Lauryn Hill, the former Fugees star, has been given a two-week ultimatum - pay up $500,000 (£330,000) in overdue taxes or face a possible 30-month jail term.

That was the tough message meted out to the 37-year-old by a federal judge when she appeared at Newark, New Jersey's US district courthouse on April 22.

The mother of six - five of whom are fathered by reggae legend Bob Marley's son, Rohan - asked judge Madeline Cox Arleo to defer sentence on three counts of failing to file three years of tax returns, amounting to $1.8m.

Hill confessed to not paying taxes on around $818,000 in 2005, $222,000 in 2006 and $761,000 in 2007. In addition to the three years in jail she could also be given up to $75,000 in fines.

Sentencing has now been postponed until 6 May to give the reclusive hip hop singer more time to satisfy her outstanding tax liability, which now stands at around $500,000.

The eight-time Grammy-winner's lawyer said she plans to pay off the tax debt through a $650,000 loan she is securing against two properties she owns, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported.

The musician rose to global fame as part of 90s group The Fugees before launching a solo career with the critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998.

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