The latest news of Mystikal ongoing battles is that he has been held for three years in Louisiana for charges of first-degree rape and domestic abuse. The Grammy-nominated rapper has been involved in multiple legal issues involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and related charges dating back to 2003. While he has pled his innocence multiple times for the various cases, he is a registered sex offender and there’s no sign of him being released soon.
Mystikal, legally known as Michael Lawrence Tyler, has been in serious legal issues for the past couple decades that almost ended his music career at it’s prime… And then actually ended his career when he tried to make his big come back. The New Orleans-based rapper has been registered as a sex offender since 2010 when he was released from prison after the first conviction.
Despite Mystikal’s attempts to make a musical comeback, his repeated legal issues have impacted his career negatively and at this point even if he were to be released, a comeback seems quite unlikely.
From Chart-Topping Rapper to Convicted Felon
Mystikal entered the industry as an independent artist in 1995. He later signed to Jive Records and No Limit, putting his name among a list of top rappers of the early 2000s by selling millions of albums and his songs getting top spots on Billboard. His major label debut was released in 1997 and every project after seemed to get better. He released celebrated hits including “Danger” and “Shake Ya Ass” in the early 2000s. As his solo career skyrocketed, the rapper collaborated with well-known artists like Nivea, Ludacris, Pharrell Williams, and Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz.
His album, Tarantula, earned him two Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003.
The First Conviction: Assaulting His Hairstylist
Mystikal was accused of forcing his hairstylist to perform sex acts on him and his two bodyguards. He later pleaded guilty to sexual battery and extortion after initially facing aggravated rape charges. A videotape of the assault was discovered. The rapper forced the woman to perform oral sex on them after not turning her into police for stealing $80,000 worth of the rapper’s checks. To him, it was not a rape, it was an act of retaliation.
Mystikal was facing life in prison for the initial charges, but eventually took the guilty plea in order to serve 6 years and not go to trial on the more serious charges.
Mystikal Domestic Violence Arrest
Mystikal had a misdemeanor domestic dispute in 2012 with the mother of his children. The charges were dropped but since one of the terms of his probation was that he was to remain arrest free, he had to serve a 90 day sentence for the probation violation.
Another Arrest – Wrongful Imprisonment:
In 2017, Mystikal made headlines after being indicted in a rape and kidnapping case. He was alleged to have raped and kidnapped a woman that he met at a casino hotel in Louisiana. He was held on a $3 million bond, which he could not afford, so he remained in prison for over a year and a half until February 14, 2019.
The case was dismissed with lack of evidence cited as the reason after a second grand jury refused to charge him.
The Arrest That Sealed His Fate: The 2022 Case Explained
Mystikal, now 55, is caught up in another scandal again for a sexual related crime. The rapper has been held without bond following charges of rape and domestic abuse.
How Long Has Mystikal Been in Prison? Current Sentence and Charges
He has been held in Ascension Parish since July 30, 2022. As of October 25, 2025, he is yet to be released. He last appeared in court in May 2025 for what was supposed to be a plea hearing, but it was delayed, and as of this writing know know date for a plea or trial is known.
The rapper insists he is not guilty. While the case remains ongoing, as he is still awaiting trial, he is under legal restrictions. His previous convictions have not helped the matter.
For the rape and domestic abuse charges, Mystikal faces a potential mandatory life sentence as it is considered a first-degree rape. Other charges in this case include domestic abuse battery, false imprisonment, simple robbery, and his previous sex offense record, which seems to be putting him in a tight spot.
If this case were to be dismissed it would be yet another case that has held him back, but the accusations have been too hard to get around.
What’s Next For Mystikal?
If the rapper does come home, he has expressed interest in planning and making a musical comeback. Not sure how it will resonate with fans. At this point it’s been over 20 years of sexual violence against women. Even if some of the accusations were falsified, he will have a hard time convincing many former fans.
Can Mystikal Ever Return to Music? Share your thoughts in the comments.
