Author: Zoe Zanateas

Despite the fact that it was still April and 30 degrees this past weekend, Syracuse University’s Mayfest Block Party was one for the books. With a bangin’ lineup of Rae Strummurd, Kygo, 50 Cent, and G-Unit, the hour-long drive from Cornell was completely worth it. Held in Syracuse’s giant Carrier Dome, students from all over upstate New York turned up (in more ways than one) to celebrate the end of the academic year.

Although the concert has been sold out for weeks, three of my friends and I were lucky enough to get a few last-minute tickets. After getting lost on the way, we finally saw the light and stopped for a quick dinner at the gates of heaven (Syracuse’s campus Chipotle). It was there that we realized we’d underestimated what kind of night we were in for. Three security guards were stationed around the restaurant, the hordes of people waiting for burrito bowls not too different from the moshpit we’d enter later that night.

After running around the entire Carrier Dome multiple times (it seemed that our combined bad sense of direction was still an issue), we finally made it into the concert as the rap duo of brothers, Rae Strummurd, hit the stage. Hits like “Throw Some Mo”, “Come Get Her”, and of course, “No Type” and “No Flex Zone” set the bar high for the rest of the night.

 

 

Next up was Kygo (or “Tygo” as the girl behind me liked to call him). It was unanimously agreed among my friends and me that we HAD to be in the front row for his set. So, after much pushing and many awkward stares, we were 50 feet from the sexy Norwegian DJ. Opening with his tropical house remix of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire,” Kygo put on a great set, complete with original songs like “Firestone” and some crazy new deep house IDs that people should be on the lookout for over the next few weeks.

 

 

After a quick sound check, it was time for the headliners. 50 Cent and G-Unit burst onto the stage full of energy and spit some of their greatest hits. I was personally amused to see that Slim Jimmy was still under the impression that wearing one’s pants a foot below the waist was in style. However, though he has been somewhat inactive for a few years, 50 Cent has definitely still got it. A legitimate BAMF, the rapper performed oldies like “Candy Shop” and “Disco Inferno” to a crowd that knew how to throw down. Hands were in the air, the bass was bumpin’, and Syracuse University really came through with a great show for its students.