Coolio has pleaded guilty on a count of possession of a concealed weapon in a court appearance this week – with the judge in the case complimenting his new haircut during the hearing!

The 53 year old former rapper and sometime chef, real name Artis Leon Ivey, was charged after he arrested back in September when he was caught with a firearm in his backpack at Los Angeles International Airport. Coolio claimed that it belonged to a member of his security team, and co-operated with the investigation.

CoolioCoolio pleaded guilty to the charge, but avoided prison

The ‘90s hitmaker, famous for ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, avoided a prison sentence but was handed down a three-year period of probation, in addition to 45 days’ worth of community service. If he avoids trouble with the law for the next 12 months, the felony conviction will be downgraded to a misdemeanour, according to the L.A. Times.

“A mistake was made, it was a misunderstanding,” Coolio told reporters outside court when the sentence was handed down. “I do not condone the use of firearms, legal or illegal. Thanks to the court and the attorneys handling this for me so I can still do the work that I do… I was very worried. I don’t do crime and I am not into anything illegal, so it should be easy.”

However, TMZ additionally reported that while the judge was closing the case in summation, he actually complimented Coolio on his new hairdo.

“You have a different little hair style,” the judge said. “It fits you.”

It’s not the first time that Coolio has fallen foul of the legal system. Back in 2013, he faced a misdemeanour charge of battery when he was accused of beating his girlfriend, and the year before that he was arrested for a number of traffic offences when he was pulled over riding passenger in a friend’s car.

More: Students in Preston enjoy a night of cooking and rapping with Coolio [archive]