Rick Ross plays during chaotic night at NYS Fair

The New York State Fair took an unexpected turn on Sunday evening as officials made the decision to close the Midway early following reports of violence. The closure, which occurred around 9:40 p.m., was described by authorities as a precautionary measure taken out of “an abundance of caution.”

Rumors quickly spread among fairgoers, both on-site and on social media, that gunshots were heard between two locations: the Exposition Center and the Eatery building. The first report of violence came at 8:38 p.m., followed by a second report just three minutes later. 

A spokesperson for the New York State Police told syracuse.com that reports of gunshots were unfounded, with no evidence of gunshots or injuries. Despite the lack of evidence, the fair’s early closure disrupted the usual festivities, which typically run until 11 p.m.

Photo by Malcolm Taylor

Rick Ross poses during his performance at the New York State Fair.

Rick Ross Concert Goes On Despite Incident

Amidst the chaos, Grammy-nominated rapper Rick Ross continued with his scheduled concert at Suburban Park. The show, slated to begin at 8 p.m., marked the last show of the night, and Ross delivered his full setlist, undeterred by the earlier reports of violence.

Fans packed the venue hours before the show, eagerly awaiting Ross’s arrival. Although Ross is known to be a “boss” and about his “bag of money,” fans were able to see him for free, much different from his usual ticket price. Thirty minutes before he took the stage, two-time Grammy winner DJ and MC Scram Jones gave fans a pre-show. 

Photo by Malcolm Taylor

Rick Ross fans eagerly await his arrival on stage.

Ross, hailing from Miami, Florida, but with roots in Clarksdale, Mississippi, opened the show with the hit record “Ima Boss” from the collaboration album “Self Made Vol.1,” a project featuring multiple artists from his Maybach Music Group label. From the start, fans were on their feet and did not sit down the whole time.

“Rick Ross is out here performing like it’s 2015.” one fairgoer said after the concert. 

Ross would go on to perform other hit songs like “Here I Am,” “Bugatti,” “Aston Martin Music,” “Stay Schemin,” “Diced Pineapples,” and  “B.M.F(Blowin Money Fast.” Toward the end of the show, he paid tribute to several fallen hip-hop legends, including New York’s own Fat Man Scoop and Notorious B.I.G., Memphis rapper Young Dolph, and California’s Tupac Shakur. 

Ross, a faithful man, made sure to play the recent hit “God Did” as a way to reminisce on how far he has come.

“I am the CEO of Maybach Music Group, so it’s only right I play this one to end it,” Ross said before playing Dreams and Nightmares by MMG artist Meek Mill for the finale.