroughly modern manner. Whatever the mode, it's the man and his message that matter most on TARANTULA.
