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
If you enjoy Miami Bass you may get more out of this than me, but too many songs sound the same and it doesn't hold my attention for half the project.
The jazz rap-influenced opener stands out as the best track, and while the four actual songs are decent listens, there’s nothing truly memorable about the overall experience. After several listens, I feel no emotional impact—it's simply music that exists without moving or engaging. It doesn't make you bounce, there's nothing catchy, and it leaves no lasting impression. I'm genuinely surprised by how highly it's rated. Like many listeners seem to be, I'm not going to be kinder because they're outtakes.
Best Tracks: This Is the Way