Talib Kweli is unusual figure in hip hop– lauded by critics, peers and fans as one of the most talent MCs of his generation, yet consistently ignored by the mainstream, despite his association with stars like Kanye West, Lauryn Hill and Mos Def.

It was a coup for promoter One Inch Badge to get Kweli to The Haunt for such an intimate show.

Warming up there was plenty of jovial turn-tabling through the golden age of hip hop, and it was not until nearly 11pm that the rapper took to the stage.

He launched into a medley from seminal 2000 LP Train of Thought, including Move Somethin', This Means You, and Down For The Count.

Kweli got vibey and sensitive with Imaginations-sampling soul ballad Never Been In Love, which got fully played out.

The consciousness that sets him apart from his more thuggish contemporaries came to the fore during an aside about love being the root cause of everything.

But it was followed by Lonely People, a woefully misfiring rap version of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby.

The MC was not short of energy, but the generic showmanship sometimes seemed below him, and it was not until he went a capella that his lyrical dexterity shone through.

For the contingent of real hip hop fans showing their love it was a real treat to see Kweli up so close in Brighton – even if he did deserve a bigger venue.