Mystikal Sentenced to Jail

Michael "Mystikal" Tyler was sentenced to six years in prison yesterday after being convicted of sexual battery.

The rapper, 33, was charged in July 2002 with forcing his former hair stylist to perform oral sex on him and two bodyguards at his Baton Rouge apartment after he accused her of stealing money from him, a charge she denied.

After a videotape of the incident surfaced, Tyler and his two bodyguards -- Leland "Pokie" Ellis and Vercy "V" Carter -- pleaded guilty to sexual battery as part of a deal that would throw out charges of aggravated rape, which with a conviction carries a mandatory life sentence. Ellis received a three-year prison sentence, Carter drew four years.

Mystikal had also been charged with extortion. He entered a best interest plea last year and was sentenced to five years probation. Extortion charges against Ellis and Carter were dropped.

A civil suit had also been filed and settled out of court; according to reports, Tyler has paid the woman $350,000.

Mystikal is best known for his 2000 hit "Shake Ya Ass," which helped usher his fifth album, Let's Get Ready to the top of the charts.

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Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

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