Rapper Sigel shot

Rapper Beanie Sigel was shot twice in an attempted robbery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this morning

The 32-year-old - real name Dwight Grant - was hit in the upper-right arm as he sat in his car at an intersection at around 7.10am.

According to police, five men approached him in two vehicles, one of which authorities think was a dark Dodge Mirada with tinted windows.

After one of the men fired at Sigel - hitting him in the arm - the hip-hop star managed to speed away from his assailants and drove himself to the nearby University Of Pennsylvania hospital.

The gunman, thought to be in his 30s, has been described as a bearded African-American man who was wearing Timberland boots and jeans.

Police have described Sigel's condition as "good".

Ironically, the shooting occurred on Sigel Street, from which the rapper took his stage name.

The star recently served a year in prison on weapons charges. He was released in August 2005 and the following month was acquitted of attempted murder charges.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to pay child support in November of last year - but was released after an hour after paying the full amount.

In October 2005, Sigel's uncle Samuel Derry was murdered in Philadelphia.