NEW YORK — With downloads, bootlegs and early College Dropout sales as evidence, Kanye West is already making his mark as an MC. But as 50 Cent taught us last year, a true superstar has to prove himself on the stage as well as on the mic.

Tuesday night, the same day his debut hit shelves, West celebrated with an album-release party and concert at Webster Hall.

Announced at least three times before the show started, the rapper/producer took the stage following some backstage confusion. A man dressed in a chauffeur's uniform emerged with two racks of Louis Vuitton luggage, and women dressed in African garments sprinkled rose petals on the stage. West walked out as Jay-Z's "Takeover" played, called for "silence" and the dancing came to a halt.

"Did I tell you to move?" he asked the women. Ludacris' "Stand Up" came over the speakers and West joined in on the chorus: "When I move, you move, just like that ..."

After the dancers' departure, hip-hop violinist Miri Bin Ari joined Kanye for "Two Words," with West rapping, "Most imitated, Grammy nominated, hotel accommodated, cheerleader prom-dated/ Barbershop playa hated, mom and pop bootlegged it/ Felt like it rained till the roof caved in/ Two words, Chi-Town, raised me crazy."

Mos Def, featured on the song's first verse, walked out and held his arms in the air to yells from the crowd. Mos took the mic and apologized for his tardiness. "I'm late but I'm on time," he said.

"Two words, United States, no love, no brakes," Mos rhymed. "Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, black folks/ Big Macs, fat folks, ecstasy capsules/ Presidential scandals, everybody move!"

After going into a freestyle about baby mamas who take advantage of baby papas, West brought on Common for "Get 'Em High." Reminding everyone of his success as a producer, West played snippets of hits like Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name" and Jay-Z's "Encore." Kanye's mascot, Dropout Bear, came onstage and danced while Jigga's "Lucifer" played. As the song drew to a close, Dropout removed his head and costume to reveal comedian Dave Chappelle.

West followed up with "Slow Jamz," his biggest song to date. Without Twista or Jamie Foxx for assistance, Kanye went to the DJ booth and enlisted audience participation. "She got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson," the crowd sang as Kanye pushed a button to mute the song. "She got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson."

GLC and Consequence joined the Chicago native for "Spaceship" and had everyone's head bobbing during the intense Christian plea "Jesus Walks." The crowd gave West his biggest pop during "Through the Wire." John Legend, another West artist, set the song up with a snippet of Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire."

"I drink a Boost for breakfast and Ensure for dizzurt," West rapped. Seconds later, Dame Dash and other members of the Roc were onstage with him. "Somebody ordered pancakes, I just sip the sizzurp," he continued.

Kanye declared himself unable to leave after this would-be finale. He performed verses from "Champions" and "School Spirit" before closing out with a second performance of "Slow Jamz."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.