A writer for Noisey did some investigating into the man born Timothy Blair's whereabouts, but couldn't seem to find him. There was however correspondence with two women he scammed, and a coroner in Atlanta--the last known city the "F-ck Compton" rapper is said to have lived-- all of whom gave potential proof of the rumored hoax.

What's more, an employee at the Source (speaking under the condition of anonymity) confirmed that the outlet's original story breaking news of Tim Dog's death was untrue. With no corner's statement or details into his alleged passing by way of a seizure, speculation over its validity was loud enough for the story to be removed from its website. "After several weeks of things going on, he went back to the office and told us that the guy was hiding or something," the employee said of the author. "I don't know what happened--some financial or legal issues. From there, you know. They're looking for him."

The staffer also responded "I can't tell you that," when asked why the story was removed.

Meanwhile, Source writer Sha Be Allah who penned the original death announcement side-stepped the controversy maintaining that he has no loyalty in the situation. "I don't know that motherf---er. Make sure you print that," he said.

According to Sha the death information came from a "family member" and one of Tim's "close friends," which is why he didn't dig deeper.

"As a journalist, if you hear somebody died you just wanna make sure somebody else said it too and it's not just something you heard. When ODB died I didn't go looking for a death certificate."

Not looking for a death certificate is one thing, but leaving out official details is another. When putting together similar stories its customary for reporters to pull statements from a corner's office or police report, family member, friends, and others. None of which was done by the Source, but that doesn't necessarily mean the company knowingly participated in any wrongdoing.

In speaking with the women Tim was indebted to, Noisey thinly veiled the motivation to potentially disappear. He scammed one woman, Esther Pilgrim, out of $20,000, which he was ordered to pay back in $100 monthly increments. "He set me up on a fictitious business deal to invest in a 5-CD box set," she explained. "I had a son who was starting college and I was concerned about having enough money to pay for it."

He later pleaded guilty to grand larceny was given probation time, and made payments up until news of his "passing."

Another woman, Danielle Sellhorst of Holland was also tricked. The two met on Myspace in 2006, and Sellhorst was eventually coerced into giving him money and her credit, to start a business that "didn't exist." They worked together for six months, making preparations, selling tickets, and booking venues for what turned out to be a fictitious Black male exotic dancer European tour. "Everything was in my name," Sellhorst said. "Three months before the show, he said on the phone, 'Did you really think there was a show?' I was having second thoughts. I was asking him questions, I was printing out emails and recording conversations. He was feeling that I wasn't trusting him anymore. That made him nervous. He said, 'I could care less what happens to you,' and left me with all of the bills and all of the troubles. The cops were coming after me. People who had bought tickets to the show were coming after me. He gave them my address, my everything."

In Dec. 2009, Tim Dog left a message threatening Sellhorst for trying to "hurt" his company, and vowed to strike first. "I will hurt you before you hurt me."

Dead or alive, the rappers has a warrant out for his arrest."In the eye of the law, until he is proven dead, they have to treat him as if he is alive," Pilgrim pointed out.

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Photo: Facebook

A drug dealer reportedly shopped a video around of Ford getting high, and tried to sell the recording to the Toronto Star, and Gawker.com.  So far the footage has not been released. "I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine," the politician said in front the media, but took no questions.

Ford's crack scandal may already be taking a toll on his day job. He fired Chief of Staff  Mark Towhey yesterday without giving an explanation. Towhey was escorted out of City Hall by security only revealing that he was pink slipped versus stepping down from his post.

As he said when news of the report first broke, Ford believes that he's just being picked on by the press. "It is most unfortunate, very unfortunate, that my colleagues and the great people of this city have been exposed to the fact that I've been judged by the media without any evidence."

His excuse hasn't killed the skepticism.

"I don't believe the mayor," City Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker said.  "He should resign and then go seek help."

Revealing the erratic behavior he's seen Ford display, Baeremaeker believes the mayor is "imploding," and needs to face facts. "The mayor had an opportunity to acknowledge that perhaps he does have a problem, and to take a leave of absence, perhaps to take care of himself and his family, instead he went on the attack."

Ford has a history of acting inappropriately, and has made news for it since being elected in 2010. He was fired from his high school football coaching job Wednesday (May 22), earlier in the year the 43-year-old was asked to leave a gala because he was said to be drunk, and during his campaign bid, he refuted claims of a 1999 kush-related DUI arrest.

To help fully expose Ford, Gawker.com has turned to the public to raise money  and purchase the tape. The site is looking to get $200,000 from donations to buy the video which it will publish. They've raised $90,000 so far.

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Photo: CBC

In the 8-second PSA titled "Death to Molly," Kendrick merely flashes white Old English letters over a black background reflecting that sentiment. In an interview with MTV's Sway, Kendrick expounded on that message. "Sometimes you have the trends that's not that cool," Kendrick tells Sway. "When everybody consciously now uses this term or this phrase and putting it in lyrics, it waters the culture down. So it's really just time to move on."

Molly has become a frequent mention in Hip-Hop, as artists both name check and abuse the drug composed of either powder or crystallized MDMA. Rappers including Trinidad Jame$, Kanye West, Tyga, and Joe Budden have all discussed the drug (Budden has admitted to abusing it). Another artists that made direct reference it was Rick Ross, who was taken to task on his line off Rocko's torch single "U.O.E.N.O.," suggesting he slip the drug to a woman and take advantage of her.

"You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don't really have that lifestyle and then it gives off the wrong thing," Kendrick added about artists openly supporting the drug. "And it becomes kinda corny after a while."

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Photo: MTV News

The 90's saw a plethora of signature basketball sneakers. Some of them were fresh, destined for retro rehashes that sell out hours, or less, after their release. However, there have been, and continue to be, signature kicks that look like the equivalent of 30 miles of bad road.  Nostalgia tends to make sneakerheads gloss over or completely neglect the fact that some of these kicks were visual diarrhea.

That said, let's take a look at the 10 Ugliest Signature Basketball Sneakers. The scary part, some of these shoes have even been retro'd. The horror.
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Photo: Le Coq Sportif

Don't worry, though. Hip-Hop Wired has your back with the first installment of The Wrap Up, a series that will compile the top 10 tracks to release on the blogosphere in the last seven days.

Consider this our way of helping listeners stay ahead of the curve. Expect to see a range of songs, some of which even we may have missed.

This list features some quality material from a few California MCs, a handful of thought provoking cuts out of Chi-Town, a few sensual jams, and more.

Check out The Wrap Up on the following pages, and let us know what you feel should have made the list in the comments.

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Photo: RESPECT

With Yasiin Bey's  “Life in Marvelous Times” serving as the musical backdrop, the image of Bean's famed dunk on the then New Jersey Nets in the 2002 Finals serves as the commercial's inspiration.

Following last week's launch of NBA Finals 2013 spot “Forever Dirk” is the newest installment of the campaign, “Forever Kobe”. Lakers megastar Kobe Bryant mesmerizes with an incredible slam dunk in the 2002 Finals matchup versus the Nets. Kobe remains suspended in air, the play then triggering a number of iconic pop culture moments that transcend time - from street art, to a video game avatar, to a classroom papier-mâché project, to a wedding cake topper. These moments represent the bold and enduring impact NBA Finals has on the world. The spot concludes back in-arena to find Kobe still suspended in his heroic moment, symbolizing “Forever is BIG.”

The spot airs during tonight's Pacers vs Heat game on TNT. But, you can watch it early below.

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Photo: NBA

Franklin, 32, was found guilty of stabbing 36-year-old Billy Rafael Brewster last summer, allegedly after a drunken night out escalated. Prosecutors says that Franklin confronted Brewster in their Whitehall Township apartment at around 2 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2012. They were scheduled to wed at 10 a.m.

Jurors deliberated for three hours before returning the verdict. The courtroom was reportedly packed with the victim's family members and others interested in the trial. On the last day of trial, Franklin is said to have shown no emotion, with the exception of a sharp look shot at her lawyer after the conviction was announced.

Defense attorney John Waldron told jurors that the incident went down after Franklin came home after a night of drinking at her surprise bachelorette party. Brewster is accused of trying to attack her and flee with their 9-month-old son. As such, Waldron argued that the altercation was not premeditated, but a result of Franklin trying to protect her child in the heat of the moment, and should therefore warrant a manslaughter charge; which holds a much lighter sentence.

Prosecutors stated that the baby was never in danger and that Franklin grabbed a knife with intentions to kill, a theory further proven by the victims cousins' testimony.

According to an autopsy report, Brewster's heart was punctured after two stab wounds. Franklin was immediately taken into custody following the fatal bout, appearing emotionally disoriented and in disbelief, sobbing to the judge "I ... did ... not ... kill ... him ... on ... purpose."

She was initially taken in for criminal homicide.

If convicted Franklin faces life in prison, and is expected to appeal the verdict.

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Photo: Express Times

The smooth track features soulful horn playing and eerie keys,  hooked up by producer Daddio. As for the lyrics, Feli drops a narrative rhyme about how love and jealousy can turn murderous.  The visual follows suit, with a chick playing out a scheme involving a rival, a roofie and a shovel.

It was while on the set of 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct, where he had a small role, that he caught the directing bug. He plans to drop Dirty Laundry: Greed Has No Face, a short film he directed that is meant to accompany his Dirty Laundry project.

You can cop Dirty Laundry off iTunes. Watch the video for "Jealousy Turned Love," co-directed by Anthony Scott DePerto, below. Definitely worthy of a viewing.

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Photo: YouTube

The mixtape stands at 10 tracks, and compiles each of his previous Friday releases. Luda also included a record we heard a snippet of a song that caused a stir last year called "Mad Fo," featuring Meek Mill, Chris Brown, Swizz Beatz, and Pusha T.

The G.O.O.D. Music representer takes the title to heart in the closing verse, and delivers a blatant diss towards YMCMB's frontman Lil Wayne. "You got to blame Swizz," said Pusha in a 2012 interview. "See, when Wayne got a Swizz beat with the 'Ghoulish' track, he got busy; well, he tried to." The rhymes may be old, but we're sure those words sting just the same.

French Montana, Young Jeezy and Mac Miller round out the guest appearances. #IDGAF should whet appetites until Luda releases his forthcoming LP Ludaversal, due out later this year.

Stream and download #IDGAF below.

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Photo: Prince Williams/ATLPics

Miguel's "Do You..." gets flipped into a mellow, but bouncy song by producer Ced Brown. The beat is ill. The rhymes are better. If you like what you hear, we suggest that you check ouf Bas's Quarter Water Raised Me Vol. II here. Listen to "Lit" below.

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Photo: Dreamville