Review and photos: Loyle Carner is back and he means business in triumphant Victoria Warehouse gig

“Is the world moving fast for you as well?” Loyle Carner asks the crowd part way through his sold-out gig at the O2 Victoria Warehouse.

It's been four years since the south London rapper last played in Manchester and his world has changed a lot. The 28-year-old is now a parent and has reconnected with his own biological father and his Guyanese roots.

It’s given him a new perspective on life, evident throughout his critically acclaimed album, hugo, which was released last October. Carner’s third record marked a departure from his previous work and has seen him shake off his reputation as the nice guy of UK hip-hop.

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On his darkest, most introspective record to date, Carner’s anger is palpable as he explores his mixed-race heritage and relationship with his estranged father.

And he’s in no mood for pleasantries tonight as he stomps on stage in a grey puffer jacket, hood up, and launches straight into Hate, a rage-filled track in which he confronts feelings of anger and confusion about injustice and his personal life.

It’s a frenetic start that continues with Plastic and the crowd favourite You Don’t Know. Next up is Georgetown - a nod to Carner’s Guyanese roots - which samples a poem by the Afro-Guyanese playwright John Agard.

On stage, Carner is a restless bundle of energy. Although only slight in stature, his presence is captivating as he paces the stage, the crowd in the palm of his hand the whole time.

Things move down a notch with Desoleil (Brilliant Corners), where Carner’s slick, languid delivery is on full display. At the song’s denouement, the crowd breaks into an impromptu chant of