In 1987, aspiring rapper Timothy Parker met DJ Xavier Mosley in economics class at Kennedy High School in Sacramento. Parker became MC Gift of Gab and Mosley became DJ Chief XCel and together they formed Blackalicious. In the two decades since that time, the duo has become one of the most beloved groups in hip hop, praised for bringing intelligence back to a music form sometimes panned for its shallowness.

Rolling Stone called Gift of Gab a "phenomenal lyricist who could battle any of today's multi-platinum-selling MCs," and the Village Voice called XCel "technically miraculous."

Gift of Gab, Mr. Lif and Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) will play Monday at Harlow's in a show hosted by fellow rapper Lyrics Born. Dubbed the "Deadliest Catch Tour," it may feature individual sets from all three and a freestyle session with Lyrics Born, if it's anything like Thursday's show in Seattle, according to a review by The Seattle Weekly.

Lyrics Born and Gift of Gab also are known for the musicians with whom they associate. In the '90s, they were part of a KDVS radio station scene which was a hotbed of talent, including DJ Shadow, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious and DJ Zen.

The group of friends would form the Davis-based Solesides record label, later renamed Quannum. Lyrics Born told The Sacramento Press the crew owes part of its success to sharing time together in Davis.

"I think that had we not attended school there together, my career definitely would not have been what it was," he said, "and I think the other guys would all tell you the same. That hip-hop community was definitely a saint (for our careers), that's the best way to say it."

In a recent side project, Gift of Gab teamed with Lateef the Truthspeaker to form The Mighty Underdogs. The Underdogs' 2008 debut album, Droppin' Science Fiction, features all of Monday's performers: Lyrics, Gab, Lif and 2na.

Harlow's, 2708 J St., 9 p.m. Tickets are $25.