2010, it seems, is the breakthrough year for Elliot Gleave, aka Example. 2009 gave him a hit with the enviably catchy single ‘Watch the Sun Come Up’ and he has impressed ears far and wide this year with the electro vibes of his studio album ‘Won’t Go Quietly’. The eponymous single became the London rapper’s first top 10 release, and deservedly so, with its sleek and pleasurably insistent electro-pop beats.

Example is another from the breed of young talented UK rappers, who simply out grow playground entertaining. He was constantly writing music throughout his schooling, and university degree. It was at university that he met his capable compadre Joseph Gardner aka Rusher, a producer with whom he has since worked with consistently. Whilst still studying, the two made a concept album from which Example’s first official release was borne – ‘A Pointless Song’, the video for which can still be viewed on YouTube …watch it and laugh, it’s a gigglesome affair.

Laughter and all expressions of amusement aside, Example is an act with a real ear for blustering beats and rude rhymes. That’s rude in the cool sense, not naughty. Although, our Example does have somewhat of a penchant for talking about his accomplishments with the ladies … quite the Lothario if we’re to believe all we hear…

And now back to the expressions of amusement. Example is talented and driven and charismatic and really does know how to put words together splendidly. But also, he’s just plain funny. This guy has an acute wit about him and he uses it to express real experiences – on ‘I Don’t Want to Talk’, he regales his listeners with anecdotes of stealing away from lovers at 6 in the morning in a flurry of flimsy excuses – “I’m a milkman!” he declares. You find yourself being educated and entertained – Example is a kind of musical paradigm of simultaneous chin-stroking and chuckling.

Signed to Mike Skinner’s label The Beats, certain influences are palpable in his music – Skinner and Calvin Harris certainly, perhaps a smidge of Wu Tang and Snoop, a dollop of Dan le Sac too. His live show can go anywhere from bouncing electro to dirty dubstep. He’s a cheeky performer, as likely to ask you for an opinion on his hair as the choice of encore. But as supercilious as he may be, you should prepare to have your very socks charmed off your dancing feet.

And now comes the pun you’ve been waiting for: Let him set an – Example - to you at Manchester Academy 2 on Wednesday 29th September. Lolz.