“Yeah, you know what this is? It’s a celebration, bitches!” Kanye West’s lyrics bounced off the walls as a crowd of thousands responded with enthusiastic cheers. The lights were pulsing, a sea of arms were bobbing in unison, and Kanye soaked it all in.

Kanye, who brought his Touch the Sky Tour to Alumni Arena this past Friday for SA’s annual Fall Fest, played off the eager crowd’s energy. He was joined by R&B singer Keyshia Cole and American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino in one of the most anticipated SA events in years.

The concert, which kicked off promptly at 7:30 p.m., was like an aural crescendo. The evening began with Cole’s performance, which was marred by poor sound that made her vocals nearly indistinguishable over the mix of the backing track. Fantasia’s was better with vocal theatrics that displayed exactly why she’s a television celebrity, a full backing band, and an excellent closing cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” But it was Kanye who stole the show with his 90-minute, 22-song, awe-inspiring set.

The Touch the Sky Tour was everything that Kanye’s albums, ego, and self-conscious public persona promised it would be and more. His larger-than-life onstage presence was matched by the meticulous production values; the show was all flashing lights, theatricality, and poignant soul bearing.

Kanye burst on stage outfitted in his famous mix of preppy and bling—a stylish suit, aviator shades, and his signature Jesus piece. Smiling, bouncing, hootin’, and hollerin’, he matched pound for pound the energy that the thousands of people who filled the arena beamed at him. He opened with “Touch the Sky,” an upbeat and inspirational track that not only lends its name to the tour, but captured its fiery essence.

Kanye laid out an eclectic mix of songs from both albums, including all of his major hits, as well as some of the his lesser known, but amazing tracks like “We Don’t Care” and “Gone,” which featured some amazing live strings and up-and-coming emcee Consequence.

Kanye’s personality and wit shined through at moments, as he danced to A-Ha’s mid-‘80s hit “Take On Me” and Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” During the kinetic performance of his current hit single “Gold Digger,” he elicited laughs from the crowd when he urged everyone in the crowd to join in on and sing along, saying, “White people, this your only chance to say ‘nigga.’ Take advantage of it.”

Kanye’s oft-discussed lack of confidence reared its head during “Bring Me Down,” which featured a stream of negative press (“He was hot when he was hungry, now he’s rich and whack.”) scrolling on the giant screen behind him as he rapped defiantly against his naysayers. He also threw in a little political humor, changing a line in “All Falls Down” to “And George Bush get paid off of all o’ that.”

At times, Kanye slowed the beat down, but never let it or the show’s momentum drop, filling those moments with skits, musical interludes, one very entertaining dance by his voluptuous backup singer during “Addiction,” and some of his more heart-rending tracks. His flawless delivery of “Roses” seemed to please the crowd in particular as he spit it kneeling before a hospital bed prop, to a massive black backdrop showing snow falling behind him.

Overall, Kanye’s biggest hits received the best reaction from the crowd. His animated delivery of “All Falls Down,” “Through the Wire,” and the epically executed “Jesus Walks” whipped the sold out crowd into a sweaty frenzy of bobbing heads and sea of arms waving in unison, before pulling out all the stops and bringing the house down with his closing rendition of “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” replete with giant spinning disco ball and all.

The show was a resounding success. Kanye left Buffalo with a legion of satisfied students, new fans, and the distinction of being the best performer SA has brought to the University at Buffalo in years.