JA RULE - RAPPERS MEET IN COURT

Hip-hop heavyweights JA RULE, BUSTA RHYMES, LIL' WAYNE and REMY MA all appeared in the same Manhattan, New York courthouse on Wednesday (07Nov07) for hearings into separate court cases. The quartet were at Manhattan Criminal Court for hearings into assault and weapons possession cases. All four rappers were given new court dates. Rhymes - real name Trevor Smith - who is facing four different trials on assault and driving-related charges will return to court on 23 January (08) when jury selection in his assault and drunken driving trial will begin. Ja Rule - real name Jeffrey Atkins - will be back in court on 5 December (07) to answer weapons charges and Lil' Wayne - real name Dwayne Carter - now faces a 25 February (08) court date on illegal gun possession charges. Remy Ma - real name Remy Smith - will join Ja Rule back in court on 5 December (07), when her assault and witness tampering charges will be addressed.