US rapper Coolio has pleaded not guilty to drug and battery charges following his arrest at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) last month.

The rapper, real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr, is due to appear in court again on April 20th.

He was arrested at LAX on March 6th after security screeners allegedly found drugs and a smoking device during a search of his luggage.

Coolio is most famous for the 1995 song 'Gangsta's Paradise'.

He enjoyed fresh exposure earlier this year after appearing in the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother.

(by Jason Gregory)