DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist Play Afrika Bambaataa When DJ Shadow dropped his first album, Endtroducing, in 1996, it was a landmark for both electronic music and hip-hop. Composed almost entirely out of samples, it changed how producers looked at creating music and stirred controversy within the industry. But DJ Shadow was far from the first to change the game. Teaming up with Jurassic 5’s Cut Chemist, Shadow is on a mission to educate his fans on the brilliance that is funk god Afrika Bambaataa—and the power of his influence within the industry—by spinning vinyl from the master’s very own record collection: a 40,000-disc catalog housed at Cornell University. With Edan & Paten Locke, Supreme La Rock. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.com/neptune. 9 p.m. $36.50. All ages. DUSTY HENRY

Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def, whom you’re just as likely to remember these days for his role in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as for his storied discography, has ended his long hiatus from music with a new single, “Let’s Go.” As one of hip-hop’s intellectual heavyweights from back in the day, his influence has been sorely missed in the contemporary scene. The Trinidadian-born rapper is taking a break from acting, writing, and political activism to bring his lilting cadence back to stages from London to Seattle. Expect to hear a lot from his jazz-influenced, heavily philosophical Black on Both Sides collaboration with Talib Kweli. With Lilla, Raz Simone. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., showboxpresents.com. 9 p.m. $31.50/$35 DOS. 21 and over. JENNA NAND

Chris Smither has been building his blues-guitar repertoire since the 1960s, but has remained on the outskirts of the mainstream for the majority of his career. Despite never seeing widespread acclaim, he’s remained remarkably consistent. His latest album, Still on the Levee, sounds like a gloomy folk record he may have released in his heyday. He may not be as influential as contemporaries like Bob Dylan, but he’s built a discography of similar hidden gems with a small but dedicated and ever-growing fan base. With Milton. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, 
tractortavern.com. 8 p.m. $25. 21 and over. DH