AUSTIN, Texas--After more than 72 hours of power pop, hip-hop, and riff rock at South by Southwest, hipster car maker Scion's party Saturday afternoon let the rhythm hit 'em, as Nigerian Afrobeat master Femi Kuti delivered a two-hour sonic assault under drizzly skies at Stubb's.

The sweat-soaked son of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti, backed by a vibrant 12-piece band, served as a stark reminder that while indie rock, alt-country, and post-punk are still the dominant aural themes of this manic week of music in Austin, the diversity of the nearly 1,400 bands showcasing has grown immeasurably in recent years.

Kuti steadily drew in curious shoegazers throughout his two-hour set, with dozens morphing from intrigued onlookers to howling converts in that time. By the time Kuti left the stage, he was on the receiving end of thunderous applause.

But while Kuti may have been an African anomaly, hip-hop was everywhere.

"Is hip-hop in the building?" Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli asked the audience at the Warner Bros. Records showcase last Wednesday, eliciting a roaring response from the packed house at La Zona Rosa.

He and Jean Grae both delivered solid, lyrics-laden sets, but the buzz all over town was the arrival of the Wu-Tang Clan--at least in part--the next day. Backed by members of Brooklyn Afrobeat outfit Antibalas, Shaolin rappers GZA, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, and U-God rocked the outdoor stage at Stubb's Thursday afternoon, blowing through classics like "Protect Ya Neck" as well as cuts from each member's solo albums.

Wu member Ghostface Killah was also in town to tout his upcoming album, Fishscales, while emerging star rapper Chamillionaire blew up the spot at the Texas-centric showcase at the Back Room.

The hip-hopper that festival-goers had the most chances to see live was pint-sized UK rapper Lady Sovereign, who performed at record stores, at daytime parties, and at her own night showcase, spitting out rhymes from her upcoming Def Jam debut.

But those were just the biggest names on a who's who list of hip-hoppers in Austin, including Blackalicious, Devin the Dude, Chingo Bling, Atmosphere, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, K-OS, Mr. Lif, Bigg Jus (formerly of Company Flow), freestyle legend Supernatural, and Kanye West protégé Lupe Fiasco.

Not to mention hip-hop icons the Beastie Boys, in town to promote their new concert documentary, Awesome: I F***in' Shot That!, who performed a "secret" show at Stubb's that kicked off with their party jam "Brass Monkey."

All in all, while rock and its bevy of subgenres continued to dominate this music lover's paradise, there was a little something for everyone--even lovers of the filthy Blowfly, the 60-year-old masked purveyor of pornographic and rap parodies of classics like Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay," to which he adds a scatological "h."