Ja Rule has lost the latest round in a criminal case after a judge refused to dismiss a gun possession charge against him on Wednesday (20Jan10).
The Pain Is Love star's chauffeured sports car was pulled over by police in New York City in 2007 following a concert with Kanye West and Lil Wayne. A semiautomatic gun was allegedly discovered in the rear driver's side door.
At Manhattan's Supreme Court on Wednesday, the rapper's lawyer Stacey Richman requested the charge be thrown out, arguing the firearm was allegedly discovered during an unjustified police stop.
Prosecutors maintained that the vehicle was pulled over because it was speeding and had a suspended registration as well as no insurance.
The judge sided with the prosecution and ordered Ja Rule - real name Jeffrey Atkins - back to court on 3 March (10).
If convicted, he faces up to four years behind bars. Atkins, 33, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
On the same night in 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested after a police check found the rapper had a pistol and marijuana on-board his tour bus.
Last year (09), the Lollipop hitmaker accepted a plea deal and was ordered to start an eight-month prison sentence in February (10).