Gardin of positivity

Eight songs and over an hour later, however, there was no sign of nerves or tension. The crowd’s participation— singing along, heads swaying and hands waving — served as a salute to Gardin’s inspirational brand of hip hop.

The 30-year-old Lansing singer, songwriter, rapper, and hip-hop artist has lived in the area for the last 18 years. Gardin has toured nationally and performed under a variety of stage names, but a few years ago he decided to return to his roots — performing under his actual name.

Gardin previously released and performed material as P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. (Phenomenal Hip-hop Individual Living Through His Years), but the rapper’s subject matter is actually pretty clean. Hip hop sometimes gets a bad name, but Gardin is out to put a stop to that — and he’s taking the 517 by storm.

The first song in the set, “Wake Up,” was fitting, considering the show was running behind. After openers Red Pill, Sareem Poems and Dez Harley, Gardin didn’t even take the stage until 11:05 p.m. The Mac’s Bar crowd, however, proved to be still awake, alive and well, soaking up Gardin’s upbeat and energetic beats.

Backed by a full five-member band, the Full Respect, Gardin and the gang provided a dynamic range of catchy, head-bopping tunes.

Gardin’s positive spin on hip hop was clear on his fourth song, “Gold.” He described it as a “song for the ladies,” but don’t think typical romance — the track is an anthem for the proper appreciation of women.

“She got a smile that can light up the whole world,” he sang. “Yeah, yeah, she’s got a soul of gold.”

Between songs, it was almost as if the frontman turned into a motivational speaker. But the thing that sets Gardin apart is that he seems genuine. He never comes across as preachy, despite referring to himself as a “spirit-led artist.” The banter in between songs never sounded rehearsed or exaggerated.

“Promise me you will not give up on your dreams,” Gardin said to the audience over his danceable beats. His ability to seamlessly deliver powerful messages in a relevant hip-hop matter was most impressive.

“It’s been a while since you’ve felt this good, so I think it’s only right that you should share it,” rapped Gardin on “Shine.” “Wear it on your face so it’s way more apparent and keep on shining ‘til your glow start glaring.”

Following “City Limits” — a song about struggle with surroundings and self-doubt — the crowd begged for more, chanting for an encore. If this audience’s reaction is any indication, Gardin will experience many more encores in his career.

Gardin’s latest album, “Living Daylights” was released March 31, and it’s clear that Gardin is living his dream on stage.