Who is Mystikal? Louisiana rapper, 51, arrested on rape, robbery and false imprisonment charges
Grammy-nominated rapper Michael Lawrence Tyler, better known as Mystikal and hailing from Louisiana, was arrested on Sunday, July 31. Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office announced that the rapper, with an extensive criminal history, was arrested on rape and false imprisonment charges on Sunday, July 31. It all started with the officers responding to a call from an area hospital regarding a sexual assault that linked the crime to Mystikal.
Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson Donovan Jackson said, "He was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. This is an ongoing investigation. Further details may be limited at this time." The 51-year-old rapper is now facing charges of first-degree rape, simple robbery, domestic abuse battery, false imprisonment and simple criminal damage to property. Attorney Roy Maughan, representing the rapper said, "Our investigation into the facts has just begun, but we expect Mystikal will be granted bail." Mystikal has collaborated with big names like Lil Wayne, Birdman, Busta Rhymes, Nivea, and more. He also teased a collaboration with Drake back in 2012 which never happened.
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Mystikal's criminal history
While his career has given him enough accolades, he remains a registered sex offender. Back in 2013, he confessed to pleading guilty in a 2003 sexual battery and extortion which included him forcing his then-hairstylist "to perform sex acts on him and two bodyguards" for which he served six years in prison as per AP. It's also said that he pleaded guilty after the victim cashed thousands of dollars worth of unauthorized checks from the rapper.
The contoversial rapper was also indicted in a 2017 case rape and kidnapping for which he had to spent 18 months in jail before being released on a $3 million bond. However, AP reports that the charges against him were dropped as the Caddo Parish District Attorney in Louisiana after a second grand jury declined to bring an indictment. He told AP that he has grown and now raps for "God." In 2021, he told the publication, "When I look back and listen to the music, man, I was a nasty lil’ rapper! A lot of my music now, I imagine myself rapping it to God and if I can rap it, I’m proud." He futher said, "It felt like God was winking his eye at me. That’s what strengthens my spirituality right now, things like that.” If convicted in the rape and false imprisonment charges that were put on him on Sunday, July 31, he could face a life sentence.