After two separate sentencing delays, New Orleans rap star Lil Wayne was officially sentenced to prison today (March 8th) in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Lil Wayne was sentenced to the prison term after the rapper admitted to possessing a loaded .40 caliber handgun that was found on his tour bus after a performance in New York in July of 2007.

The rapper was taken away in handcuffs to begin serving his time on Rikers Island, a prison that is just emerging from a scandal over preferential treatment of certain inmates and celebrities.

In October of 2009, several prison officials resigned from the prison after it was revealed that Brooklyn rapper Foxy Brown and other inmates had been given preferential treatment while serving their time behind bars.

Lil Wayne was originally supposed to be sentenced to prison on February 9th but the date was postponed to March 2nd, because the rapper needed root canals, in addition to having his platinum grillz removed.

The March 2nd date was rescheduled to today (March 8th), after a fire broke out in Manhattan Criminal Courts basement which sent eight people to the hospital.

Lil Wayne could be out in as little as eight months. He is expected to remain in protective custody during his time behind bars.