New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne was at a New York court on Monday (25 February 2008) answering weapon charges.

Wayne whose new album Tha Carter III is expected to be out in April pleaded not guilty to gun charges relating to an incident in 2007 where he was found carrying a 40-caliber pistol.

In July 2007 Lil Wayne - real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr - was arrested along with Ja Rule after a performance at New York's Beacon Theater. Police say they saw Wayne and another man smoking marijuana, on searching the vehicle police found a 40-caliber pistol.

The Cash Money star faces two felony charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. The rapper could face over three years in prison if convicted.