A Manhattan judge on Tuesday set an Aug. 18 trial date for Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins.
The judge had turned down the platinum-selling rapper's request for a hearing on scientific issues surrounding DNA evidence.
He has pleaded not guilty to weapon possession. Police said they found a loaded semiautomatic gun in his luxury sports car as he was being driven away from a July 2007 concert.
Ja Rule's "Pain is Love" was nominated for a best rap album Grammy Award in 2002. His movie acting credits include 2001's "The Fast and the Furious."
He was allowed to skip Tuesday's court date for a movie shoot out of town.
