Around the time T.I. is expected to be released from prison in February, another all-star rapper will be heading in. Lil Wayne will be sentenced to one year behind bars as part of his plea deal for attempted gun possession.

The rapper, born Dwayne Carter Jr., pleaded guilty to weapon charges on Thursday (Oct. 22) in Manhattan, and expects to receive a one-year jail sentence. He must also forfeit his passport.

The charges stem from an incident that took place on July 22, 2007, when police pulled over Lil Wayne’s tour bus after a show at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Officers found a .40-caliber semi-automatic loaded weapon in a Louis Vuitton bag on the vehicle.

Wayne, 27, remains free on bail while awaiting his February sentencing. The somber-looking rapper only said “What’s up?” to reporters as he left the courthouse. He wore black jeans, a gray coat, white T-shirt, and blue Chuck Taylors, and was accompanied by Cash Money Records executives Birdman and Slim.

He is expected to start serving his one-year sentence in February 2010, which could be reduced to eight to 10 months with good behavior.

In addition to the aforementioned charges, Weezy is scheduled for trial on felony drug possession and weapons charges from a January 2008 arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Arizona. He has pleaded not guilty in that case.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Louis Lanzano