Mysonne

Mysonne E. Linen rose to attention as a standout participant in New York’s mixtape circuit toward the end of the 1990s. Raised in the Bronx, a longtime epicenter of hip-hop, he honed his basketball skills through high school in an effort to sidestep the hardships common in Black urban neighborhoods and later enrolled briefly in college to study criminal justice. Ultimately his deep commitment to rap pulled him in another direction.

Performing under his given first name, he linked up with Wanna Blow Entertainment and entered their circle in 1997. Frequent contributions to mixtapes highlighted his incisive delivery, while repeated appearances in New York MC competitions secured contracts with both Violator Management and Def Jam Records.

As he readied a Def Jam debut slated for 1999, he lent verses to high-profile releases including the chart-topping Ruff Ryders project Ryde or Die, Vol. 1 and Mase’s Double Up. That same year brought convictions on two counts of armed robbery and a seven-to-14-year prison term, although he has consistently maintained his innocence.

During his incarceration, fellow Wanna Blow member Jae Millz continued developing the crew’s profile and eventually landed at Universal by the time Mysonne walked free in July 2006. Widespread fan support that greeted the end of his seven-year sentence only intensified his drive to return to the recording studio.