US rapper Mystikal has received a 20-year prison sentence for raping a woman at his Louisiana home in 2022.

Mystikal, whose legal name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in March. The plea deal capped his sentence at 20 years. Prosecutors reduced the charge from first-degree rape, which carries an automatic life sentence.

Days before sentencing, Mystikal tried to withdraw his plea. He argued that he had been under “significant emotional distress” and “substantial pressure” when he made the decision. He also said he did not have enough time to understand the consequences of the plea.

The court rejected the request.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the victim, who remains anonymous, asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence allowed under the plea deal.

She described a violent attack. The woman told the court that Tyler punched her, strangled her, forcibly ripped out her braids, and raped her.

The judge then handed down the 20-year sentence. The term is five years less than the maximum punishment for third-degree rape. However, it is the highest sentence allowed under Mystikal’s plea agreement.

The sentence marks a dramatic fall for the rapper. He rose to fame in the late 1990s with hits such as “Shake Ya A**.” His latest conviction now brings another major setback to his career.