Ja Rule pleads guilty to gun possession

Ja Rule has pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and now faces up to two years in jail.

The charges relate to an incident in July 2007 when the rapper, real name Jeffrey Atkins, was pulled over by law enforcement officers for speeding following a Manhattan concert.

Upon searching the vehicle, police reportedly found a loaded semi-automatic gun in a rear door, as well as discovering that the vehicle's registration was expired and was not covered by insurance.

After failing to have the charge thrown out of court on the basis that the police stop had been unlawful, Ja Rule reached a deal with prosecutors over the charge and entered his guilty plea this afternoon.

The hip-hop star will remain free until he is officially sentenced on February 9, 2011.

On leaving court, the rapper told waiting reporters: "This isn't a good day."