Live: Dizzee Rascal

Apollo, Manchester

When pop historians pick through the meagre morsels of genuine quality of 2009, one of the few stand-outs will be the rise of Dizzee Rascal, transformed from scowling grime MC to a 24-carat pop star.

As you'd expect, his three No 1s that get the biggest response from the boisterous throng - Holiday transports the crowd to a dancefloor in Ibiza, Dance Wiv Me offers wild pleasure and Bonkers is far beyond the obvious explanation.

Of course, none of this would work so well if Dizzee hadn't significantly upped his game.

Cynics argue he's softened his edge and swapped gritty tales for the laidback beats of Chilling Wiv Da Man Dem and shout outs to "all the pretty ladies". The argument that Dizzee sold out is blown out the water when he blasts out early tracks with ruthless ferocity.

Dizzee has been head and shoulders above the rest of the UK urban pack this decade. Now, he's standing tall at pop's top table too.

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