BBC News Online: Entertainment: Music

Rapper Jay-Z admits to stabbing

The rapper faces a probationary sentence

Jay-Z, 31, whose real name is Shawn Carter, admitted attacking the rival record producer at New York's Kit Kat club in December 1999.

But the hip-hop star only pleaded guilty to the least of several charges relating to the alleged assault.

Prosecutors have promised the rapper that they would seek a sentence of three years probation, if he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour assault charge.

He faced a possible 15-year prison term had he been tried and convicted of the original felony charges.

Sentence

Jay-Z said "I stabbed Lance Rivera" during his brief court appearance before an Supreme Court judge Micki Scherer.

He will be sentenced on 6 December.

The Grammy award-winning rapper later said in a statement: "I have accepted responsibility for my actions as well as the actions of others who were involved in a dispute with Lance Rivera at the Kit Kat Club in December 1999."

The incident arose over the alleged bootlegging of Jay-Z's album, Vol. 3, Life and Times of S Carter, before its release on 28 December, 1999.

Another charge, related to possession of a firearm in a separate incident on 13 April 2001, was dismissed on Tuesday when another defendant in the case admitted to owning the gun.