28

MONDAY

On paper, the idea behind George Clinton’s 1996 Greatest Funkin’ Hits is hardly novel. It would seem there is little distinguishing the disc, a collection of partially spliced and diced P-Funk nuggets bolstered by rhymes from the likes of Coolio, Ice Cube, and Q-Tip, from any other rap slab. But the new-fangled cuts reveal plenty, most notably how incendiary Clinton’s grooves really are before they are put in the hands of younger artists looking to sound “hard.” To some, Clinton is beloved for his jovial, cartoonish persona, but the man and his music are no light study. Gangstas looking for enlightenment should set aside four hours this evening to witness not just the funkiest bandleader on Planet Rock, but one of its cagiest political activists. At 7:30 p.m. at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $27.50. (202) 393-0930. (Brett Anderson)