From rap verses to policy proposals, NYC’s wildest crossover
Before he was a Democratic Socialist shaking up New York’s mayoral race, Zohran Kwame Mamdani was Mr. Cardamom, a self-proclaimed “B-list rapper” with a cult following.
Now, as his political star rises, his old tracks, like the viral Nani, a cheeky ode to his grandmother featuring actress Madhur Jaffrey, are resurfacing, blending humour and cultural pride.
Mamdani’s rap career began in high school and peaked with Sidda Mukyaalo, a multilingual EP tackling postcolonial identity and inequality.
Though he jokes about his “C-class rapper” past, his music foreshadowed his political ethos: playful yet pointed.
Tracks like Askari critiqued systemic racism, while #1 Spice, made for his mother Mira Nair’s film Queen of Katwe, showcased his diasporic roots.
Now, as he polls neck-and-neck with Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani’s mic skills are an asset, whether rhyming or debating.
