The internet is freaking out over an incredible ten-minute freestyle that Black Thought of the Roots dropped during a visit to Funkmaster Flex’s Hot 97 show. "That verse was just what I had to say at the moment," the rapper later tweeted about the pointed freestyle, which name-drops Nat Turner, Kanye West, characters from Hamlet, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Pitchfork)

Remembering two music greats

Guitarist Vincent Nguini has died of liver cancer at age 65. The Cameroonian performer and composer was best-known for collaborating with Paul Simon as a member of his band since 1987. "He was the most creative musician I've ever worked with," said Simon in the wake of Nguini's death. (New York Times)

Drummer Sunny Murray has died of multiple organ-failure. He was one of the greats of the free-jazz scene, his place in history cemented by a short but influential collaboration with pianist Cecil Taylor in the 1960s. As the New York Times notes, "Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come — a double LP captured during a trio performance in Copenhagen in 1962 — would become a seminal document."

Pink to hang out in Minneapolis

The steadily lengthening list of megastars performing in Minnesota around the Super Bowl has just added one of the biggest names in pop: Pink will play at the Armory in Minneapolis on Feb. 2. Other acts coming to town around the time of the Super Bowl include Gwen Stefani, Imagine Dragons, Jennifer Lopez, the Chainsmokers, Florida Georgia Line, the Dave Matthews Band, and of course all the acts booked by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the "Super Bowl Live!" showcases on Nicollet Mall. (Billboard)

Is "slow ticketing" the way of the future?

Some local fans have been miffed at Taylor Swift’'s complicated presale, but her version of "slow ticketing" may be the way of the future, reports Billboard. The goal: instead of instant sellouts leading to soaring prices on the resale market, high-demand artists may start charging more for tickets, using fan-verification programs, and deploying tickets over a wide range of presale windows.

That approach has led to some sticker shock, but it's worked: on Swift's last tour, 30% of tickets were resold after being purchased. So far with this tour, it's only 3%. Not coincidentally, that means less money for scalpers and more for Swift.

Doors prep concert film

A 1970 set at the Isle of Wight Festival is thought to have been the last Doors concert to be filmed. That performance will be commercially released, for the first time ever, on Feb. 23. A trailer for The Doors: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 "teases snippets of the Doors' 2 a.m. set and includes shots of them performing 'Light My Fire' and 'Break on Through,'" notes Rolling Stone. "The clip also teases unique footage of the Isle of Wight crowd, a particular fascination of the film's director, Murray Lerner."

2 Chainz accuses Walmart of stealing his design

As Pitchfork puts it, Walmart better watch out for 2 Chainz. The retail giant's website is currently selling holiday sweaters that clearly mirror the viral dabbing Santa design that graces 2 Chainz' own merch. "That being said it's gone be a Jolly Holly Xmas," the hip-hop star wrote on Instagram. "#WALMARTGONEBUYMEAHOUSE."