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NYC's new Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers savage reply to 50 Cent amid surprise feud with rapper
Zohran Mamdani, New York City's newly confirmed mayor, has already found himself in a public clash with a prominent figure, rapper 50 Cent. Though it’s not the kind of feud most would expect, the back-and-forth between the two has become one of the most talked-about moments in the early days of his political career.
At 34, Mamdani is set to become the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, marking a historic step in the city’s political landscape. Along with his progressive stance, which includes raising corporate taxes and introducing a new tax for high earners, Mamdani has stirred up controversy.
His tax plans aim to address the city's economic inequality, especially targeting the top 1% of earners. Unsurprisingly, this has attracted strong criticism from wealthy New Yorkers, including 50 Cent, who seems to have taken issue with the proposed changes.
50 Cent's online comments spark an unexpected response
On social media, 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III) mocked the new mayor, even offering to pay Mamdani a substantial sum to leave New York City. The rapper posted an AI-generated image of a gravestone with a caption implying that New York City was "dead."
This was followed by a direct statement, “Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan. No. I will give him $258,750 and a first class one-way ticket away from NY."
Mamdani, unfazed by the rapper’s taunts, responded during an interview with The Beat with Ari Melber, saying, “He’s a critic! I didn’t even know what my salary would be until I opened up Instagram and saw this thing that was like, '50 Cent offers Mamdani x-amount of money'. I was like, 'That’s a very specific amount of money. Oh my God!'”
Mamdani even joked about the situation, saying, “Even though we have a disagreement on tax policy, every time I get a death threat, I still listen to 'Many Men.'"
Mamdani doubles down on tax policy in response to critics
While the back-and-forth with 50 Cent has been getting attention, Mamdani remains firm in his economic policies.
He explained the reasoning behind the tax increase, stating, “I continue to think that having the top one percent on New York City who are making more than one million dollars a year, having them pay two percent more for an economic agenda that would transform every New Yorkers’ life, including their own, is something that is worthwhile.”
He added, “The reason I say including their own is when you see a city like ours that is underfunding its city agencies, that is pulling back on the most basic things like library services and trash cans, everybody feels the effects of that.”
Mamdani's stance on taxes and wealth distribution is sure to continue attracting debate as he prepares for his swearing-in ceremony on January 1, 2026.
Despite the early controversies and the challenges ahead, it’s clear that the new mayor is ready to stand his ground and fight for the policies he believes will help reshape New York for the better.