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International Business Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Zohran Mamdani: Embarrassment for NYC Mayoral Candidate after His Rap Video Is Played During Live Interview [WATCH]
It was quite an embarrassment. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's 2019 rap video unexpectedly gained national attention on Thursday night during a cringe-worthy moment in a live CNN interview that visibly left the New York City mayoral candidate uncomfortable. Mamdani was a guest on Erin Burnett OutFront, where the host kicked off his segment by playing the low-budget hip-hop video he released under the stage name "Mr. Cardamom," putting the 33-year-old progressive politician in an awkward spotlight. The Queens assemblyman winced and shifted uncomfortably as the video was played without his knowledge as he trying to brush off the embarrassing flashback to his short-lived rap career with a very shaky laugh. In Discomfort Zone "Once you do it, it's out there," Burnett said to Mamdani. "It's there. Didn't think it was going to be on CNN," Mamdani said through a wincing smile. Burnett then challenged Mamdani, giving him the chance to respond to the critics who claim he's "not ready yet" to take on the role of New York City mayor. "I would say a campaign offers a glimpse into what an administration would look like, and we built a campaign the likes of which the city has not seen in a long time," Mamdani replied, eliding over Mr. Cardamom's performance entirely. Mamdani's mild political statements on Thursday were a stark contrast to the bold lyrics he once rapped under his stage name — some of which openly supported organizations that backed the terrorist group Hamas. In his 2017 song "Holy Land Five," the Democratic mayoral hopeful praised five people associated with the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. These men, known as the "Holy Land Five," were convicted in 2008 for funneling over $12 million to Hamas. Questionable Past Threat to Political Career "My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look 'em up," Mamdani as Mr. Cardamom sang in a song called "Salam." The five men — Shukri Abu Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader, and Abdulrahman Odeh — were found guilty by the U.S. Justice Department on 108 charges, including providing material support to terrorism, tax evasion, and money laundering. Mamdani, whose rap skills have drawn criticism, got a reality check from none other than New York rapper 50 Cent, who publicly offered the socialist candidate $258,000 to exit the mayoral race and permanently leave New York.
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Cringeworthy moment socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's rap video played during live interview: ‘Didn't think it would be on CNN'
Watch as #NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani watches his past performance as a rapper and responds to critics who say he's not ready to run New York. He speaks one-on-one with @ErinBurnett . "I didn't think it was going to be on CNN." That was not music to his ears. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's 2019 rap video reached a national audience Thursday night — during an incredibly awkward moment on a live CNN interview that left the New York City mayoral hopeful visibly uncomfortable. Mamdani appeared on 'Erin Burnett OutFront' and the eponymous host used the C-grade hip-hop video as an introduction to the 33-year-old lefty pol who performed under the name 'Mr. Cardamom.' Advertisement 4 A shirtless Zohran Mamdani wears an apron during a 2019 rap video. The Queens assemblyman grimaced and flinched as the video began to play — attempting to laugh off the reminder of his blush-inducing attempt at a music career. 'Once you do it, it's out there,' Burnett said to Mamdani. Advertisement 'It's there. Didn't think it was going to be on CNN,' Mamdani said through a wincing smile. Burnett then pressed Mamdani, offering him a chance to respond to critics who suggest he is 'not ready now' to be mayor of the Big Apple. 'I would say a campaign offers a glimpse into what an administration would look like, and we built a campaign the likes of which the city has not seen in a long time,' Mamdani replied, eliding over Mr. Cardamom's performance entirely. 4 Mamdani dances to the song during a portion of the video. Advertisement 4 A group of children stand in the food truck during the rap video. Mamdani's vanilla rhetoric Thursday was a far cry from the spicy bars he would drop under his sobriquet — including some songs which gave outright endorsement of groups who supported the terror group Hamas. In the 2017 track 'Holy Land Five,' the presumptive Democratic mayoral candidate praised five men — known as the 'Holy Land Five' — from the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development who were convicted in 2008 of donating more than $12 million to Hamas. 'My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look 'em up,' Mamdani as Mr. Cardamom sang in a song called 'Salam.' Advertisement 4 The Queens assemblyman grimaced and flinched as the video began to play — attempting to laugh off the reminder of his blush-inducing attempt at a music career. Those five men — Shukri Abu Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh — were convicted by the US Justice Department on 108 counts including supporting terrorism, tax fraud and money laundering. Mamdani and his paltry rapping chops got an ego-check from a real New York rapper — 50 Cent — who offered the Socialist $258,000 to drop out of the race and leave New York for good.
The Hill
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Tennessee Republican calls for Mamdani to be denaturalized, deported
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) suggested New York Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani should be deported and denaturalized ahead of the November election. 'Zohran 'little muhammad' Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York,' Ogles wrote in a Thursday post on X. 'He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings,' he added. The Tennessee lawmaker attached his letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi in the post, urging her to denaturalize Mamdani citing a chapter from the U.S. Code that outlines the revocation of citizenship for individuals who willfully misrepresent or conceal material support for terrorism. 'According to public reports, including a June 21, 2025 New York Post article, Mr. Mamdani expressed open solidarity with individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses prior to becoming a U.S. citizen. Specifically, he rapped: 'Free the Holy Land Five / My guys,'' Ogles wrote in the letter. The Holy Land Foundation is a U.S.-based Muslim charity. Five of its leaders were convicted of funneling money to Hamas in support of Palestine in 2008. 'Publicly praising the Foundation's convicted leadership as 'my guys' raises serious concerns about whether Mr. Mamdani held affiliations or sympathies he failed to disclose during the naturalization process,' Ogles wrote. 'While I understand that some may raise First Amendment concerns about taking legal action based on expressive conduct, such as rap lyrics, speech alone does not preclude accountability where it reasonably suggests underlying conduct relevant to eligibility for naturalization.' Mamdani's campaign team and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. However, the New York City mayoral candidate did speak to the weaponization of antisemitism throughout his campaign and division during his victory speech. 'This has been a historically contentious race. One that has filled our airwaves with millions in smears and slander,' Mamdani told voters. 'I hope, I hope now that this primary has come to an end, I can introduce myself once more. Not as you've seen me in a 30-second ad or in a mailer in your mailbox, but as how I will lead as your mayor,' he added. Mamdani has been subject to car bomb threats in repeated voicemails, on various dates by an unknown individual making threatening anti-Muslim statements, the New York Police Department told The Hill. As a part of his campaign, Mamdani has pledged to increase the city's anti-hate crime program by 800 percent to tackle Islamophobia and antisemitism, amid other concerns, according to CNN. 'I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all. I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you, I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own,' he said during his victory speech. 'I cannot promise that you will always agree with me, but I will never hide from you. If you are hurting, I will try to heal. If you feel misunderstood, I will strive to understand. Your concerns will always be mine, and I will put your hopes before my own.'
