Free 50 Cent Concert Raises Concerns In Queens

"Superstar rapper 50 Cent is secretly planning to stage a free concert in a schoolyard near the Queens projects where he grew up," reports the NY Post, as they simultaneously destroy any secretive nature of said concert. The performance will be at P.S. 40 in Jamaica (August 30th, 5:30 p.m.), and will be open to anyone—one NYPD officer warning the paper it would be difficult for them to control the area. A worried local added, "Someone's gonna try to make a name for themselves. They're gonna take a shot at him, and they're either gonna hit him or they're gonna miss him and hit some poor, innocent kid or grandmother." But let's be real, grandmas probably won't be front row and center, right?

If the permits go through (which they are expected to this week), the plan is to shut down a 20-block area surrounding the stage, and dispatch "an army of cops." But maybe the fact that the day is being partially sponsored by the New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit founded by Bette Midler, will make things more peaceful? Either way, some locals are planning day trips to other areas, and even teens expressed concern; one telling the paper, "There's word out there that there's going to be some shootings. Some of my friends' parents are saying that they don't want them to go because something is going to happen."

For those who want to see the rapper but don't want to put themselves in harm's way, Fitty is playing Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey the night before, where the only danger will be getting hit by some backsplash from the log flume.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on August 17, 2009 1:51 PM

Comments [rss]

bts220

Is it free or is it 50 cents Im confused... I gaurantee there will be atleast 1 shooting in the vicinity. God forbid these ghetto kids can go out enjoy a free concert and not have to be living the thuglife...BTW GFYM

jt10000

Say what you want about him, but he's got skills.

Bernie Goetz for Mayor

He is one ugly b*stard that's for sure.

dadoc

If the grandmas do show up, I hope they keep the little tykes in Kevlar Pampers.

Bovina Sancta!

I understand that hiding in the tub is the safest place to be.....or is that for a tornado? What the hell, it's summer in the city.

Snoopy

OK Let's start a lottery here based on shots fired.

$5 bucks for a choice to get into the lottery. One can choose between 0 and 300 shots. If an individual is hit by a shot it pays double. If an individual is killed it pays a quarter of the amount received times the total shots if under 100.

NannyState

Garbage collection will be unaffected by this, according to city officials.

Mr. Know-It-All

Not that he's doing anything at all to actively encourage the fear of gun violence with his Kevlar vest and gangster manque attitude. P.o.s.

LaLuneEstMorte

Our tax dollars are funding cops to sit around and listen to some shit star rap about bitches and hoes? He better not get that permit, because that will be up there with the stupidest things our city has ever done for its citizens.

Mr Mel

That happened years ago after a Diana Ross concert in Central park.

Brooklynbobby

Don't you think that everyone uses the word "superstar" much too loosely? Superasshole would be a more apt description.

ckl

No. If they are closing down a 20-block area it is safe to say that he is indeed a superstar. Whether or not he is a "superasshole" has nothing to do with that.

It's not like they're calling him superfriend or superniceguy.

longacre

But let's be real, grandmas probably won't be front row and center, right?
Irrelevant, thugs are atrocious marksmen.

longacre

Case in point: Fitty himself, who would be dead if only one of the nine bullets he's taken would have been able to find its way to a vital organ.

Snoopy

Obviously if he got shot in the brain it wouldn't be one of those vital organs you mention.

ChampionOfTheSun

In the photo above, 50 is wearing not one, but TWO crosses around his neck. That's why he lived. The lord loves thug drug dealers who want to become hip hop superstars.