ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places People Tries to fi nd harmony Mystikal opens up on dropped rape charge NEW YORK, April 18, (AP): After spending more than four years under the “bad dream” of rape and kid- napping charges that were recently dismissed, rapper Mystikal says he wants to shed the sexually-charged songs of his past, and now has a higher audience in mind. “When I look back and listen to the music, man — I was a nasty lil’ rapper!” he said with a hint of embar- rassment in an interview with The Associated Press. “A lot of my music now, I imagine myself rapping it to God and if I can rap it, I’m proud.” The Louisiana hip-hop legend spoke to The Asso- ciated Press in one of his fi rst interviews after fi rst- degree rape and second-degree kidnapping charges stemming from a 2016 allegation were dismissed in December. The rapper, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to sexual battery and served six years in prison, initially denied involvement with the woman and spent 18 months in jail before being released on a $3 million bond. Louisiana’s Caddo Parish District Attorney closed the investigation after new evidence was presented to a second grand jury that de- clined to bring an indictment. Mystikal The district attorney then fi led to dismiss the charges. The long ordeal “was like a reoccurring bad dream,” he said. “I didn’t know how it was going to work out.” Now he wants to make changes to his career — and In this Jan. 27, 2021 file photo, a model wears a creation for Fendi’s Spring-Summer 2021 Haute Couture fashion collection presented in Paris. (AP) life — as he tries to fi nd harmony beyond a troubled past. Though Mystical says he “can’t go to God” with lines like the dirty opening verse of his hit “Shake Ya A(asterisk)(asterisk),” don’t expect him to start ap- Fashion pearing on the gospel charts. Dismissal Within days of the case’s dismissal, a blitz of fi lm trailers for Eddie Murphy’s highly anticipated “Com- Virus forces a rethink ing 2 America” began airing, featuring “Feel Right,” Mystikal’s 2015 smash with Mark Ronson. The New Orleans product said he had no idea the song would be Fashion industry evolves amid pandemic used, but he doesn’t believe in coincidences. “It felt like God was winking his eye at me,” he PARIS, April 18, (AP): The pandemic said, smiling. “That’s what strengthens my spirituality has torn a multibillion-dollar bite out right now, things like that.” of the fabric of Europe’s fashion in- Mystikal maintained his innocence, but few sought dustry, stopped runway shows and Gucci celebrates 100 years with his work. But bookings for live performances are forced brands to show their designs picking back up, and his life story will digitally instead. the ‘Aria’ collection by Michele be featured on the upcoming season of TV One’s Now, amid hopes of a return to near- popular music docuseries “Unsung.” normality by the year’s end, the indus- Mystikal’s most recent trouble began in October MILAN, April 18, (AP): Gucci crea- tension” of Ford’s decade at Gucci try is asking what fashion will look tive director Alessandro Michele from 1994-2004. 2016 after his performance at a “Legends of Southern like as it dusts itself off and struggles Hip-Hop” concert in Shreveport, Louisiana. Accord- is celebrating the fashion house’s “Tom understood right from the to its well-heeled feet again. 100th anniversary this year, giv- beginning that Gucci had some ing to police records obtained by the AP, Mystikal and Answers vary. Some think the ing historic sweep to a collection kind of magnetism, this cult power,” a few members of his entourage, including hopeful Diane Warren arrives at the 90th Fashion Week format, in use since unveiled virtually Thursday that Michele said. rapper Averweone “Lil Hood” Holman, partied with Academy Awards Nominees Lun- the 1940s, will be radically rethought. embraced its equestrian heritage, Michele, who took over as crea- Holman’s female friend and her boyfriend. cheon in Beverly Hills, Calif on Feb 5, Others believe Asia will consolidate borrowed references from the Tom tive direction of Gucci six years ago, The victim, who told police they continuously gave 2018. Warren is nominated for an Os- its huge gains in infl uence. Many see Ford era and outright stole from the put a fetishized spin on Gucci’s her drinks, became separated from her boyfriend for a car for best original song for her work brands seeking greater sustainability to French sister-brand Balenciaga. trademark equestrian references, few hours, the records said. When they reconnected, in ‘The Life Ahead’ starring Sophia court a younger clientele. “Gucci was born under some including riding caps, fringed leath- the boyfriend said she seemed disoriented. Loren. (AP) — Details on Page 12 kind of constellation, because the er riding crops and spit-polished Holman told investigators that he and the victim Impact power it holds is nearly inexplica- boots mixed with glamorous se- were both intoxicated and had intercourse. He said “The impact of the pandemic will be ble,’’ Michele told a video press quined evening wear, or subverted they were the only ones in the room. unquestionably to increase the impor- conference. with erotic sheer dresses of logo- Police noted that while the victim said she didn’t re- Variety tance and infl uence of Asia on fash- The celebration party was set in emblazoned netting. Models dan- member certain parts of the night, she recalled waking ion,” said Gildas Minvielle, economist a fi lm-set version of London’s Sa- gled long jewelry from their noses. up on a bed with her panties down and Holman’s pe- at the Institut Francais de la Mode in voy Hotel, where fashion house In one of the collection’s most sur- founder Guccio Gucci got inspira- prising turns, Michele borrowed, or nis out. She also had another memory of her buttocks LOS ANGELES: J-Lo and A-Rod are no Paris. hurting with Mystikal standing behind her, according tion to return home to Florence and hacked, looks directly from Balencia- longer J-Rod — offi cially. “Luxury in Europe has already re- open his own leather goods shop, ga, the Paris fashion house owned to the police report. Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez bounded but it’s only because it’s specializing in travel bags that he by the same parent company, Ker- Mystikal told police he wasn’t in the room during told the “Today” show Thursday in a globalized, only because of Asian buy- had admired working as a bellhop ing. They included a version of the the incident and he “did not hear anything.” But DNA joint statement that they are calling off ers,” Minvielle said. “They spent on in London. Balenciaga Jackie bag and a glittery forensic tests showed the rapper had an intimate phys- their two-year engagement. European brands.” The collection was titled “Aria,” a silver suit emblazoned with both Gu- ical encounter with the victim. “We have realized we are better as Asian buyers are still considered reference to another Italian creation, cci and Balenciaga. Mystikal hesitantly admitted to AP that a sexual friends and look forward to remaining so. a largely untapped market, yet their lyric opera. Models walked down This was the fi rst collection of encounter did happen. He described it as consensual, We will continue to work together and wealth has recently tipped over that of long corridor runways outfi tted with 2021 for Gucci, which has left the believing the victim stated she was raped rather than support each other on our shared busi- Westerners. China, in particular, was hundreds of fl ashing cameras nailed fashion calendar and committed to admit the indiscretion to her boyfriend. nesses and projects,” it said. already considered the worldwide en- to the wall in the place of absent pa- only presenting two collections a “There was additional information that surfaced “We wish the best for each other and gine of growth in the luxury industry parazzi. A medley of Gucci-themed year. The video presentation stuck that the original grand jury did not have an opportuni- one another’s children. Out of respect for before the pandemic. Its quicker con- pop songs — proof, if needed, of the strictly to the runway format during ty to consider at the time that the charges were brought them, the only other comment we have tainment of the virus will leave it in an brand’s enduring relevance — pro- a pandemic year of experimenta- forward,” said Britney Green, who oversaw the case to say is thank you to everyone who has vided the soundtrack. tion that has all but shut down in- sent kind words and support.” even stronger position. for the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Offi ce. “We “In the next 50 years money will The fi rst look was a jag on Tom person shows. The couple started dating in early Ford’s 1996 red velvet suit, with a Refl ecting on the century marker, then decided that the case needed to stop there because 2017. They issued a statement in March come from the East as it has been the (second) grand jury did not return an indictment kinky leather harness over a pow- Michele said Gucci’s magic is its abil- that disputed reports they were breaking (coming) in the last 50 years from the der blue shirt.