Kanye West Makes Surprise Appearance With the Clipse in New York

While there were many great moments at Thursday night's Diesel:U:Music party at New York's Webster Hall, the highlight of the evening came when Kanye West made a surprise appearance, joining the Clipse on 'Kinda Like a Big Deal.' The rapper's presence surely made up for the false rumors of guest spots by Jay-Z and Rihanna, as well as the cancellation by up-and-coming rapper Drake, who's recovering from a knee injury. Following the Clipse, the Roots took the stage and were joined by Swedish singer Lykke Li on several songs, wrapping up a show that included sets by Cobra Starship, the Noisettes and more.

Earlier in the evening, Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos announced, "It's f---ing crazy in here" while playing in front of laser projections and a black-and-white video display. The Boston natives danced along on a stage crowded with bouncing balls, as Angelakos sweated and stomped back and forth in white sneakers. The performance followed their television debut on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' on Wednesday night, making this their second show with the Roots in an as many nights.

During their set, Passion Pit powered through tunes off their recently released album Manners, including 'Little Secrets,' 'The Reeling' and 'Sleepyhead.' The five-piece worked hard to win over the crowd, swinging microphones and standing on monitors. "Are you still with us?" wondered Angelakos at one point during the performance, and the chorus of cheers from the crowd seamlessly blended in with the band's synths. But it was nothing compared to what would come when Mr. West strutted on stage later.