From Nas' street soliloquies to A Tribe Called Quest's smooth vibes and Chuck D's social commentary, hip-hop's diversity is what makes it succeed. A show at Mac's Bar last weekend featuring Lansing rap acts Philthy, 3rd Degree and F.O.S. and Grand Rapids rap group/jazz ensemble La Famiglia was a splendid illustration of said variety.

Lansing emcee Philthy started things off with his positive, energetic brand of music anchored on samples from the likes of the Ohio Players and Teddy Pendergrass. "I say that every day should celebrate life," said the mohawked Philthy mid-performance. Philthy seamlessly transitioned between songs like the narrative-heavy “Live Yo Life” and the easy-going “Yes.”

“They say I won't make the 106 & Park crowd,” Philthy rhymed, alluding to BET's video countdown show. “I beg to differ.” {mosimage}

Fellow Lansing rapper 3rd Degree followed, offering a more street-friendly sound, equipped with witty punch lines stacked on top of popular mainstream beats like 50 Cent's “I Get Money” and Jay-Z's “Show Me What You Got.” While acapella verses, original songs and therapeutic bars over Detroit producer Black Milk's “Play The Keys” were solid, the pinnacle of 3rd's set was his rendition of “Cannon,” a hard-hitting mix tape track by DJ Drama.

F.O.S., which has garnered a following in the area with its monthly Respiration shows and continuous work in Lansing's hip-hop scene, also performed a short set. Members Clokwise and Verse-is performed reinterpretations of well-known songs, along with offerings from their impending debut, “Something Epic.” While 3rd opted for radio-ready hits, F.O.S. used harder tracks, like Nas' “Made You Look” and M.O.P.'s “Ante Up.” The group's standout performance, however, was when they brought 3rd back onstage and they all rhymed over DJ Khaled's “We Takin' Over.”

The openers all gave solid performances, but headliner La Famiglia stole the show. The seven-member ensemble included a drummer, bassist, keyboardist, DJ and three vocalists.

Despite several microphone outages plaguing the beginning its set, the group excelled with their robust live instrumentation and the rappers' vocal presence. Though rappers Mike G and 4Nzix kept things going with their clever, high-energy rhymes, Kiss was the group's standout, rapping multisyllabic verses and singing the songs' choruses. While the band occasionally outshined the vocals, it was tolerable, considering the setting's limitations.

Transitions between the high-octane “Wanna Know,” the loyalty and perseverance anthem “Soldier” and the impromptu beat box and emcee tag team efforts of 4Nzix and Kiss went smoothly. With brief solo sessions from each of the musicians, everyone had his chance to shine, with this theme of widespread contributions becoming the theme of the show.

Whether your preference is style or substance, all bases were covered on this night.