[Editor's note: Over the holiday season, SonicNet is looking back at 1999's top stories, chosen by our editors and writers. This story originally ran on Wednesday, March 3.]

TORRANCE, Calif. — In a ruling designed to draw attention to the dangers of guns, a Superior Court judge called for rapper Coolio Wednesday (March 3) to attend the autopsy of a youth killed by gunfire following his no contest plea to a gun charge.

Judge James R. Brandlin also called for him to serve 10 days in jail and perform 40 hours of community service, rulings which could be formally handed down next month.

After the hearing at Southwest Superior Court, Coolio said that the judge's proposal was too harsh.

"But, you know, life's never fair," he said. "I didn't expect to get jail time. Ten days isn't a long time, but any time in jail is too long."

The 35-year-old Grammy-winning rapper (born Artis Leon Ivey Jr.) entered his no contest plea that morning in Southwest Superior Court here to charges of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle.

Coolio changed that plea from not guilty after the judge moved to lower the gun charge to a misdemeanor from the more serious felony classification. Coolio will be formally sentenced April 9, at which time the judge may change his proposed punishment at his own discretion.

With braids characteristically sprouting from his head, Coolio wore eyeglasses and was dressed conservatively in a black, pin-striped suit. He appeared to be in a calm and outgoing mood while in the courthouse, at one point signing an autograph for a young fan.

Coolio was arrested Sept. 15 after a Los Angeles County Sheriff Department deputy allegedly spotted the rapper driving his sports utility vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Coolio admitted to police that he had a weapon in the vehicle. In a search of the vehicle, an unloaded gun, a separate ammunition cartridge and a small amount of marijuana were found, according to police. The marijuana charge was dropped.

District Attorney Greg Jennings strongly objected to the court's proposal, and specifically to its reclassifying the gun charge as a misdemeanor. He asked that Coolio be sentenced to 100 hours of community service, fined $2,500 and placed on three years' probation, in addition to having a felony conviction on his record.

"The defendant is a role model, and he's basically been given a misdemeanor for a crime that is a felony," said Jennings, who at one point told the judge that he listens to Coolio's music. "My concern is that ... kids might think that if Coolio has a gun in his car, then it's OK."

Jennings argued that Coolio, who was convicted in 1994 for carrying a concealed weapon, has demonstrated a pattern of unlawful behavior.

In response to Jennings' arguments, Brandlin said that Coolio, prior to his rap career, had worked as a weapons screener at Los Angeles International Airport and as a firefighter. Brandlin also mentioned that Coolio had been a Boy Scout as a child.

The judge argued that such a history "indicates a concern for public safety." He added that those factors, as well as Coolio's willing admission to police that he had a gun in the car at the time of his September arrest, "proves to the court he is worthy of a misdemeanor."

The judge also addressed Coolio's 1994 conviction for carrying a concealed weapon, but stated that the rapper's record showed "no indication of a propensity for violence."

Brandlin added he believed the court's proposed punishment would be more "productive to society," suggesting Coolio's fame could help him draw attention to the dangers of guns and that witnessing an autopsy of a youth killed by gunfire would likely have "a significant impact" on the rapper.

Jennings finally ended his arguments and accepted the court's ruling.

Coolio's attorney, Steven K. Hauser, told the court he had known Coolio since the rapper was a child. "I believe he has dedicated his life to serving the community in a positive way," Hauser said.

Brandlin warned Coolio that if he fails to comply with the terms of his sentence, the misdemeanor may be elevated to a felony conviction.

Coolio said that he's anxious to complete the terms of probation, especially his community service requirement. "I want to do this as fast as possible — I can start the community service next week," he told the court.

Outside the courtroom after the hearing, Coolio said he hopes to fulfill his service through an organization for which he has worked in the past, and that he plans to visit two high schools a day until the 40 hours are completed.

The rapper added that he had considered further contesting the charges but said he was "a little afraid to fight against the court system."

He claimed the reason he submitted a no-contest plea was simply to end the ordeal, remarking that media attention to his arrest had made it an issue in his home. "My kids have been asking me questions," he said. "I just needed to get it over with."

Coolio first attracted broad public attention with his 1994 debut LP, Like a Thief, featuring such hits as

"Fantastic Voyage" (RealAudio

excerpt), and the 1995 triple-platinum follow-up, Gangsta's

Paradise, which included the title track and "1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New)"

(RealAudio

excerpt).

Coolio's fourth album, Dead Man Walking, featuring collaborations

with Krayzie Bone and country artist Kenny Rogers, is due out this summer

on his own label.

"Lyrically I got better," he said of the release. "I think a lot of the

stuff is going to be more traditional rap this time."