Hip-hoppy anniversary to Lady B at the Dell

There's a notion that a lot of old-school rap sounds dated, stilted. But judging from the musical ebullience coming from the stage of the Dell on Sunday, I'd say DJ Lady B's brand of hip-hop looks and sounds pretty good for 30 years old, fresh even.

Although doused by heavy rains, the acts and the audience celebrating Lady B's 30th anniversary as a hip-hop pioneer would not have their spirits dampened. Lady B, now a stalwart at WRNB, is the woman who introduced legends such as Run DMC and her Wynnefield neighbor Will "Fresh Prince" Smith to Philly radio. Many in the audience probably remembered Lady B for her role as perhaps rap's first female MC on 1979's "To the Beat, Y'all." Many others will have remembered her parties on Belmont Plateau. The strong lineup at the show served as a potent reminder of just how many successful acts got their first airings thanks to Lady B.

"You must really love Lady B to stand in this storm," said rapper/beat-boxer Doug E. Fresh, who'd later joke about the advanced age of most of the 7,000-plus attendees.

While Lady B was the guest of honor, the night's "surprise" star was Will Smith. A huge shock it wasn't: Smith is a longtime great friend of Lady B's, plus he has been in town for meetings with director M. Night Shyamalan on a sci-fantasy film. And Smith's been seen around - he jumped onstage during the Aug. 9 Nas/Damian Marley concert at Electric Factory.

After presenting B with an award for service, Smith, in Phillies cap, leaped into a happily elastic version of "Brand New Funk" before bounding into a slinky, gruff "Summertime." He popped back to do the bump with "Pepa" Sandra Denton during Salt-N-Pepa's sleek "Whatta Man," and rhymed with Fresh on "La Di Da Di" while Doug E. did his famed vocal clicks.

There were plenty of even bolder highlights. A few lesser-known locals - such as MC Michael "Mayor" Nutter - made the best of their time on the mike. Lost Philly fave MC Breeze shocked and amused crowds with "Discombobulatorbubalator," his un-PC rap about Chinese food. Kurtis Blow's abbreviated "The Breaks" was joyous, as was Bell Biv Devoe dancing and dipping through "Poison."

A loopy Flava Flav was more of a presence than a stoic but strong Chuck D during Public Enemy's brash, loud set. The speedy Big Daddy Kane applied his deep voice to classics that included a syrupy "Ain't No Half Steppin'." Gangsta avatar Schoolly D sounded mighty on a hard, spare set featuring "Saturday Night" and "P.S.K." At one point, Schoolly cried out to the Lady of honor, "B, if I wasn't married I'd kiss you" - a sentiment widely applauded by the crowd.