[AKA2D '91]

By Josh Grossberg

You'd think Mystikal would have learned a thing or two about the pitfalls of home video from the now infamous R. Kelly case.


Apparently not, because it looks like the rapper is involved in another case of too-candid camera.

The chart-topping hip-hopster is facing possible life imprisonment after being arrested on rape charges last week in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Now, police there say that Mystikal's alleged victim, a 40-year-old hair stylist that worked for the rap star, tipped them off to the existence of a videotape that purportedly shows Mystikal and two men sexually assaulting the woman after accusing her of stealing his money.

Baton Rouge Police Department spokeswoman Mary Ann Godawa says the tape, found in the performer's apartment and since entered into evidence, confirms the allegations against Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler.

The rape, which authorities say occurred July 3 at Mystikal's residence, resulted in his arrest last Thursday with 36-year-old Leland Ellis and 34-year-old Vercy Carter. All three men were booked on charges of aggravated rape and extortion after threatening to turn the unidentified woman over to police for an alleged "check-writing scam," if she didn't perform sexual favors for them in return.

Mystikal, a Grammy nominee for his funkified booty anthem " Shake Ya Ass," was later released on $250,000 bail and has denied all the charges against him, as have his lawyers.

"I am extremely confident that he will be exonerated of all charges that are currently pending against him," said attorney Michael Guy in a statement.

Bail had yet to be set for the other two men.

According to the arrest warrant, the victim stopped by Mystikal's house to braid his hair. Once she arrived, he accused her of stealing money by cashing unauthorized checks written by one of his associates who had access to the rapper's accounts. When he commanded her to "get into the bedroom and take your clothes off," the report says the woman felt afraid and did as ordered. He then allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him.

It was at that point, that Mystikal called Ellis and Carter over to the house and, police say, made Ellis get the camcorder and record the rapper having intercourse with the woman. The warrant also says the rapper continued to assault her after the camera was turned off. Then, the camera was supposedly turned back on while Ellis and Carter took turns raping the woman.

The victim reported the attack to police on July 4. A subsequent search turned up a safe containing the incriminating footage.

Gary Harvey, another of Mystikal's attorneys, showed detectives an affidavit dated July 4 and signed by the woman saying she had consensual sex with the three men.

However, according to the police report, the woman told investigators six days later that Harvey deceived her into thinking "the case had been jeopardized, therefore making her feel compelled to sign the affidavit," and that she still wanted to go forward with the charges.

Mystikal and cohorts are facing a life sentence if convicted of the aggravated rape charge. The extortion count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Despite the arrest, reps for the rapper say his concert appearances for July and August will go on as scheduled.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in August.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Destiny's Former Children Settle Suit
Thu Jul 25, 1:20 PM ET
By Josh Grossberg

Destiny's Child has made nice with the stepchildren.

Original members LeToya Luckett and Latavia Roberson, who left the R&B group in a huff two years ago, have settled their federal lawsuit against Beyoncé Knowles & Co. over a lyric in Destiny's Grammy-winning hit "Survivor."

In a joint statement Wednesday, the current and former Children acknowledged that "they have amicably resolved all of their outstanding differences and agreed to end all litigation." Details of the settlement are being kept all in the Destiny's family, however.

The suit, filed in February, accused the group and Sony Music of defamation for the alleged song slight and breach of contract for violationg a previous settlement reached when the two singers left the group in 2000. The complaint sought unspecified damages.

Luckett and Roberson were ticked over the line: "You thought that I'd be stressed without you/But I'm chillin'/You thought I wouldn't sell without you/Sold 9 million."

The pair claimed claimed the lyric caused them irreparable harm and also flouted the earlier agreement that forbade either side from dissing the other in public. Luckett and Roberson also accused the current members of Destiny's of making "deliberate and disparaging, defamatory factual misrepresentations" about the ex-singers while promoting the Survivor album in April 2001.

The "Survivor" track so offended Luckett and Roberson that they asked the court to bar the tune from being played on the radio or performed in concert by Destiny's Child.

Beyoncé Knowles, who cowrote "Survivor," insisted the song wasn't about her ex-bandmates, but rather was aimed at the naysayers who didn't believe the Houston-based trio would ever achieve stardom.

"I've had people from school who said we weren't going to make it. We had a label that dropped us," Knowles told the Associated Press. "For me, I have no problems with anybody...I was 17 when [Luckett and Roberson left]. It was a long time ago...It's silly."

The bad blood traces back to 1999, when Luckett and Roberson reportedly became unhappy with their treatment by Matthew Knowles (Beyoncé's father and guardian of the group's Kelly Rowland), who took control of the group after their original manager died in 1997.

The two singers became independent women the following year, after the completion of the group's prophetically titled second album, The Writing's on the Wall. They were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin, who suddenly turned up in the video for "Say My Name" even though they didn't perform the song on the album. (Franklin dropped out a few months later, leaving DC with its current lineup.)

Luckett and Roberson sued the band and Matthew Knowles, eventually agreeing to an out-of-court settlement that stipulated neither side make "any public comments of a disparaging nature." They each reportedly pocketed $850,000 and relinquished all claims to Destiny's Child.

As for their latest lawsuit--which just happened to be filed on the same day as the Grammys ( news - web sites) when Destiny's Child won Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocals for, yes, "Survivor"--the ex-members say the settlement proves they did the right thing.

"They are happy at this point to put it all behind them," Warren M. Fitzgerald Jr., the attorney representing Luckett and Roberson, tells the Associated Press. "They do feel vindicated by the course of action they took."

Destiny's Child, meanwhile, remains on temporary hiatus after near constant touring and recording over the past three years. The break is giving the members time to pursue outside projects. Beyoncé makes her big-screen acting debut Friday costarring with Mike Myers' as the shagadelic Foxxy Cleopatra in New Line's Austin Powers in Goldmember.

And what kind of destiny is fated for Luckett and Roberson? The singers are now hoping people say their name as they try to get their careers rolling again with a group called Angel.