Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom

Before recording as a solo artist, Mystic toured with Digital Underground. She was then offered a record deal, but the same day she signed the contract, her father overdosed and died. She wrote the song "Fatherless Child" in memory of him.{{cite journal |last1=Hannaham |first1=James |date=October 2001 |title=Incoming: Mystic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XBJLecfe-rcC&q=cuts+for+luck+and+scars+for+freedom&pg=PA49 |journal=Spin |volume=17 |issue=10 |page=49 |access-date=June 9, 2017}}

Mystic wrote the song "Fatherless Child" about her childhood, growing up without a father. When recording the song in studio, she brought in his ashes and set them on a makeshift altar. She told Vibe in a 2003 interview that the reaction to the song was enormous, with teenagers e-mailing her to tell her about how distant their fathers were and the lengths some went to get their attention, going so far as to attempt suicide.{{cite journal |last1=Mendez Berry |first1=Elizabeth |date=June 2003 |title=Back to Life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CYEAAAAMBAJ&q=mystic+goodvibe&pg=PA110 |journal=Vibe |volume=11 |issue=6 |pages=104–110 |access-date=June 9, 2017}}

The album was met with generally favourable reviews upon its release. Cheo Tyehimba of Entertainment Weekly awarded the album an "A" and called the songs "catchy but meaningful". HipHopDX reviewer gave the album 4.5 out of 5, noticing "the biggest complaint of this album will probably stem from the spoken word and slower final tracks". Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews also praised the album, saying "not a single track could be called weak or musically unlistenable". AllMusic's Matt Conaway awarded the album 4 stars out of possible 5 and noted the album's diversity of musical styles, also praising her "socially relevant and personally revealing topic matter". Robert Christgau, in his Consumer Guide column for The Village Voice, highlighted the song "Ghetto Birds" as a "good song on an album that isn't worth your time or money".{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |title=Key to Icons |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=www.robertchristgau.com}}

The album was initially released by GoodVibe Records on June 19, 2001. the release was problematic, with distribution problems, but the rights to the album were acquired by Dreamworks Records. The label intended to re-release the album with five new songs, but Interscope Records consumed the label and all plans of re-releasing the album were shelved.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Jamilah |date=August 18, 2014 |title=Mystic's 13-Year Journey Toward 'Beautiful Resistance' |url=http://www.colorlines.com/articles/mystics-13-year-journey-toward-beautiful-resistance |access-date=June 10, 2017 |website=Color Lines}}{{cite magazine |last1=Mitchell |first1=Gail |date=May 25, 2002 |title=Rhythm, Rap, and the Blues |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg8EAAAAMBAJ&q=cuts+for+luck+and+scars+for+freedom&pg=PA25 |magazine=Billboard |volume=114 |issue=21 |page=25}} On August 2, 2011, the album was re-released by Universal Music Group, to celebrate the album's tenth anniversary.{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven |date=July 6, 2011 |title=Mystic To Reissue Debut "Cuts For Luck And Scars For Freedom" To Digital Retail |url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.15849/title.mystic-to-reissue-debut-cuts-for-luck-and-scars-for-freedom-to-digital-retail# |website=HipHopDX }}

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. However, lead single "The Life" proved a minor hit, spending three months on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, where it reached number 9. The album was more successful on some other charts, however. It peaked at number 3 on CMJ New Music Report's Hip-Hop airplay chart,{{cite journal |date=17 November 2001 |title=Hip-Hop Chart for week ending 12/4/2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKZOfxpMkbQC&q=cuts+for+luck+and+scars+for+freedom&pg=PA10-IA6 |journal=CMJ |volume=69 |issue=743 |page=16 |access-date=June 9, 2017}} and topped the Billboard's Pacific Heatseekers chart.

The album earned Mystic several accolades and award nominations. In 2001, Kludge magazine ranked it at number seven on their list of best albums of the year.{{cite web|last1=Perez|first1=Arturo|title=Top 10 Albums of 2001|url=http://www.kludgemagazine.com/articles.php?id=88|website=Kludge|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722004951/http://www.kludgemagazine.com/articles.php?id=88|archive-date=July 22, 2004}} In 2002, the album earned Mystic a nomination for "Best Female Hip-Hop Artist" at the BET Awards;{{cite magazine |date=May 15, 2002 |title=Aaliyah Tops BET Awards Nominations |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75765/aaliyah-tops-bet-awards-nominations |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |access-date=June 9, 2017}} she lost, however, to Missy Elliott. That same year, the album cut "W" was nominated for "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration", a new category, at the Grammy Awards;{{cite web|last1=Keast|first1=Darren|title=Smooth Operator|url=https://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/smooth-operator/Content?oid=2146320|website=SFWeekly|access-date=9 June 2017}} the song lost to Eve's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", a collaboration with Gwen Stefani.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/complete-list-of-grammy-nominees/|title=Complete List Of Grammy Nominees|date=January 4, 2002|access-date=9 June 2017|work=CBS News}}

Songwriters credits are adapted from ASCAP.

{{Track listing

| headline = Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom

| all_writing =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro

| writer1 = {{hlist|Mandolyn Wind Ludlum|Gregory Edward Jacobs}}

| extra1 = Shock G

| length1 = 1:00

| title2 = Ghetto Birds

| writer2 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Angel C}}

| extra2 = The Angel

| length2 = 5:27

| title3 = Neptune's Jewels

| writer3 = {{hlist|Ludlum|A. Weisman|Anthony Cava|Jay Livingston|Ray Evans|Neal Hefti}}

| extra3 = Adam

| length3 = 4:45

| title4 = The Gottas

| writer4 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Carl Gold}}

| extra4 = CD

| length4 = 5:35

| title5 = The Life

| writer5 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Adam Carter}}

| extra5 = A-Plus

| length5 = 3:48

| title6 = Once a Week

| writer6 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Gold}}

| extra6 = CD

| length6 = 3:37

| title7 = Dave Ghetto

| writer7 =

| extra7 = Chops

| length7 = 1:30

| title8 = Forever and a Day

| writer8 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Mark Vesuvio Guglielmo}}

| extra8 = Manifest

| length8 = 4:38

| title9 = D Boy

| writer9 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Dontrell Lee Mayfield}}

| extra9 = Dotrix 4000

| length9 = 3:48

| title10 = You Say, I Say

| writer10 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Walter Ray Taylor}}

| extra10 = Walter Taylor

| length10 = 4:51

| title11 = A Dream

| writer11 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Mayfield}}

| extra11 = Dotrix 4000

| length11 = 4:59

| title12 = W

| note12 = featuring Planet Asia

| writer12 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Jason C. Green|Matthew J. Lavella|Lawrence T. Palmer}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Relative|Spontaneous}}

| length12 = 4:31

| title13 = Fallen Angels

| writer13 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Mayfield}}

| extra13 = Dotrix 4000

| length13 = 5:38

| title14 = Girlfriend Sistagirl

| writer14 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Anthony W. Anderson}}

| extra14 = AmpLive

| length14 = 3:57

| title15 = Fatherless Child

| writer15 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Scott Jung}}

| extra15 = Chops

| length15 = 5:44

| title16 = OK....Alright

| writer16 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Angel C}}

| extra16 = The Angel

| length16 = 4:34

| title17 = Spoken Peace

| writer17 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Lavella|Palmer}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Relative|Spontaneous}}

| length17 = 3:34

| title18 = Destiny Complete

| writer18 = {{hlist|Ludlum|Angel C}}

| extra18 = The Angel

| length18 = 4:29

| total_length = 1:16:25

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|180665|Cuts For Luck And Scars For Freedom}}

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Category:2001 debut albums

Category:Interscope Records albums

Category:Albums produced by A-Plus (rapper)