MYSTIKAL - CONFUSION OVER MYSTIKAL RELEASE

Troubled rapper MYSTIKAL is causing a headache for his hip-hop fans after conflicting reports of an early release from prison have appeared on various websites. The SHAKE YA ASS star was incarcerated in Louisiana in 2004 as part of a six year sentence for sexual battery, after being convicted of forcing his hairstylist to perform oral sex on him as repayment for allegedly stealing $80,000 (GBP41,000) worth of cheques. Last year (06) he was sentenced to another year in prison on tax evasion charges. However, AllHipHop.com claims a representative from the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed the rapper was released earlier this month (11JAN07), almost one year after being denied parole. After posting the story on their site however, close friends of Mystikal - real name MICHAEL L TYLER - rubbished the story. The rapper has so far been unavailable for comment.