1989 vintage

DJ JS-1 is a hip-hop triple threat. Whether flexing his production skills behind the boards, executing vicious cuts on the turntables or posting up and painting walls, the Queens-raised artist has been a part of the city's hip-hop scene since the '90s. Now he's dropped his latest album, It Is What It Isn't, which features the rugged banger "Interference." Handily, you can stream the track below and marvel at the natty B-Real vocal grab on the hook.

While you check out JS-1's music, read on to hear a potted history of his roots in the New York City graffiti scene.

See also: Premiere: Diabolic, Sean Price, and Vinnie Paz Knock 'Em Out on "Game Time"

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Rhymesayers Entertainment

Atmosphere, the Minnesota Wrecking Crew

Sunday night at Terminal 5 sees indie rap icons Atmosphere return to New York City for the first time since the release show for their new album Southsiders earlier this year. While recent years have seen the group, comprised of MC Slug and DJ Ant, accompanied by live instrumentation, the duo have gone back to just the one-MC one-DJ format which, as Slug tells us, has been an easy transition for the fans. "As far as the response from the crowd, it seems kind of like they didn't notice we used to have a band. The people didn't miss a beat. When I started touring with a band [in 2005], I got a lot of shit from people, but they got used to it. Then, when we went back, not a single person mentioned it."

See also: EXCLUSIVE: Atmosphere's "Bitter" Video

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Alt-J

For more shows throughout the weekend, check out our New York Concert Calendar, which we update daily.

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Rephlektor

Hardwell

You may know every word to every track by Hardwell. You may know he's been named the No. 1 DJ in the world two years running. You may know he's one of the biggest stars to emerge out of a new EDM scene, and that he produces songs that go on to become festival anthems across the globe. But how well do you know Hardwell, the man? How well do you know Robbert van de Corput?

See also: Where EDM Is...and Where It's Going

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Gamma Gallery

Various stages of the Thrill the Jewels mural at Gamma Gallery.

Run the Jewels is one of the most exciting musical projects happening now. The collaboration between Killer Mike and El-P is having something of a heyday, raising an amount of money that surprised even them for a cat-related remix project called Meow the Jewels, getting featured everywhere from Rolling Stone to Complex. Oh, and the duo just released an album. The frenzy continues with a graffiti project called Tag The Jewels, where artists from around the world took on the Run the Jewels logo.

There have been entries everywhere from New York to New Delhi, but one of the most widely circulated came from Denver, courtesy of Gamma Gallery.

See also: Best Rap Album New York 2013 - Run the Jewels

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Chad Griffith

Tonedeff

August 2013 saw the end of an era for New York underground hip-hop as beloved indie rap collective QN5 hosted their final annual QN5 Megashow. With the reasoning behind ending the spectacular rap staple basically being what an undertaking it had become, Tone expressed his excitement for being able to spend his post-Megashow life focusing on new projects.

Fortunately, Tonedeff's as busy as ever.

See also: The 10 Best Male Rappers of All Time

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John & Yoko via Wiki Commons

Bed Peace and Hair Peace and Very Expensive Record Peace

New York has no shortage of record collectors. From the aged veteran music archivist to the incoming college freshman looking to put that Bruce Willis album on their dorm wall, we're a city of vinyl. So when a groundbreaking record discovery is uncovered, word travels fast. Fans have been known to spend hours upon hours digging in the crates looking for that great find.

Well, it looks like you missed two big ones, ya goof!

See also: EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Ace Frehley's Long-Lost Pre-Kiss Acetate Demo Found in a Barn

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Photo by Drew Crozier

[Editor's note: Every Wednesday, New York City's own Andrew W.K. takes your life questions and sets you safely down the right path to a solution, a purpose, or -- no surprise here -- a party. Need his help? Just ask: AskAWK@villagevoice.com]

Dear Andrew,

I've always been a quiet and reserved person, but I've been feeling pressure to be more talkative and social. Do you ever feel pressure to be a certain way? I see people who are so easygoing with social interaction, but I really enjoy spending time alone. Do I need more friends to be good at partying? How do I become the life of the party?

Thanks very much,
In A Shell

See also: Ask Andrew W.K.: Please Eat Shit and Die!

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All photos Jena Cumbo

Crate diggin' with the Lower Eastside Girls Club

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, The Lower Eastside Girls Club hosted a music and technology conference, "Girls Making Waves," in partnership with Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. This free conference for 40 girls ages 11-18 featured workshops on coding technology, radio productions, beat-making, and sound design, and a panel from women in the field of music and technology.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club and Willie Mae Rock Camp are partnering on a 10-month sound design program, Making Waves: The Science of Sound, that teaches girls about digital sound design and multimedia production and diverse careers in music technology. Girls also meet professional women at the forefront of new technologies in the music industry.

Making Waves is sponsored by the Hive NYC Digital Media Learning Fund in the New York Community Trust. Here are some photos from yesterday's event.

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Sugarhill Records

Big Bank Hank

Yesterday, November 11, rap pioneer Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson of the Sugarhill Gang died of cancer at the age of 56.

Hank, Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright, and Guy "Master G" O'Brien were the three rappers on rap's first and arguably most identifiable hit, "Rapper's Delight." While not the first commercially released rap single, "Rapper's Delight" is often identified as the record that took rap from house parties to store shelves.

The effects "Rapper's Delight" had on the music business cannot be overstated. This was an entirely new genre, realistically only seven years old, that had no real precedent on radio. It was an avant-garde exercise disguised as a novelty that gave birth to an entire multibillion-dollar industry.

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