The Roots perform during the Diesel U Music 2009 NYC Tour at Webster Hall on July 30, 2009 in New York City.

Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson — the best-named man in hip-hop — was the show's MVP, both for providing righteous low-end noise and for carrying around a Sousaphone all day.

In true Roots form, ?uestlove and Black Thought even threw in a montage of borrowed hits like Snoop Dogg's "Sensual Eruption" and Curtis Mayfield's classic "Move On Up."

Though the Roots' spiritual leader Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson sweat heavily while he kept the beat during his band's set, his hair maintained its volume.

Captain Kirk Douglas of the Roots got multiple opportunities to show off his chops, further cementing the group as part hip-hop monster, part rugged jam band.