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Free 50 Cent Concert Raises Concerns In Queens
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 17, 2009
Modified Aug 17, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 17, 2009
Modified Aug 17, 2009
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"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.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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