Even if you didn’t know a single lyric beforehand, it was impossible to ignore the pure joy and excitement that filled the air when viral hip-hop artist bbno$ took the stage on Easter Sunday. The boundary-pushing Canadian rapper capped off his fittingly titled BBNOEURO tour with an electrifying show at Dublin’s 3Olympia, delivering everything from fan favourite bangers to hilarious antics to even cooking recipes.

Alexander Gumuchian, aka bbno$ (pronounced “Baby No Money”), released his latest album Bag Or Die in October 2022, featuring collaborations with artists including Yung Gravy, Rich Brian and Diplo. A streaming giant, the Vancouver-raised musician has amassed over one billion global streams since debuting in 2016.

After selling out shows around the world, bbno$ held nothing back in his highly anticipated 3Olympia performance. While fans found their seats, bright red lights bathed the stage as Dublin alt-rapper Khakikid came on to warm-up the impassioned crowd. Opening with his 2021 single ‘Cozy’, the rising star commanded the theatre and had everyone bouncing their hands in the air before finishing his first song.

Khakikid was accompanied by instrumentalist Louis Younge on saxophone and keyboard and singer Matthew Harris on backup vocals, making for a team of true up-and-coming powerhouses. After performing ‘Breakfast On Pluto’, a collaboration with Ballymun band BrickNasty, Khakikid hyped up the crowd even further.

“Make some fucking noise for bbno$,” he remarked to thunderous screams from every corner of the theatre. “I met him already about five minutes ago. He’s very nice, very Canadian,” he added to laughter and more screams.

For a pleasant surprise, Khakikid then invited fellow hip-hop artist CARSTEN2X to the stage and the pair led the crowd in singing a joyful “Olé, Olé, Olé”. The Dublin rapper ended his set with a boisterous rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’ before jumping off stage to sing with the seas of fans.

The next act to take the stage was bbno$’s DJ for the night, Disco Dan. The DJ took things to the next level by blending pop classics like PSY’s ‘Gangnam Style’ and Shakira’s ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ with music earworms like Eiffel 65’s ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ and ‘The Gummy Bear Song’. After earning a massive cheer from the audience, Disco Dan left the stage as everyone awaited the main act.

Moments later the one and only bbno$ emerged onto the stage to ear-piercing cheers before opening with his new LP’s title track, ‘Bag Or Die’. Mesmerising lighting effects did not distract from the Canadian rapper, who was donning a shirt stitched with colourful flower patterns and wearing one of his signature white beanies.

“Dublin, how the fuck are we doing tonight? Are you guys ready to go crazy out there or what?” he asked the crowd, which responded by passionately chanting “baby, baby, baby!”

Bbno$ at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday 9th of April 2023. Copyright MIguel Ruiz.

The rapper then performed ‘C’est La Vie’, his collaboration with Yung Gravy and Rich Brian, a track that everyone in the audience seemed to know by heart. In a change of pace, the artist then brought out a cookbook that he promised to award to “whoever goes the fucking hardest” before giving the crowd a taste by reading ingredients for a spaghetti recipe.

“Two tablespoons of olive oil. One large brown onion. 750 grams of minced beef!” bbno$ read, each ingredient receiving a louder cheer than the last. In another give-away, the artist awarded a fan a pink beanie for “going unnecessarily hard” during the first 10 minutes of his set.

Bbno$ at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday 9th of April 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

However, bbno$ brought a more sombre tone to the show when introducing his ballad ‘help herself’, which expresses feelings of love and longing for an ended relationship.

“I know it’s been a difficult couple of years and months but nothing fucking matters. Tonight we use positivity and that’s all we got,” he told the crowd. “We have to show that everyone fucking loves each other.” He then delivered deeply personal and relatable lyrics that clearly resonated with the audience:

Down on myself, hope you're doing well

I've been honestly going through hell

Feeling troubled, no one to tell

Dodged a bullet, saved by the bell

If we had to make up, last the weekend

Save the break up just to be friends

Bbno$ at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday 9th of April 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

bbno$ soon brought the show back to its original upbeat and comedic course with more hip-hop bangers. Throughout the night, the Canadian star directed the crowd to clap, cheer and jump as he danced with an Irish flag. The show also saw more unconventional highlights, such as bbno$ swinging a rubber ball sack in the air, taking off his pants and reenacting the opening scene from Disney’s Up.

“Save the best for last,” he remarked, with Dublin being the last stop on his BBNOEURO tour. He then selected a young fan (who identified himself as Jason) to join him on stage and the pair rapped bbno$ and Yung Gravy’s 2019 single ‘Whip A Tesla’. Without a doubt, Jason crushed it - as evidenced by the rapturous round of applause he received when bowing to the crowd.

bbno$ later performed his smash hit ‘Lalala’, which alone has amassed over 900 million streams on Spotify, before awarding the aforementioned cookbook to Jason in a full-circle moment. It’s safe to say that for Jason, and no doubt every screaming fan in the house, it was truly a night to remember.

Bbno$ at 3Olympia Theatre. Sunday 9th of April 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Listen to Bag Or Die below.