Beanie Sigel 'critical' after being shot in the stomach

Beanie Sigel has been shot. Photo/Getty

Beanie Sigel has been left fighting for his life after he was shot in the stomach outside his home in New Jersey.

The Jay Z-mentored rapper, whose real name is Dwight Grant, was hit by an "unknown assailant" at his residence in Pleasantville on 5 December.

According to CBS Philly, he is currently in a critical condition at the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he undergoing intensive treatment for his injury.

The shooting is now under police investigation.

The incident occurred just weeks after Sigel was released from prison, following the completion of two-year sentence for failing to pay more than $728,000 (NZ$944,000) in taxes, as well as drugs charges.

His criminal record cites a charge for attempted murder in 2003, after two people were injured with a hand gun. He was found not guilty of the charges.

He was also shot during a robbery in Philadelphia in 2006.

Under his moniker Beanie Sigel, he released his debut record The Truth in 2000, of which the title track was produced by Kanye West.

His last album, The Time, hit the shelves in 2012 shortly before he went to jail.

- Independent