Rapper Mystikal Arrested On Another Rape Charge In Louisiana: Police

ASCENSION PARISH, LA — Rapper Mystikal, who was convicted nearly two decades ago of sexual battery and was cleared of a second allegation rape and kidnapping in recent years has been arrested again on a rape charge.

The rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was arrested late Saturday after authorities interviewed a hospital victim who was attacked and suffered minor injuries, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Tyler was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. He faces charges of first-degree rape, simple robbery, domestic abuse battery – strangulation, false imprisonment and simple criminal damage to property.

The arrest comes after Tyler told The Associated Press last year acknowledges his past put him in a “horrible fraternity," but that he was ready to move on from the sexually-charged songs of his past and is seeing his career rekindle.

“When I look back and listen to the music, man — I was a nasty lil’ rapper!” he told AP in an April 2021 article.“A lot of my music now, I imagine myself rapping it to God and if I can rap it, I’m proud.”

That interview came after charges of first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping were dismissed against the Louisiana hip-hop artist in December 2020 that stemmed from a 2016 allegation.

He initially denied involvement with the woman and spent 18 months in jail before being released on a $3 million bond.

Before that, the New Orleans-based rapper served six years in prison after pleading guilty in 2003 to sexual battery.

The long ordeal “was like a reoccurring bad dream,” he told AP at the time. “I didn’t know how it was going to work out.”

Mystical's hip-hop career includes his hit song "Shake Ya A--," as well as "Danger (Been So Long)," and "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall."

His 1997 album "Unpredictable" spent 44 weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 3. Three years later, his fourth album "Let's Get Ready" spent a week at No. 1 on the charts, according to Billboard, and stayed on the charts for 37 weeks. That album was certified double platinum in the U.S.