Latest on Lil Wayne: Still in hospital ICU

Rapper Lil Wayne is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital, although his exact condition is still unclear.

TMZ reports that he is still in the intensive care unit of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he is being monitored closely.

CNN reports that a friend said Saturday night after visiting Lil Wayne: "He's good, just resting."

Also Saturday, at a surprise SXSW appearance at the Afghan Whigs show, Usher asked fans to pray for his pal.

"One of my fellow artists, good friend, Lil Wayne is going through a real hard time right now, y'all," he told the crowd. "And I just want to send a lot of positive attitude about his state. And a lot of positive energy out there right now. Can you guys make some noise for Lil Wayne one time? You know it's ultimately about positive energy. You believe in that? So one time make some noise."

TMZ had reported that the star, 30, was in a medically induced coma, which brought a flurry of concern over the rapper's health Friday night.

But Mack Maine, president of Lil Wayne's Young Money label, downplayed the seriousness of the visit, tweeting, "Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe ... that's false!!"

Maine added, via Twitter, that he and Lil Wayne had been watching the Syracuse University Orange play the Georgetown Hoyas in the Big East men's basketball tournament.

TMZ also reported that Wayne's medical problem may have stemmed from going "on a Sizzurp binge," because doctors found high amounts of codeine in his system.

The Daily Beast says in a new story that Weezy (as he is called) has had a "long habit of sipping 'syrup, sizzurp, lean, or Texas tea' as the real cause of his ailing health." The practice involves sipping prescription-strength cough syrup laced with codeine and other extras that can increase the high.

No one has explained exactly what the rapper's health problems are. Publicist Kia Selby told CNN, "Lil Wayne is doing well."

Through it all, Lil Wayne has had a parade of stars visit him at Cedars-Sinai, including American Idol judge Nicki Minaj, who was spotted at the hospital Saturday night.