Newly-elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani a democratic socialist has exchanged high-profile barbs with rapper and mogul 50 Cent over his controversial plan to raise taxes on the citys wealthiest residents Mamdanis witty retort which included a rap lyric marked a dynamic start to his historic term .
A Mayor of Firsts and a Policy of Change
In a stunning political upset Zohran Mamdani made history by being elected as the new Mayor of New York City The 34-year-old democratic socialist from Queens secured a decisive victory becoming the citys first Muslim first South Asian and youngest mayor in over a century His win signaled a clear ideological shift propelled by a platform focused squarely on making the Big Apple affordable again for the working class and everyday New Yorkers .
Mamdanis agenda is ambitious and for some radical fare-free public buses universal public childcare city-owned grocery stores to combat rising food costs and a significant expansion of affordable housing To fund these sweeping initiatives his campaign explicitly proposed a tax increase on the citys wealthiest residents and corporations—a plan that has immediately placed him in the crosshairs of the citys financial elite .
The Moguls Warning 50 Cent Enters the Fray
One of the most vocal and unexpected critics of Mayor Mamdanis tax plan is Curtis Jackson III better known as the rapper and business mogul 50 Cent The Queens native whose financial success positions him directly among the citys top earners publicly expressed his strong disapproval of the proposed wealth tax .
The feud first ignited during Mamdanis campaign when the then-candidate discussed his tax policy—specifically a flat two percent tax increase for New Yorkers making over a million dollars a year The proposal was designed to generate funds for essential public services which Mamdani argues are currently underfunded leading to a decline in the overall quality of life even for the wealthy .
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In a highly-publicized social media post 50 Cent offered to pay Mamdani a substantial sum—specifically $258750—along with a first-class one-way ticket away from NYC The message was clear the tax plan in the rappers opinion would drive big money and success out of the city He doubled down on his criticism following Mamdanis victory posting a grim AI-generated image of a gravestone with the inscription RIP NYC suggesting that the new mayors administration would spell the end of the city as he knows it .
Mamdanis “Brutal” and Witty Response
Instead of a measured political rebuttal Mayor Mamdani chose to meet the rappers pop-culture critique with a retort of equal cultural currency which was quickly dubbed a brutal response by media outlets .
Appearing on a national news program Mamdani was asked directly about the rappers offer to pay him to leave The Mayor-elect acknowledged the specificity of the amount and then pivoted to defend his policy .
Hes a critic Mamdani stated addressing 50 Cents financial offer I didnt even know what my salary as mayor 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 Thats a very specific amount of money Oh my God .
The core of his argument remained firmly rooted in his socialist principles having the top one percent pay two percent more is worthwhile because the revenue would fund an economic agenda that would transform every New Yorkers life including their own He reasoned that a city that is underfunding agencies like libraries and sanitation is a city where everybody feels the knock-on effects The money raised he promised would be used to deliver public excellence .
The most memorable part of the response however was his closing joke referencing one of the rappers most famous tracks .
And I do have to say even though we have a disagreement on tax policy every time I get a death threat I still listen to Many Men Mamdani quipped referring to 50 Cents song Many Men Wish Death—a track about surviving violence and overcoming enemies .
The light-hearted yet pointed use of a 50 Cent lyric to address a serious political and financial disagreement instantly went viral It served as a masterclass in modern political communication acknowledging the criticism while demonstrating a cultural fluency that resonates with his younger progressive base It reframed the critique from an attack on his character to a simple disagreement on policy all while turning the tables with a witty viral-ready one-liner .
A Clash of Ideologies The Road Ahead
The unexpected feud between a democratic socialist mayor and a hip-hop capitalist mogul highlights the central ideological tension in New York City politics Mamdanis victory represents a shift that prioritizes affordability and wealth redistribution which directly clashes with the interests of the citys established financial class .
While 50 Cent insists the new taxes will scare away wealth Mamdanis administration is committed to proving that strategic investment in public services will ultimately benefit everyone This public exchange serves as an early sign that the new Mayor is prepared to defend his revolutionary platform with both policy and cultural savvy against powerful critics .
The new administration is set to face substantial headwinds not only from local figures like 50 Cent but also from national-level opposition including President Donald Trump who also publicly criticized Mamdani and threatened to withhold federal funding This feud with 50 Cent is merely the first high-profile battle in what promises to be a challenging yet transformative tenure for New York Citys newest mayor .
Disclaimer:
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources regarding the political election of Zohran Mamdani and his documented public disagreement with 50 Cent over his proposed tax policies Readers should cross-check updates from official news outlets .