Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani, who recently made history by becoming the first Muslim and first Indian-origin mayor of New York, has found himself trending online for an entirely different reason — his past life as a rapper. On Friday, the popular US music magazine Stereogum unearthed a 2017 email Mamdani sent to them, back when he was an aspiring musician trying to break into New York’s underground hip-hop scene.
“Sorry, we missed this, Mr Mayor-Elect,” Stereogum posted on X, attaching a screenshot of Mamdani’s old message. In the email, dated March 27, 2017, Mamdani — who then performed under the stage name Mr Cardamom — reached out to the magazine, requesting coverage for his new song Salaam.
“I am a rapper here in NYC and have just released a new song titled Salaam. It is about what it means to be a Muslim in America today — the fear, and the roots of that fear. It would be a dream if someone at Stereogum would write about this in any way. Do you think that would be possible?” Mamdani wrote at the time.
Though his email went unanswered, Salaam soon gained attention for his unapologetic lyrics about identity, faith, and belonging. The song touched upon post-9/11 Islamophobia in the US and included references that drew both praise and controversy — notably its mention of the Holy Land Five, a group convicted in 2008 for allegedly funding Hamas through charitable donations.
Nearly a decade later, with Mamdani’s rise in politics, his artistic past has re-emerged as a symbol of his outspoken views and creative activism. Before entering public office, Mamdani had been known across parts of Queens and Brooklyn’s hip-hop circuit for witty, socially charged lyrics that fused his South Asian heritage with urban American soundscapes.
Among his early works, Kanda (Chap Chap) — released in 2015 — became a cult favourite for its humorous tribute to Indian street food and the everyday kitchen rituals of the diaspora. The track’s cheeky celebration of the humble roti (flatbread) showcased Mamdani’s ability to blend cultural pride with playful lyricism.
Another of his standout songs, Nani, starred legendary Indian actress and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey, then 86. In the vibrant video, Jaffrey raps and dances beside Mamdani at a New York street food cart, playfully embodying the role of a quintessential South Asian grandmother while embracing the spirit of fusion hip-hop.
Now, as a mayor, Mamdani seems to carry traces of his artistic flair into politics. His victory speech this week ended on an exuberant note when the Bollywood anthem Dhoom Machale from the 2004 film Dhoom played as he exited the stage to cheers at New York City Hall.
While his rap career may have been short-lived, the rediscovery of Mamdani’s music paints a fuller picture of the new mayor — not just as a political trailblazer, but as a creative voice who used art to express cultural identity and challenge social barriers long before stepping into the corridors of power.
