Meek Mill jailed for 2 years, Jay Z calls punishment 'heavy handed'

Famous rapper Meek Mill has been sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison.

According to TMZ, the 30-year-old musician will serve at least 24 months, which may extend up to 48 months, in a state prison for violating the probation from his drug and weapons case back in 2009.

A Philadelphia judge, Genece E. Brinkley, cited a failed drug test and unapproved travel, stemming from a 2008 gun and drug case. The rapper was immediately taken into custody.

Meek's current legal woes come weeks after a judge threw out two misdemeanour charges, which he obtained when he got into a fight with a fan at the airport and then was accused of reckless driving in August.

Jay Z later addressed his sentence, calling it "unjust and heavy handed".

He wrote on his official Facebook profile, "The sentence handed down by the judge - against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer - is unjust and heavy handed."

"We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career," the post added.

It should be noted that, Meek was first arrested at the age of 18, when he was caught in possession of an illegal firearm.

He also assaulted a police officer, which resulted in him being put on probation.

He was also sentenced to 11 to 23 months in prison in 2008 after he was found guilty of drug dealing and gun possession but was released less than a year later under a five-year parole agreement, which he broke in 2012 and was therefore banned from travelling.