"Get Rich or Die Tryin": 50 Cent taking the Final (?) Lap.

 It's impossible not to know 50 Cent. We've all, at least once, come across an Instagram story featuring the initial beats of "In da Club" as the backdrop to someone's birthday celebration. Many songs from his debut album, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," have likely found their way to our ears through MTV, radio, or the club scene. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that album, prompting 50 Cent to embark on a global tour named "The Final Lap Tour." Is it truly the final one? To avoid any risk, we decided to catch his performance at the 3Arena in Dublin.

Performance

I had heard various opinions from acquaintances regarding 50 Cent – "he can't do it anymore," "he's like a zombie," "he should retire." Perhaps these whispers set my expectations low, but the reality was quite the opposite. True, age catches up with everyone, but 50 doesn't seem to be affected to that extent. He sang, with his own voice (not a given), around 35 songs in an hour and a half. Sure, he took breaks during the dancers' performances or his band's jams, but that's expected. It quickly becomes apparent that he's a stalwart of this music style, and unsurprisingly he's completely at ease on stage. He interacts with the stage and the dancers, participates in numerous choreographies, but he doesn't engage much with the audience. 

Apart from the usual "Put your hands up" or "Thank you, Dublin," he didn't say much. I didn't quite understand why he reiterated several times while thanking the crowd that he was happy to have sold out two consecutive nights in Dublin. I don't know about the previous night, but I can assure you that on the second night, it was anything but sold out, with completely empty sections in the stands.

That being said, it was an absolutely top-notch performance. I believe he can still do a lot of laps before calling it quits.

 

 Setlist

I'm not a big listener of 50, so I can't say if something was missing. I was certainly happy to hear many songs from "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" since it was the only album I knew well. It seemed to me that the most famous tracks were well distributed in the setlist. I also appreciated the moment when he brought up Jeremiah, one of the artists touring with him, who performed a couple of songs that were quite familiar to the crowd. The only downside, in my opinion, was the ending. After the famous "In da Club," the next 20 minutes until the end of the concert felt forgettable and monotonous, and the audience didn't seem engaged. If I were in his shoes, I would have saved a song like that for the finale.

Production

One of the most stunning productions I have ever witnessed. An entrance that can only be described as breathtaking, where he emerged from a coffin on the stage. The stage was comprised of four towers of screens that, depending on their projections, completely changed the mood. It transitioned from a setting resembling a gritty Harlem neighborhood to a Las Vegas casino.

Additionally, these towers opened up (the second half slid upward), and within each, like a Kinder Egg surprise, there was a member of the band (all songs were performed live).

 In the center of the arena (above the square at the end of the catwalk), two more screens are lowered or raised depending on the choreography. These were also used to make 50 Cent disappear and reappear from above. 

A group of dancers was also utilized for a significant portion of the show, filling in the moments when 50 changed into one of the 10 outfits that he switched during the concert. Of course, there was no shortage of fire, strobe lights, and confetti, but that was to be expected. The sensation was that you didn't even know where to look, nonetheless, 50 Cent always remained at the center of attention, and what was happening behind never overshadowed what was happening in front. A quick note on the price: considering the current prices, the artist's stature, and the entire production at play, 60 euros seems like an absolute steal.

 

Venue & Crowd

This was my third concert at the 3Arena, and in the first two, I didn't encounter any major issues. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for this one. It's crucial to emphasize that none of these problems can be attributed to 50 Cent. Let's start with the bass situation. I've been to countless concerts, and I love that feeling when the bass reverberates through your chest. However, this time, it was genuinely too loud. The sensation was as if your eardrums were vibrating, not a pleasant experience. The people around me were visibly bothered, trying to cover their ears with their hands.

While this issue lessened as the concert progressed, it never completely disappeared. What I find unacceptable is that 50 had performed the previous night. If there were any issues on the first night, one would expect them to be resolved on the second.

Another issue was with the organization. I bought tickets in the last row of the stands (frontal position to the stage), practically giving a high-five to the roof. I could have chosen closer seats as there were many available, but I opted for an economical choice. I knew visibility wouldn't be perfect due to the distance, but I wasn't aware there would be a set of lights obstructing my view. 

I had no problem seeing 50 Cent, but I couldn't clearly see the band members on the towers (even the towers themselves) because the lights were at their level from my perspective. This issue likely affected a minimum of five to six rows in front of me. Ticketing sites should inform buyers of potential obstructed view sections for fairness to the audience. If I had known beforehand, I would have spent a bit more for a better view.

The audience was diverse, with most people around their 20s, but also many older adults. There wasn't a song where the crowd seemed particularly deafening, but it was clear that everyone was having a good time.

Noteworthy is a brief "skirmish" between two girls in the Groundfloor Standing section just moments before 50 Cent's entrance. It seemed like I witnessed these two girls pushing and pulling each other's hair for a few seconds, promptly halted by the on-site security. Scenes like these are uncommon in such contexts, but I must admit it was entertaining.

Finishing Touch

A couple of words about the opening artists. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Jeremiah during his 45-minute slot; I only caught him later when he joined the stage with 50 Cent to perform a couple of songs. He was very talented and was well-received by the audience. Following him was Busta Rhymes, excellent for getting the crowd warmed up before the main event. His performance seemed more like a theatrical display than a musical one. Rather than singing his tracks, he spent more time cracking jokes with the audience and throwing in pieces like "Seven Nation Army" and "We Are the Champions" to stir up the crowd. Mission accomplished.

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Performance: 🌶🌶🌶

Production: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

Setlist: 🌶🌶🌶

Venue: 🌶🌶

Crowd: 🌶🌶🌶