Latest news with #Mr.Cardamom
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Awkward moment: Zohran Mamdani caught off guard as interviewer plays his 2019 rap in apron on live TV
Zohran Mamdani, while appearing on Erin Burnett OutFront, was caught off guard after the interviewer decided to play his old rap video from 2019 during the live interview on CNN. Zohran Mamdani tried to keep a straight face as an interviewer played his 2019 rap video, 'Nani.'. (Screengrab) Burnett, during her conversation with Mamdani, suddenly played a portion of the assemblyman's rap music video, 'Nani.' He had shared the video in 2019 on YouTube under the name Mr. Cardamom. In the throwback clip, Mamdani is featured alongside his friends and Indian-born British-American actress Madhur Jaffrey. Throughout the video, they dance at various places, including a food truck. At one point, Mamdani is seen rapping while wearing an apron without anything underneath. What does the interview show? During the interview, Burnett starts playing videos from Mamdani's recent campaigns, including one in which he talks about his place of birth and how he got his middle name. As the interview continues, a snippet from his appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast appears on the screen. What follows is Burnett introducing the politician's creative side and playing a portion of the rap video. As the rap continues, Mamdani, clearly caught off guard, tries to maintain his composure. However, eventually, he gives in and starts laughing. 'I didn't think it was going to be on CNN,' he says. The video is posted on the official X profile of the talk show with a caption that reads, '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.' In 2017, Mamdani released a song titled Salam. In his music video, he praised five men, 'Holy Land Five'. Also Read: Philadelphia CEO questions Zohran Mamdani's goals, asks 'Who is paying for all of this?' However, they were later convicted of donating over $12 million to Hamas. The group was also found guilty of tax fraud and money laundering, in addition to supporting terrorism.
![Zohran Mamdani: Embarrassment for NYC Mayoral Candidate after His Rap Video Is Played During Live Interview [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.ibtimes.sg%2Fen%2Ffull%2F82218%2Fzohran-mamdani.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![Zohran Mamdani: Embarrassment for NYC Mayoral Candidate after His Rap Video Is Played During Live Interview [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fibtimes.sg.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Zohran Mamdani used pop culture to make politics personal for South Asians in New York
When Zohran Mamdani launched his campaign for mayor of New York City, he didn't just knock on doors or shake hands at community centers — he spoke directly to the city's massive South Asian population through a language they understood deeply: Bollywood. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 33-year-old democratic socialist, now poised to become the Democratic nominee after defeating political heavyweight Andrew Cuomo in a surprise primary upset, used film dialogues, iconic songs, and multilingual videos to connect with immigrant voters who rarely hear their cultures reflected in American politics. And it worked — spectacularly. Credit: Instagram/ Zohran Mamdani Politics meets pop culture Almost 3 weeks ago, Mamdani posted a video on his social media account where he could be heard appealing to the voters to vote for him in this election. This was not your average promotional video, it was filled with Bollywood pop culture and desi moments. While the video starts with a close up of Mamdani explaining how there is less than 20 days left to the elections- however soon he turns to bollywood reference to put his case forward. The video bursts with iconic moments from classic and modern Bollywood films. There's Deewar, with Amitabh Bachchan's unforgettable 'Aaj mere paas buildingein hain…' line — followed by Mamdani responding, arms wide like Shah Rukh Khan, 'aap'.There's Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, and there's even Apna Time Aayega, cheekily flipped into "Aapka Time Aagaya." But this isn't just nostalgia bait — it's smart politics. Mamdani used these references to explain real policy and voter strategy. He walked viewers through New York's ranked-choice voting system using none other than mango lassi as props — five cups, one for each ranking. It was quirky, charming, and instantly shareable. The language? A fluent blend of Hindi and Urdu. Deep roots, real connections Mamdani's outreach wasn't just performative — it was personal. Born in Uganda and raised in New York City from age seven, he's no stranger to blending cultures. His mother, filmmaker , made some of the most loved South Asian diaspora films — Monsoon Wedding, Mississippi Masala, The Namesake — but Mamdani carved his own path. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Before politics, he released music under the name Mr. Cardamom (and previously Young Cardamom), including the single Nani in 2019 featuring cookbook legend Madhur Jaffrey as his grandmother. But by 2015, he was already on the ground organizing, starting out as a campaign volunteer, joining the Democratic Socialists of America in 2017, and working behind the scenes for years. Bollywood as strategy, not sideshow With over 600,000 South Asian Americans living in New York — the second-largest South Asian population in the U.S. — Mamdani's Bollywood strategy was more than clever. It was essential. In neighborhoods like Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Kensington, and Curry Hill, where Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla, and Urdu are spoken at home, Mamdani's videos made voting feel less like a civic duty and more like a cultural moment.
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.
