The charges stem from an incident in which P (born Percy Miller) and Silkk (born Vyshonn Miller) were arrested while driving near the University of California campus. Campus cops spotted the rappers, pulled them over and found two loaded unregistered guns-one under the vehicle’s front passenger seat and another near the driver’s seat.

They were each charged with one felony count of gun possession and released on a $35,000 bond. If convicted, they each face up to three years in state prison. They are now scheduled to return to court March 13 for arraignment. Days after his arrest, P issued a statement denouncing the police’s judgment.

“Black man with gun, white cop panic,” the New No Limit CEO said in a statement. “I’m a businessman. If the cops stopped panicking for one minute, they would’ve realized that the guns were registered, and that is legal in America. What did they expect me to be carrying? A can of mace?”If you really want the real story, pick up The Truth on Feb. 22, and my upcoming solo record, The Ghetto Bill Gates,” added P. “Everybody knows we from the ghetto, so hopefully this will be the last time a story is made of this minor incident. It’s a different way of life for a person of color with money than it is for others with money.”

Master P and his brother later plead not guilty to the felony gun charges.