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International Business Times
2 days 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
2 days 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.
New York Post
21-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani once rapped about his ‘love' for Hamas teror-funding group ‘Holy Land Five'
Socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani once voiced his 'love' for the five leaders of a notorious nonprofit convicted of funneling more than $12 million to the terror group Hamas. The former C-list rapper-turned-far-left-pol praised the heads of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development – known as the 'Holy Land Five'– in a shocking 2017 rap track uncovered by the antisemitism-fighting group Canary Mission, and made public in a one-minute video segment released Friday. 'My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look 'em up,' the Queens assemblyman – who performed under the stage name Mr. Cardamom – says in a song called 'Salaam,' which the Queens assemblyman said is about growing up Muslim in New York. Advertisement NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (in middle) appearing a rap video for his song 'Nani' when he went by 'Mr. Cardamom.' Mr. Cardamom/Youtube The five heads of the now-defunct Texas based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development — Shukri Abu Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh — were all convicted in 2008 by a federal jury of funding Hamas, according to the Canary Mission. 'Mamdani sent his 'love' to convicted Hamas funders,' the Canary Mission video says. 'Let that sink in.' Advertisement The quintet were convicted of supporting terrorism, tax fraud, money laundering and other charges. The sentencing ranged from 15 to 65 years in prison for each. In another part of the track, the Israel-hating Mamdani — who is polling a strong second in nearly all polls heading into Tuesday's Democratic mayoral primary behind only ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo — raps, 'No ban. No wall. Build it up. We'll make it fall.' The antisemitism-fighting group responds in the video saying:' No ban, no wall—that's an open door for criminals and chaos.' 'Zohran Mamdani stands with convicted terrorist funders and wants open borders,' the group adds. Advertisement 'This is New York City — not a sanctuary for terrorists. Zohran Mamdani. Unfit. Un-American. Unthinkable.' Curtis Sliwa, a Republican mayoral candidate, said 'it's alarming that a mayoral candidate has a history of praising Hamas.' 'New Yorkers reject hate and extremism, and they should reject any candidate who refuses to do the same,' he added. Reps for Mamdani's campaign did not return messages Saturday.
