Live Report: Central Cee takes 3Arena by storm

From the moment he stepped onto the stage at 3Arena, Central Cee delivered a full-scale spectacle, showing off his undeniable presence and ability to command a high-energy, tightly controlled live set.

The show follows the release of his debut studio album Can’t Rush Greatness, which dropped earlier this year and firmly cemented his place at the top of UK rap. A London powerhouse and the first breakout star from the UK drill movement to make real waves in the US, the phenomenon showed exactly why he’s in a league of his own.

His style of rap borders on elegant: sharp delivery, clear lyrics, and a steely, controlled presence. Every element of the show was deliberate. Beat drops, hand gestures, light cues - all timed to perfection, with a charismatic finesse that made it all look effortless.

The warm-up DJ set the tone early, running through rap hits at full volume as mosh pits broke out across the floor. The crowd was loud from the jump, phones raised, flashes blinking, and one fan even pulled off a backflip mid-pit. The energy was high before Central Cee stepped on stage, with a surprise appearance from London rapper A2anti to heat things up further.

Central Cee at 3Arena on April 22nd, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

The lights dropped, police sirens rang out, and a visual of Central Cee rapping the intro to ‘Limitless’ in a car played across the screen. A real Yaris rolled out onto the stage, and out stepped Cench himself, as fans call him, dressed in black and blue, cool as ever, continuing the track live. It was clear this was a full-scale production.

“Dublin, who came here to turn up?” he shouted. The crowd roared.

Central Cee rolled through hits like ‘5 star’, ‘Day in the Life’ and ‘6 for 6’ with clarity and control, rapping every line without a backtrack - uncommon for many mainstream rappers these days. His delivery was razor-sharp, and the production behind him matched the mood. Fire shot up from the stage, lights changed with every beat drop, and scenes played out behind him as if we were watching a film.

The background was made up of a dollhouse-style, with actors inside performing scenes like drug deals. As the show went on, the visuals gradually transitioned into a more polished setting, resembling a lavish bachelor pad, reflecting his journey from the streets of West London to international fame.

“Dublin, I usually wait until the end of the show to say my thankyous and whatnots, but today I just feel the need to say thank you in advance. Dublin you have always shown me love!" he grinned.

Central Cee at 3Arena on April 22nd, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Wearing an Ireland jersey with 'CRG' across the back (a nod to his album Can’t Rush Greatnes) he launched into ‘St. Patrick’s’ under a flood of green light. Midway through the track, a fan threw an Irish flag with the album title scrawled across it onto the stage. Cench caught it, draped it over his shoulders, and kept rapping without missing a beat. As the final notes hit and pyrotechnics lit up the stage, he raised the flag in the air as the lights went down. It was pure theatre, and the crowd lost their minds.

Later in the set, an escalator descended from the main stage, forming a bridge to a smaller platform in the middle of the crowd. As Central Cee stepped onto it, the audience erupted, with fans screaming from every side as he glided over them. He performed bass-heavy tracks such as ‘Ten’, ‘Straight Back To It’, and ‘GBP’, while parading through the crowd, green cap to the side, pointing out fans, and soaking up every cheer.

For his collab with Ice Spice ‘Did It First’, and ‘Obsessed With You’ which samples PinkPantheress’ ‘Just for me’, the lights shifted to pink, a tribute to the female voices on the tracks which added a playful edge.

A surprise for the Dublin crowd came when he brought out Belfast’s Jordan Adetunji, who performed ‘KEHLANI’ and an unreleased track that had the whole arena singing along after just one chorus.

Central Cee at 3Arena on April 22nd, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

The emotional core of the night came with ‘Gen Z Luv’, performed live via FaceTime with fans at the barricade. It was one of the most heartfelt moments of the night, showcasing just how in tune he is with his audience and the versatility in his discography. Phones lit up for slower tracks like ‘Now We’re Strangers’ and ‘Let Go’, as Central Cee rapped over the emotional instrumentals, his delivery softer but still sharp, letting the vulnerability in the lyrics take the lead.

Later, UK rap’s golden boy reappeared sitting on a throne, draped in a giant diamond chain and rapping ‘CRG’ with composure and power. Ole ole chants rang out from the crowd, and he didn’t miss a beat.

Fan favourites ‘Doja’, ‘UK Rap’ and ‘Sprinter’ arrived in the final stretch, with the latter standing as the most streamed UK rap release of all time. The full crew took over the stage, lounging on the car as a UK flag waved in the background. The crowd rapped every word of these hits at full volume, and the sound engulfed the venue. Central Cee matched the energy, letting fans finish his lines, grinning from ear to ear at the sheer force of the sing-along.

He closed with ‘BAND4BAND’, unleashing one final surge of energy as confetti rained down and the beat shook the room. By the end, the 3Arena felt less like a gig and more like a full-blown rave.

Central Cee doesn't miss.