Noisey investigates the ongoing mystery of Tim Dog’s alleged death. They spoke to Esther Pilgrim, the woman behind the recently issued warrant for Tim, a Dutch woman who says she was scammed as well and The Source writer who first reported the rapper’s death. What a clusterfuck.

If Timothy Blair can walk away from having committed an extremely complex, audacious swindle that borders on identity theft, who’s to say he couldn’t fake his own death? In the age of the hyper-accelerated Internet news cycle, dying is almost the easiest thing a celebrity can do. Once one source reports an event, a domino effect occurs where everyone bases their report off of a single account. And in the case of Tim Dog, the source was problematic at best. It’s complicated by the fact that the source was also, well, The Source.

Link: IN SEARCH OF TIM DOG, THE RAPPER TURNED CON ARTIST WHO PROBABLY FAKED HIS OWN DEATH

And how crazy is this:

Previously: Arrest Warrant Issued For Tim Dog | RIP Tim Dog

Rosenberg has some interesting information about a track from Cole’s Born Sinner. Press play.

Previously: J. Cole – Power Trip (Live on Jimmy Fallon) | Bas ft. J.Cole & KQuick – Lit

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports has signed a deal to represent recently drafted Jets QB Geno Smith. Well, possible future QB if he can convince them he’s worth a contract and then beat out Mark Sanchez for the job (which shouldn’t be too hard). Smith famously dismissed his previous agents after his draft stock tumbled and he was passed over in the first round of the NFL Draft. According to the NYDN, Smith claims that Jay-Z’s attachment to the company played “not that big of a role” in his decision to sign with the firm, and that lucrative marketing deals are not his first priority. Which of course is him pretending that football is the only thing on his mind:

“The only thing that’s important to be is the image that is perceived around this lockerroom, the guy that I am to my teammates, to my coaches and the work that I put in on the football field,” Smith said. “I’m all about football. I’m all about getting better and that’s the one thing that I’m focused on: Better myself daily and prepare myself to be there when the time comes.”

Previously: Jay-Z Sells Stake in Brooklyn Nets | Jay-Z Launches Roc Nation Sports, Signs Robinson Cano

Did Tim Dog really die in February as was widely reported at the time? That’s the question at the center of the ongoing saga of the controversial Bronx MC. It’s no secret that Tim was the mastermind behind several scams and at the time of his alleged death he owed over $2 million in restitution to various people that he gamed out of their money over the years.

Last week, it was reported that one of Tim’s victims, Esther Pilgrim, does not believe the story of the Rapper’s demise and is convinced that he is still out there somewhere, in hiding to avoid his huge mountain of debt.

Now Mississippi prosecutor Steven Jubera has convinced a judge to issue an arrest warrant for for the allegedly deceased MC. Neither Jubera, or Channel 3 News in Memphis, have been able to locate a death certificate for Tim or find any record of his death whatsoever.

“I need proof,” said Jubera. “I need a death certificate showing that’s he’s dead because as far as I’m concerned, he’s alive.”

Previously: RIP Tim Dog

As it turns out, E!’s sources were woefully wrong about the Jay & Bey pregnancy rumor. Jay emailed Hot 97 program director Ebro over the weekend to dead the story.

Previously: Report: Jay-Z & Beyonce Expecting Second Child | Jay-Z x Drake In The Studio

Kanye’s sixth solo album will be titled Yeezus and is dropping on June 18th, confirms Rap-Up. The rapper, who I think dropped something last night, hinted at the release date on Twitter earlier this month.

#Yeezus

— Rap-Up (@RapUp) May 18, 2013

Yeezy Season is in full-swing. Catch Kanye as the “musical guest” on SNL tonight.

CD teaser and Red on Red Yeezy 2 pic via Virgil Abloh

Previously: Kanye West Premieres New Track & Rants @ Adult Swim Upfront 2013

According to a report by E! citing “multiple sources”.

Speculation then went into overdrive Tuesday after Beyoncé was forced to cancel her Mrs. Carter Show performance in Antwerp, Belgium, after doctors advised her to rest “as a result of dehydration and exhaustion.”

It makes sense because Bey recently told ABC News that Blue Ivy could use some company and that she was ready to have more children, and when a media savvy artist like Bey makes a statement like that to a reporter, it’s safe to say the bun is already in the oven.

Previously: Jay-Z & Raekwon in the Studio | The-Dream ft. Jay-Z – High Art

With Metta World Peace and the Bishop Don Magic Juan looking on, Snoop places a call to Cleveland hero and McDonald’s aficionado Charles Ramsey. As you would imagine, Mr. Ramsey is a busy guy these days, but his handler clears a few minutes from his schedule so he can jump on the phone with Snoop. True story.

Previously: Snoop Lion Speaks on Tupac Conflict & Last Moments w/ B.I.G.

Back in 2008, Ross and Birdman recorded an entire LP together called The H that never saw the light of day. They’ve decided to liberate the project next Thursday May 23rd.

via Derick G

Previously: Future ft. Rick Ross, Birdman & French Montana – Karate Chop (Remix)

It was announced yesterday that Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are gifting USC with a $70 million endowment to establish the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation. The program will begin accepting students in 2014 and will offer a curriculum built around the following areas of study: Arts and Entrepreneurship, Technology, Design and Marketability, Concept and Business Platforms and Creating a Prototype.

Ben Westhoff of LA Weekly scored a rare interview with Dre and Iovine and asked them about why they wanted to launch the program, what they hope to accomplish and more.

Where did the idea for this program originate?
Jimmy Iovine: Everything we do together comes out of my and Dre’s many conversations we have multiple times a week, probably every day, like, “Jimmy don’t you hate the way kids are listening to music on the radio?” [In this case] we decided we wanted to give back and do something because we’ve been very fortunate over the last 20 years and Dre has always wanted to give back. So I said to Dre, “Ok why don’t we do it together?” And we go to Beats and see that all these kids are so…so good at understanding technology and have a feel for the art, or the other way around. Then we look at Beats and say “Geez we need kids like that here!”

Dre says that now that the Beats brand is firing on all cylinders and the USC plan is in motion, he can finally get back to working on Detox. To which I respond with this facial expression. Iovine also somehow manages to assign Dre credit for Kendrick Lamar.

Read the full Q&A here.

Previously: Dr. Dre Interview w/ Power 106′s Big Boy’s Neighborhood (Audio) | Dr. Dre & Lebron’s ESPN Magazine Cover Shoot (Behind the Scenes)