New York City just did something pretty wild. On January 1, 2026, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th Mayor of New York. He’s the first Muslim and South Asian to hold the office. But honestly? That’s not even why his name is blowing up on TikTok and Reddit right now. Everyone is hunting down the Zohran Mamdani music video archives.
Before he was the "Mayor for Renters," he was a "C-list rapper" (his words, not mine) named Mr. Cardamom.
Imagine tuning into CNN for a serious political interview and suddenly seeing the guy you might vote for wearing an apron, rapping about his grandmother. That actually happened to him on Erin Burnett OutFront. It was awkward. It was hilarious. And it might be the most "New York" thing a politician has ever done.
The Viral Reality of the Mr. Cardamom Era
If you haven't seen the Zohran Mamdani music video for the track "Nani," you’re missing out on a piece of local history. Released in 2019, it stars Madhur Jaffrey. Yeah, the Madhur Jaffrey—the legendary food writer and actress. She plays a grandmother who basically goes from being a tired kitchen worker to the absolute boss of Astoria.
She flips off the camera. She slaps guys who don’t show respect. It’s glorious.
The video wasn't just some hobby project. It was shot right on the Astoria Boulevard subway platform. It feels gritty and real because it is. Mamdani has actually talked about how those videos were his first real experience with "canvassing." When you’re an indie rapper, you have to convince people to care about your art. When you’re a socialist politician, you’re doing the same thing with policy.
Why "#1 Spice" Is Actually a Disney Hit
Long before the solo Mr. Cardamom stuff, he went by Young Cardamom. He teamed up with his best friend, a Ugandan emcee named HAB. Together, they actually landed a song in a Disney movie.
- They wrote and performed "#1 Spice."
- It was featured in Queen of Katwe (2016).
- The video features Lupita Nyong’o.
- His mom, the famous director Mira Nair, directed it.
The song is catchy as hell. It’s a mix of Luganda, Swahili, and English. It’s basically an ode to food seasoning, but it’s really about identity. Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to the U.S. when he was seven. You can hear that "global-citizen-living-in-Queens" energy in every bar he drops.
Can a Rapper Actually Run a City?
People love to call these videos "cringe." The New York Post had a field day with them. But there’s a nuance here that folks are missing. Mamdani speaks six languages. English, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Punjabi, and Luganda. His music wasn't just for fun; it was a way to communicate across the massive cultural divides in New York.
During his campaign, he didn't run away from the music. He leaned into it. He walked out to Ja Rule’s "New York" on election night. 50 Cent even roasted him on Instagram for it (and then deleted the post, because classic 50).
His inaugural ceremony was basically a concert. He had Babbulicious—the Punjabi Canadian rapper—perform a remixed version of "Gaddi Red Challenger." Some critics tried to frame it as some kind of "takeover," but New Yorkers mostly just thought the beat was fire.
The Hidden Meaning in the Lyrics
If you listen closely to a Zohran Mamdani music video, you’ll notice he’s not rapping about jewelry or cars. In "Nani," he’s talking about the South Asian diaspora. He’s talking about the struggle of being "fully" anything when you've lived in three different countries.
It’s "thug life" but for the working class.
His middle name is Kwame, named after Kwame Nkrumah, the man who led Ghana to independence. That revolutionary spirit is all over his tracks. He uses humor to make "palatable" the ideas that usually sound boring in a stump speech. It’s a strategy. It’s art. And now, it’s the vibe of the Mayor’s office.
What to Watch First
If you’re just starting your deep dive into the Mamdani cinematic universe, start with "Nani." It’s the most polished. Then go back to "Kanda (Chap Chap)" or "Wabula Naawe" from his time with HAB. You’ll see a guy who wasn't afraid to look silly if it meant telling a real story about his neighborhood.
The transition from the recording booth to City Hall isn't as weird as it sounds. Both require a microphone and a message.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Watch the "Nani" music video on YouTube to see Madhur Jaffrey’s iconic performance.
- Check out the "Queen of Katwe" soundtrack to hear the Young Cardamom era in high definition.
- Search for his inaugural speech from January 1, 2026, to see how he bridges the gap between hip-hop culture and New York policy.
