“Asem aba”: Popular music producer arrested over health-related allegations

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A New Orleans music producer is facing serious criminal charges after a bounce artist he worked with accused him of knowingly exposing her to HIV.

Mykel Cook, known professionally as MykelOnTheBeat, was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on September 18, 2026, on a charge of intentional exposure to HIV.

According to Prime Timer reports, investigations carried out, including medical record checks, indicated that the music producer was diagnosed with HIV in 2019.

The 33-year-old was initially held without bond pending a Gwen's Law hearing, after which Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah set bail at $250,000 and put a domestic protective order in place for the alleged victim.

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Cook has since posted a bond and has been released from police custody.

The music producer's record shows domestic violence convictions in St Charles Parish in 2021 and Jefferson Parish in 2023.

The woman at the centre of the case is 38-year-old Jayvonda Bazile, who performs under the name BOG Vonnie.

She made the decision to go public, saying she wants to push people working in the music industry to prioritise HIV testing and that she suspects others may have been put at risk.

According to the arrest affidavit, Cook and Bazile first crossed paths in 2018 when he offered to help launch her music career.

What began as a professional arrangement eventually blurred into something more personal.

The criminal charge rests on allegations that Cook, whose credits include Boosie BadAzz, Chance the Rapper and NBA YoungBoy, deliberately exposed Bazile to HIV.

Those allegations remain subject to the legal process, and Cook has not been found guilty.

The Instagram post detailing the arrest of music producer MykelOnTheBeat is below:

The story drew pointed responses online, with many commenters weighing in on both the legal and personal dimensions of the case.

YEN.com.gh has compiled some reactions from social media users below:

@WorldInMotionHQ wrote:

@chloesprinkllz said:

@auntymurda commented:

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported about Mexican musician Jonathan Meléndez, his pregnant wife, their young daughter and the family nanny, who were found shot dead at a home near Mexico City.

Two suspects have been arrested, including an associate investigators say may have used a relationship of trust to gain access to the property. The killings have sparked widespread outrage as the family, bandmates and public await answers.

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Kofi Owusu (Entertainment Editor)

Kofi Owusu is the Head of the Entertainment Desk at YEN.com.gh. He graduated from the African University College of Communication (AUCC) in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. He has over 5 years of experience as an entertainment journalist. He joined YEN.com.gh in 2024. He previously worked as a freelance writer for local and foreign outlets. He won the award for Best Entertainment Editor of the Year at YEN.com.gh in 2025. He has participated in several trainings, including Facebook and Google compliance workshops.
You can contact him via email: kofi.owusu@yen.com.gh