Rapper Mystikal, born Michael Lawrence Tyler, is serving a 20-year prison sentence in the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
In June, he was sentenced during trial after a former acquaintance accused the New Orleans native of brutally raping her in his Prairieville, Louisville, home after he accused her of stealing.
Many celebrities remained silent about the charges, except comedian Lil Duval, who shared his shock on X shortly after the sentencing. But now someone even closer to Mystikal is finally speaking out.
Mystikal pleaded guilty to third-degree rape. His former label boss Master P sat on the “We In Miami Podcast” on Oct. 10, where he shared his thoughts about the Louisiana rapper.
Podcast host Stunt Lifestyle asked Master P to choose the better of Busta Rhymes and Mystikal — two rappers known for explosive rapid-fire delivery and aggressive vocal presence.
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Master P, who signed Mystikal to No Limit Records in 1996, picked the “Danger” rapper as the best.
“I’m just saying the world gonna say Busta Rhymes,” Master P said. “But for me as being the owner of No Limit Records, man, Mystikal has helped us build an empire when nobody believed.”
The host then shifted the conversation to Mystikal’s prison sentence after Master P. had already talked at length about mental health.
“That’s why I say mental health is real. Think about it, Mystikal been in the war,” said Master P. “He fought over there. I don’t think he never got the right medicine he need.”
Mystikal, 56, joined the United States Army straight out of high school, where he served as a combat engineer in the Gulf War.
His longtime friend believes that contributes to his other issues.
Master P continued, “I’m telling y’all like drugs is killing our culture, killing our people. Let’s just be real because they are self-medicating. You don’t know what they dealing with. And so I just feel like we got to get the proper help to people that look like us.”
In a 2021 interview with DJ Vlad, Mystikal described the role in the Gulf War, calling it a “suicide job.”
He said, “My job was to breach any obstacle in the way. If there’s some kind of gap we have to build a bridge. Any kind of minefield we have to blow it up. That s—t was suicide.”
Mystikal was arrested the following year for the rape case.
According to KSAT, on top of facing a first-degree rape charge, his charges also included simple criminal damage to property, false imprisonment, domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, possession of heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and Xanax, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors decided not to move forward with the other nine charges, and the first-degree rape charge was reduced to a third-degree rape charge. He initially entered a guilty plea deal before asking to withdraw it.
The acquaintance who accused Mystikal remained anonymous for her protection.
Following the 2022 arrest, she shared her horrific account of what occurred between her and the “Here I Go” artist.
She said that he accused her of stealing money from him and proceeded to punch her in the face, choke her, pull out her braids, and prevent her from leaving by taking her phone and keys.
She told investigators that she saw meth in the home and claimed Mystikal was in a mood before the rape occurred. It wasn’t until he sent himself the money from her phone that he allowed her to leave.
During sentencing, he told the victim, “If that’s what I did, I deserve every day of this sentence. I’m sorry. I hope you heal.”
One person showing some sympathy to Mystikal said, “Wow so sad I hope he get the help he needs. I did not know they sentenced him that long.”
A second person who held him accountable wrote, “No means no he knew right from wrong he knew that wasn’t his body he had no right doing what he did to that woman.”
Another said, “He answered right salute P he’s right! He didn’t drag his name! P one of goats.”
Others pointed to Mystikal’s criminal history and similar charges.
He pleaded guilty to sexual battery in 2003 after his hairstylist accused him of rape. He served six years and was required to register as a sex offender.
Mystikal was arrested and charged again in 2017 for first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping, but the case was later dropped in 2020.
