Former ‘rapper’ Zohran Mamdani is now a mayoral candidate

Not every New York City mayoral candidate can claim to have rapped about chapati or convinced legendary food critic Madhur Jaffrey to spit bars from a food truck. But Zohran Mamdani can—and that unlikely blend of politics, hip-hop, and heritage is now fueling his rise as the frontrunner in the city’s November mayoral election.

Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani grew up between cultures and identities. Before entering politics, he carved out a niche in music under the names Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom, performing bilingual rap in English and Luganda. He even took the stage at the Nyege Nyege Festival in Uganda in 2016, the same year his mother, acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, released her Disney feature Queen of Katwe. Mamdani contributed to the film’s soundtrack, appearing alongside Lupita Nyong’o and local Ugandan talent in the video for “#1 Spice.”

Though he left music behind to launch his political career—winning a Queens state assembly seat in 2020—hip-hop remains part of his official résumé. In financial disclosures, he still lists “self-employed rapper” and continues to collect modest royalties.

The Hip-Hop Candidate
Mamdani’s rap career wasn’t just a youthful diversion. His lyrics explored identity, migration, and cultural fusion. One track declared:
“I got the same history as chapati, origins of India, but born in UG. Rock brown skin, but I’m Ugandan. I can rap both in English and Luganda.”

His creative collaborations were equally bold. In one viral project, Madhur Jaffrey—playing a streetwise grandmother in a hoodie—rapped, cursed, and danced in a food cart beside him. “I have to make a murder as Lady Macbeth,” she later explained on Good Morning Britain.

From Queens to City Hall
After defeating rivals in the Democratic primary, Mamdani emerged as the leading progressive candidate for mayor. Friends from his Uganda days, like sound producer Magnus Thomson, say his politics haven’t changed. “He didn’t ditch his democratic socialist views—that’s what makes it feel authentic,” Thomson said.

His campaign continues to blur pop culture with policy. A July video featured RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, laughing as Mamdani referenced the group’s iconic “Wu-Tang Financial” sketch and its mantra: “C.R.E.A.M.—Get the money, dollar, dollar bill, y’all.” But the conversation quickly pivoted to policy, with Mamdani highlighting Brownsville, RZA’s Brooklyn neighborhood, as a community that should thrive rather than be abandoned.

Owning His Roots
For those who knew Mamdani as a rapper, the transition to politics feels natural. Derek Debru, co-founder of Nyege Nyege Festival, says the same charisma that lit up the stage now drives his political appeal. “He never shied away from his background,” Debru noted. “That’s what makes him special—he owns who he is.”

Now, as he campaigns to lead the most diverse city in America, Mamdani’s story is resonating: a Ugandan-born, Indian-heritage rapper turned democratic socialist politician, hoping to prove that New York is ready for a mayor who embodies its multicultural pulse.