SAN JOSE, Calif.--Kanye West's comically inflated, insecurity-fueled ego often gets him into hot water, inciting him to embarrass himself at awards shows when he doesn't win.

But as a performer, West's dedication to self-obsession seems to know no bounds, and it made for a spectacularly entertaining live show Saturday night at the HP Pavilion.

In an 80-minute set as part of his Glow in the Dark Tour, which also features Rihanna, N.E.R.D., and Lupe Fiasco, West transformed a concert into a full-blown Broadway-style, one-man show, unlike anything seen in hip-hop history, for better or worse. The results were both dazzling and ridiculous, but always compelling.

Set around the theme of his spaceship "Jane" crash landing on an unknown planet, the set kicked off with the 30-year-old West lying prostrate in the midst of a massive moonscape stage. Underneath the stage in an orchestra pit, his thunderous eight-piece band toiled away in anonymity--guaranteeing that it would be all Kanye, all the time.

Decked out in a would-be flight suit apparatus, complete with forearm guard and dangling control panel, but also a J. Crew-esque red shirt wrapped around his waist and a pair of leather gloves, West was awoken by the opening notes of "Good Morning," the first track off his latest album, Graduation.

He was the picture of intensity from the outset, and to his credit, that force and passion never wavered throughout the set. He performed boastful songs like "Can't Tell Me Nothing" with anger, and sent the crowd into a tizzy with party jams like "Good Life" and his huge 2007 hit, the Daft Punk-supplied "Stronger."

That's the positive side of Kanye's ego--that he wants so badly to show us all how great he is that he aims high, works hard, and delivers.

But ego excess also made for some hilariously awkward moments, as when Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" blared from the stage while Kanye sat, contemplating another "takeoff" in his spaceship, swigging water from a canteen that matched his outfit.

Showmanship and conceit aside, what stood out most is the quality of music that Kanye has written, produced, and recorded in just three albums. His rapping style remains stunted at times, but the songs, with very few exceptions, are incredible.

The standouts Saturday night were the gospel-infused "Jesus Walks" and "Dear Mama," a heartfelt track that has taken on a sad tone in the wake of his mother Donda's untimely death in November 2007 following cosmetic surgery.

While Kanye showed off the pros and cons of ego, Rihanna proved that she might need to spend more time in the mirror boosting her confidence. In her 45-minute set, she displayed a powerful voice but little stage presence, a sort of Beyonce-light.

Her new wave-influenced, guitar-heavy sound is a refreshing twist on modern R&B, but the music wasn't good enough to compensate for the singer's lack of bravado. Less than halfway into her set, clad in a leather-and-pink-neon ensemble, she uttered a phrase more appropriate for an open-mic night: "San Jose, ya'll still with me?"

Both the Pharrell Williams-fronted outfit N.E.R.D. and rapper Lupe Fiasco turned in solid opening sets, pumping up a crowd that would spend much of the night preoccupied with a variety of digital devices. In particular, N.E.R.D.'s use of two drummers added explosive rhythm to the tired rap-rock formula.

But despite a lineup loaded with talent, Kanye made sure this was all about Kanye. Sticking with the theme of the night, "Jane" convinced Kanye that only he could help them lift off from the unknown planet: "The other shooting stars didn't have enough power," she said. "But you are the brightest star in the universe. You can glow in the dark. "