Ja Rule's hits include Always On Time and Ain't It Funny

The hip-hop stars, who have recently released a duet called Uh Oh, were arrested separately following a concert in Manhattan on Sunday.

Rule, whose real name is Jeff Atkins, was stopped for speeding when a weapon was discovered in his car, police said.

Officers also found a pistol when detaining Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, for smoking marijuana.

Both Carter and a companion were charged with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana.

Atkins was charged along with a driver and a passenger.

There has been no comment from the rappers' management or record label, and it was not immediately clear whether they had lawyers.

Ja Rule had chart success with singles like Always On Time and Ain't It Funny, after making his name guest-starring on a single with Jay-Z.

Several of his albums have achieved multi-platinum sales, but he remains equally well-known for feuds with other hip-hop luminaries, including Eminem, 50 Cent and Dr Dre.

Lil Wayne is the president of New Orleans-based record label Cash Money Records. His albums include Tha Block Is Hot, Tha Carter and Tha Carter II.