US judge issues arrest warrant for rapper Tyga

A Los Angeles judge issued an arrest warrant for US rapper Tyga after he failed to appear at a hearing in a lawsuit brought by his former landlord.

Tyga, who was due in court in Santa Monica, failed to pay a $480,000 judgement against him for back rent and damage at a Malibu home he rented in 2011.

The rapper's landlord, Gholamreza Rezai, went to court in 2012 claiming that Tyga missed a $16,000 monthly rent payment, skipped out on his lease and left the home in need of major repairs.

The Grammy-nominated California rapper also allegedly installed a dance pole in the middle of the master bedroom without permission.

Tyga, who has been dating Kylie Jenner, claimed poverty, refusing to pay the settlement ordered by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Nancy Newman.

He was scheduled to be questioned under oath about his finances.

Newman signed a bench warrant, which is typically issued in the case of a failure to appear for trial and could lead to Tyga being jailed, with bail set at $10,000.

According to TMZ.com, the landlord's attorney noted recent media reports that Tyga bought Jenner a $200,000 car for her birthday.

Tyga's biggest solo hit, "Rack City," went to number seven on the Billboard chart in 2011.