Rapper arrested on gun charges

Jay-Z is a Grammy-award winning rapper

American rapper Jay-Z has been arrested for illegal gun possession in Manhattan, New York.

The Grammy-award winning singer - real name Shawn Carter - was arrested with three other men when a loaded handgun was allegedly found in their car.

Sean "Puffy" Combs was acquitted on gun charges

Undercover police officers told the Associated Press news agency that they saw an armed man climbing into a car outside the Club Exit in New York in the early hours of Friday morning.

Police stopped a car close to the club and found a gun, Cheryl Cox, a police spokeswoman said.

Criminal possession

The four men have been charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Ms Cox added.

Hamzah Hewitt, Romero Chambers, and Tyran Smith were arrested along with the singer.

His arrest comes less than a month after fellow rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs and his body guard were acquitted of gun possession and bribery charges following a shooting incident in a New York club

Four years ago Jay-Z was lined up to support Sean Combs on a concert tour of America, but he pulled out shortly after it began.

His album Vol 2... Hard Knock Life won the Grammy for best rap album in 1999 and he is considered one of the best rap lyricists in America.

He has released five albums and two years ago was voted best rap act at the MTV awards in the US.