Within 15 seconds of appearing, Plan B had called the audience "f*****g c***s".

We did, of course, lap it up as this is the now trademark opening line of the East London rapper's debut album.

Every politician's nightmare, Plan B raps about the world as he sees it - given his stepfather was an abusive crackhead, he has seen friends murdered and others succumb to drugs, his world is a harsh place.

He isn't a rapper in the traditional sense. He plays acoustic guitar, sings his own R'n'B-inspired choruses and draws from rock, hip-hop and drum'n'bass.

An angry man he may be but he has high morals, a blue-eyed soul croon and masterful wit.

Backed by a scratch DJ, a live drummer and a bass player, the 22-year-old came on stage to Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday.

The storyteller demanded attention from the very beginning, with big opening track Kidz, inspired by estate stabbings.

So desperate was he to get his message across, the words were in danger of tripping over themselves.

With a steely glare, he spat out his lines almost daring you to argue and to witness him in full flow, with veins bulging out of his neck, was a sight to behold.

There were also surprising pop sensibilities, where he showcased an incredibly smooth voice, on samples including Hall And Oates' I Can't Go For That and Lee Scratch Perry & Max Romeo's Chase The Devil.

On ending, he lightened the mood by telling us he couldn't do any more because "he's a fat **** who smokes 40 fags a day", thanking the crowd with genuine love and sincerity.