Appearing well after his last album was garlanded with Grammys, and well before his long-delayed “rock” release Rebirth, London finds the rapper formerly known as Dwayne Carter in transition.

Having sold close to three million copies of Tha Carter III (in giving most of his albums the same name he shares a habit with pal Jay-Z, Mike Oldfield and Meat Loaf) now Lil Wayne is ready to indulge himself. Several times he strapped on an electric guitar and strummed wildly with his four-piece band, who also covered many of his older songs in horrible sub-metal sludge and bass powerful enough to induce vomiting.

His dedication of a messy cover of Walk This Way to “all the people that ain’t afraid to rock out” suggested he knew how most of his audience felt about his new passion. An original attempted rock song, Prom Queen, was simply disastrous. Carter is no singer and his band sounded far more at home on the looser funk of Mrs Officer.

As a rapper, however, he was often spectacular, rhyming at pace in his strangled Daffy Duck voice and throwing himself about the stage, dreadlocks flailing. With diamonds on his teeth, more tattoos than a Hell’s Angels meet-up and a bare chest that appeared to be inflatable, he was a vibrant presence.

Left to the accompaniment of DJ Four Five on tracks such as Go DJ, his unique voice could really be heard. Trying new things is commendable but recognising your weaknesses can be useful, too.