Former Rapper Turned Mayor Zohran Mamdani Names His Top 5 Rappers

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani may have abandoned his rap career for politics, but the people haven’t forgotten about his love for hip-hop. Educator Jose Vilson recently ended an interview about childhood education by challenging Mamdani to name his Top 5 rappers, dead or alive.

Mamdani started with the commonly named Notorious B.IG., JAY-Z, and his former Queens constituent Nas. Rounding out the list with Chicago veterans Lupe Fiasco and Common, the mayor hinted that his taste in hip-hop may have solidified by the mid-to-late 2000s.

Notably, the mayor didn’t name Dipset, likely to avoid revisiting the right-wing controversy over his love of the New York staple “Dipset Anthem.”

Before entering City Hall, Mamdani performed under the names Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom, often using music to celebrate his Indian and Ugandan heritage. After teaming up with fellow Ugandan HAB to rap in a mix of Nubi, Luganda, Swahili, and English, they released an EP in 2016 titled Sidda Mukyaalo. Stream it below.

While Mamdani once submitted his songs to music blogs in hopes of a big break, the majority of New Yorkers are likely grateful his short-lived career didn’t pan out.