Rapper Coolio is due to appear in court charged with unlawful firearm possession after a gun was found at Los Angeles International Airport.

The musician was arrested after the handgun was allegedly discovered in his bag during security screening on September 17.

Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon with two prior convictions, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.

Coolio
Coolio (Brandon Dill/AP)

The 53-year-old has previous convictions for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle in 2001 and possession of cocaine base in 2009, prosecutors said. If convicted, he faces a maximum of three years in prison.

Coolio was due to appear before a judge on October 13 to face the charges but did not attend the hearing, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles Superior Court said.

The rap star’s lawyer told the judge his client had a performance in St Louis and could not get back in time, according to TMZ.

Coolio (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Coolio (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Police said at the time of his arrest that the confiscated gun was loaded.

Coolio is best known for his 1995 hit Gangsta’s Paradise. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 and Ultimate Big Brother in 2010.

He is due to appear at LA’s airport courthouse on Wednesday.