Shirlaine Forrest

British rapper Wiley has slammed a hoax internet report alleging he had died, insisting he's "totally OK".

The star became the second artist to be targetted by sick pranksters who posted a mock BBC article online at the weekend, Lil Wayne was the first to be falsely killed off.

In a note written on his MySpace.com page on Monday, Wiley - real name Richard Cowie - simply says, "I AM NOT DEAD."

And his manager Suge has been busy assuring fans the rapper is alive and well.

He says, "Wiley's totally OK, he just said to say, 'I'm in the studio, recording a new tune. Knowing Wiley, he'll probably make a tune about it (the fake reports).

"We've had people crying today about this situation and I think that that's really sad. It is upsetting but I just believe the person who's done it is obviously a sad individual to be putting such rumours like that out there."