If beef and bullets are a guaranteed way to get rich in the rap game, then Jayceon "The Game" Taylor must be a wealthy man. Shortly after releasing debut The Documentary, the Californian MC became embroiled in a bitter battle with his former affiliate 50 Cent. Shots have been fired - lyrically at least - but it's puerile publicity that is utterly unnecessary.

As witnessed tonight, the 25-year-old's music is infinitely more interesting than bullet-riddled rows with fellow rappers. Despite boasting a back catalogue of but one record, his sonically diverse set-list, featuring pounding drum patterns from Dr Dre, captivates the crowd for nearly two hours.

Although his lyrics sometimes touch on familiar rap rhetoric - guns, girls and weed - he's not too shy to show off a softer side. Kanye West's Dreams is dedicated to rap's RIPs while the remorse-filled Start From Scratch is a simple yet striking song that tracks his past profession as a drug dealer and member of Compton's notorious Bloods gang.

Pouring so much passion into his delivery that his voice cracks in places, the walk matches the talk as Game stalks about restlessly, brimming with unbridled emotion. Offering a slightly different slant on the regular rap show, he rides around on a low-rider bike, performs a 15-minute bitter (but admittedly brilliant) tirade against Cent and brings out guitar group Flipsyde who really rock out the crowd.

Challenging an elderly audience member to a drinking game midway through proceedings is initially amusing but, several bottles of Champagne and brandy later, rather irresponsible. However, he balances it, kind of, with a warning to "drive home safe, pops" and remarking that alcohol and rapping don't mix.

He continues apace though, albeit slightly slurred, leaving an enthusiastic audience to fill in the gaps. Let's hope Game drops the drama and lives to continue telling his tales.

· At the Apollo, Manchester, on Sunday. Box office: 0870 401 8000.