Ja Rule signed autographs for fans outside court

The star, real name Jeffrey Atkins, did not enter a plea and was released on C$10,000 bail (�4,081) bail.

The charge relates to an incident at a nightclub in Toronto in June, but Canadian law bars the publishing of details from early court hearings.

Mr Atkins, 28, who had collaborative hits with Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti, will return to court on 30 August.

Following the hearing, the hip-hop star signed autographs for fans outside the Toronto courthouse.

It was his second court date this month

He pleaded guilty on 1 July to driving with a suspended licence after he was stopped for changing lanes without signalling, for which he was fined.

He was also held earlier this month in New York City for marijuana possession, but the charge was dropped.

The New York rapper has received two Grammy nominations during his career and is considered the flagship artist on the Murder Inc label.

He also has a minor acting career, most notably a role in 2001's The Fast and The Furious.