
Over the last two years Ian Connor has emerged as an influential force in hip-hop and fashion, working as a stylist and designer for A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa and as a creative consultant for Kanye West. Now the self-proclaimed “King of the Youth” is finding himself in the center of increasingly disturbing allegations of rape and sexual assault.
In a blog post last week, Emory University student Malika Anderson wrote that she was raped by Connor on October 5, 2014, and was making her story public now because the charges she had filed against him were being closed. And then, in a post titled “For Malika,” Chicago artist Jean Deaux also alleged that she had been raped by Connor, writing:
I am not telling it to convince anyone. I don’t need proof. I don’t need approval either. I wrote this for Malika, who’s case could have been stronger if I was as brave as she was and come forward. &For all of his potential victims, his past victims, and for myself. I wrote this because sleep cannot find me in this state of mind. I wrote this because I am the oldest of 4 black young women and no amount of words can stop sexual violence from finding them. I wrote this to reaffirm my truth and reclaim my own power, that no man can take, however hard he may try.
Ian Connor is a serial rapist.
At the time of writing this five more women, some anonymously, have also come forward after Jackson and Deaux went public, all with similar stories, claiming that Connor often enticed them into meetings with promises of modeling and fashion opportunities.
For his part, Connor has so far only responded in a series of tweets posted the same day the story first broke, in direct response to Anderson’s initial post, and then has been silent after.
Swear This Is My Karma For Finessing Every Bitch I Came Across Just To Mentally Prove A Point.
Lmao The Universe Is Paying Me Back.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) April 8, 2016
But I Have Honesty On My Side, So I'm Literally Laughing At Whatever Life Throws At Me.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) April 8, 2016
Finesse Yea but Lie No.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) April 8, 2016
A look back into some of Connor’s older tweets around the same time of many of the allegations reveal writing that’s troubling in isolation, but especially worrying in light of the recent allegations.
Sometimes I Spend Money on Sex, Sometimes I Don't.
Either Way I Get My Sex.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) January 30, 2013
It Ain't Easy Being Ian Connor Just Like It Ain't Easy Slipping Off A Too Small Condom In The Middle Of Sex Without Her Knowing.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) June 12, 2014
Most troublingly, Connor has also gone back and deleted this tweet since the allegations emerged. We’ll continue to update this story as additional details from all sides develop.

UPDATE: According to Pitchfork, the Dekalb County Police Department in Georgia has “…confirmed to Pitchfork that the incident report is legitimate, adding, the case is still officially an open investigation.’”
In addition, Connor has re-emerged on Twitter and issued a new series of tweets defending himself, including:
"The Truth Will Never Matter If The Lie Is More Entertaining" It Seems.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) April 13, 2016
It Sucks How You Could Force Yourself To Believe A Lie Just Because You Don't Like A Person.
It's A Real World and Its So Fucked Up.
— Ian Connor (@souljaian) April 13, 2016
By Nathan S, the managing editor of DJBooth and a hip-hop writer. His beard is awesome. This is his Twitter. Image via Instagram.

