Is it a comedy gig? A hip hop gig? A neuroscience lecture? Baba Brinkman's Rap Guide To Consciousness is all three. You may well walk out laughing, humming and wondering if you are a human being or a robot.

Leave any Vanilla Ice expectations in the cloakroom and imagine if Eminem had read philosopher Daniel Dennett. Brinkman wittily weaves together accessible ideas and inventive rhymes. Discussing artificial intelligence he sings "From Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas, people thought if you wanted design, you need a mind first."

The locquacious Canadian employs case studies in an attempt to clarify what consciousness is. In one adorably cute sequence he raps about his new baby Dylan, while an image of his smiling offspring flickers onscreen. Has Dylan got self-awareness yet? And if so did he have it as a tadpole-like embryo, dad asks.

There is lots to take in. Is there free will or are we all just glorified machines, slaves to our firing neurones? Apparently most of you reading this will have a "Jennifer Aniston neurone", triggered whenever you think of the Friends star, whether you like it or not.

Sara Pascoes favourite comedy venue, and with good reason: the Soho Theatre is arguably Londons finest place to see both up-and-coming and established acts. Being a theatre, rather than a comedy club per se, expect to see full sets from individuals rather than bills with a few comics. Its three rooms host all sorts of things, from the latest Edinburgh winners to big names road-testing their latest bits. The standard is reliably excellent: even if youve never heard of a comedian, chances are, if theyre playing here, theyll be worth watching.

Another old favourite, the Comedy Store benefits from being built for purpose: no other venue in London suits stand-up quite so well (and the beer isnt too ridiculously priced, either). After starting out above a strip club in Soho, this place made its name throughout the eighties by breaking the pioneers in alternative comedy. Its happy to host mainstream stars these days, and never struggles to draw top acts, but if you can only make one thing, try The Comedy Store Players, old pros whose improvised shows on Wednesdays and Sundays all but guarantee hilarity. Tuesdays The Cutting Edge is best for those who like topical humour.

Old Rope is popular with circuit veterans and newbies alike, so the weekly show usually has a mix of big names, comedy veterans and ones-to-watch. Host Tiff Stevenson leads an evening of new material yes, lots of jokes given their test run and its given its name for the noose that hangs over the stage. Ironically, this noose is a bit of a life-saver: if the new act is going badly, comics can grab the rope and fall back on old material.

Always top value, the Knock2bag nights offer the chance to indulge in the odder end of the comedy spectrum: expect serious helpings of whimsy, eccentricity and surrealism. If you're looking for something different, this is your place to go.

A first-rate comedy club and well worth travelling for. Wed pick the Thursday night over Saturday, but youll get a decent show on either day. Theres a mix of big names and up-and-comers, and host Martin Besserman is a pro wholl keep you laughing in between acts. Of which, theres often as many as twelve a night, so youll get your moneys worth. If one isnt to your taste, another promises a laugh.

The Banana Cabaret Club hosts a lot of top drawer comics, and is well loved in comedy circles in part, because theyve been going a good thirty years and in part because of the man running things, David Vickers, whose had everyone from Eddie Izzard to Stephen K Amos performing. Stars pop-in, and comedy circuit regulars play often, but its also on the finest spots to see new talent . No wonder Marcus Brigstocke name-checked it as his favourite London comedy club. Besides, once the two-hour show is done (typically wrapping up around 11pm), DJs strike up and everyone dances till 2am. Splendid.

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Hats off to the Piccadilly for keeping comedy cheap: their shows cost 10 at the most, and they do a meal deal, where you can eat at Tiger Tiger and see the show for 20 all-in. A bargain. Expect a mix of well-known TV regulars alongside the best newcomers on the scene. Line-ups are particularly well thought out here: they dont just sling together anyone, so the nights tend to be uniformly excellent.

The Leicester Square Theatre draws the big names, so expect to see top flight acts: Richard Herring hosts a weekly podcast here on Wednesdays, and the likes of Bridget Christie, Micky Flanagan and Frankie Boyle all make it a stopping point on their tours. That said, check the website for whats upcoming there are chance to see some under-the-radar sets too.

The excellent Brasserie Zdel whose Bar Americain is one of the finest drinking spots in the capital relaunched Crazy Coqs as Live At Zdel last year and following a successful first run, are launching their second season. Besides comedy the standard is usually very decent they also host musical theatre and drag acts. The cocktails are terrific and there's at-table service. Eat in the restaurant beforehand (or after), too: we swung by recently and the food is as good as its ever been. Cheap, too.

This fortnightly show boasts the best new up-and-coming acts in the capital, combined with big name hosts expect the likes of Miles Jupp, Sara Pascoe and Holly Walsh who keep the standard up to scratch. Definitely up to par, somewhere to find your new favourite comedian.

Just how a comedy club should be: small, crowded and above a pub. Best of all, its free, and each night offers something different, from open-mic nights to well-known names giving their latest sets an airing. Check the website for details, but you wont be let down just get down early, as it fills up quickly.

Following a decade of success in Shepherd's Bush, this comedy club has found a new home at the ever-popular Roof Gardens. Known as 'Jimmy Carr's favourite comedy club', the Ginglik has had everyone from Al Murray to Robin Williams play, and is set for more success.

The likes of Stewart Lee, Reginald D Hunter and Tony Law play these nights, which gives an idea of just how decent they are. Laugh Out London always do a good job of bringing the highlights from Edinburgh festival to town, so take the chance to see who everyones been tweeting about.

This Leicester Square club is much, much better than you might expect for a place that continually flyers. A big favourite with the Chortle Awards, it always attracts big names it runs a little like Live At The Apollo but on a smaller scale. There are three acts a night, and shows are fairly priced: some are as cheap as a fiver, though most will cost around 10 - 15. Theyve also got venues in Soho and Covent Garden.

Bit of a shame that shows here are so few and far between usually about once a month but theres no place more beautiful than the Union Chapel to see comedy in London. The upside is that, with so few performances, they always get the big names headlining, with unfailingly impressive support. Plus theres usually a live band, who are fab. The atmosphere is everything.

Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

These various plates are kept spinning thanks to Brinkman's enthusiasm and amiability. He is not the world's coolest rapper, but he might be the funniest and most well-read. Exercise any free will you have and buy a ticket.

Until Sept 3, 2 Northdown; tickettext.co.uk

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Baba Brinkman, comedy review: Comedy, hip hop and neuroscience will make your brain buzz - Evening Standard