Lil' Wayne has issued a statement thanking fans for their “love and prayers” as he prepares to begin prison sentence for gun possession.

The rapper, real name Dwayne Carter, is due to be sentenced at a court in New York today (March 2).

In a message on his Twitter account, Lil' Wayne wrote: “Yesterday i smiled,today i smirked,tomorrow i stop............

“The F is for family,friends,and fans..........thank u...........your love and prayers are felt.”

And in an update earlier today, he added: “They kant lok up my heart bekuz y'all already have it on lok. ......thank u.”

The rapper, who is expected to be given a one-year jail term, was due to be sentenced last month.

But the judge postponed proceedings so Lil' Wayne could complete dental surgery.

The rapper pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession at a court hearing last October.

He was arrested in July 2007 when police found him trying to conceal a .40 calibre semi-automatic loaded handgun on his tour bus.

(by Jason Gregory)