The rapper Mystikal, who rose to fame with his 2000 hit 'Shake Ya Ass', will serve 20 years in prison for raping a woman at his Louisiana home in 2022 – after telling the victim in court: 'If I did that to you, I deserve the max sentence.'
Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in March, a charge reduced from first-degree rape which carries an automatic life sentence. But days before his Tuesday sentencing hearing, he asked a judge to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming he 'did not have sufficient opportunity to fully consider the consequences' and was under 'significant emotional distress', according to WBRZ.
“Rapper Mystikal jailed 20 years for rape after telling victim he deserves maximum sentence.”
The victim spoke in court before sentencing and asked the judge to give Mystikal the maximum sentence. She told the court the rapper punched her, choked her, pulled out her braids and forcibly raped her at his home in Prairieville, about 18 miles from Baton Rouge. She also claimed he took her keys and phone while she was at his home, raped her as she searched for money he had taken from her, and then forced her to send him money via CashApp before allowing her to leave.
In response, Mystikal addressed the victim directly: 'If I did that to you, I deserve the max sentence.' The 55-year-old has been held without bond at the Ascension Parish Jail since his arrest in 2022.
Mystikal rose to national recognition in the 1990s and received multiple Grammy nominations. His Pharrell Williams-produced album 'Let's Get Ready' topped the Billboard charts in 2000, and 'Shake Ya Ass' was nominated for a Grammy in the best rap solo performance category. In 2003, he was nominated for best rap album for 'Tarantula' and best male rap solo performance for 'Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall)'.
This is not his first conviction for sexual violence. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to sexual battery of his hair stylist and was sentenced to six years in prison. In 2012, he served a three-month sentence on misdemeanor domestic abuse charges. In 2017, he was accused of rape and kidnapping, but those charges were later dropped.
A lawyer for the rapper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.