Coolio [ tickets ] pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing a concealed weapon and a small amount of marijuana. The charges stem from a September, 1998 arrest in Lawndale, near Los Angeles. The rapper was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road when police pulled him over. Coolio later claimed that he often drove that way when picking up his children to make it easier for them to get in the car -- a hummer.

At a pre-trial hearing on March 3rd, Coolio's lawyers and local prosecutors will determine whether a plea bargain can be arranged or whether the incident warrants a full jury trial.

AP reports that the rapper is being charged with being a convict in possession of a concealed weapon. Coolio was reportedly convicted in 1994 of having a concealed weapon in a vehicle.

Across town, rapper ODB had yet another run-in with the law last week. The troubled rapper was pulled over in Hollywood for driving erratically, according to AP. The rapper was unable to produce a driver's license and officers had him step out of his vehicle. A pat-down revealed the rapper was wearing a bullet-proof vest and a records check turned up a prior felony arrest, making it illegal to wear body armor.

ODB was taken into custody and later freed on $18,000 bail.