Tonight's Top Stop: Rap It Up

FRIDAY NIGHT on the mic you're about to hear the best darn rappers of the year ... 1988. The freaks will come out when Prince George's County hosts MC Hammer, MC Lyte, Whodini, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, pictured at left. Stop! Oldies time? That's right, la di da di.

Doug E. Fresh is known as "The Human Beatbox" or "The Entertainer" -- no other titles could fit him plainer. Once upon a time not long ago, when people wore pajamas and lived life slow, Slick Rick was Fresh's running partner in the Get Fresh Crew before having a solo career that was derailed by prison. In the early '80s Whodini's R&B rap had crowds of people lined up inside and out for just one reason: to rock the house. And MC Lyte still does her thing with an '89 swing, but the dopeness she writes guarantees delight.

With a legendary lineup like that, sourpusses might be begging, "Please, Hammer: Don't hurt 'em with your weak rap!" But everybody knows MC Hammer is too legit to quit, and you still can't touch his baggy parachute pants. (If you had to cram to understand this preview, don't worry: It'll all become clear at "The Show.")
The Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave., Upper Marlboro, Md.; Fri., 8 p.m., $60; 301-952-7900.

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This post was written by Express contributor Christopher Porter