Zohran Mamdani Is Still Earning Music Royalties From His Rap Career. Here’s How Much

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 16:50 IST

Zohran Mamdani began rapping in high school and later released socially conscious tracks in his 20s, covering themes ranging from Indian flatbread to colonialism.

Zohran Mamdani’s political rise may have been meteoric but his hip-hop earnings remain relatively grounded. Tax filings showed the New York mayor earned $1,643 in music royalties last year, a modest increase from the $1,267 he reported in 2024.

Zohran Mamdani once performed under the names Young Cardamom and Mr Cardamom during a short-lived rap career that has resurfaced as his public profile has grown. Joking about the figures, Zohran Mamdani encouraged New Yorkers to boost his streaming numbers.

Read more: Iran Denies Trump’s Claim On Handing Over Enriched Uranium: ‘No Such Deal’

“If you want to help my bottom line, go to Spotify. A lot of people say they’re listening. They’re not listening." he said.

Zohran Mamdani began rapping in high school and later released socially conscious tracks in his 20s, covering themes ranging from Indian flatbread to colonialism. He has previously described himself as a “C-list rapper," citing indie hip-hop group Das Racist among his early influences.

The filings showed that the bulk of Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 income came from his $131,296 salary as a New York state Assembly member. His wife added $10,010 in earnings from graphic design work, bringing their reported joint income to about $145,000.

Read more: US Troops Going Hungry? Poor Quality Meals Aboard Warships In Iran Blockade Spark Alarm

As mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani is set to earn an annual salary of $258,750 this year. He is not the first New York mayor to receive entertainment-related income while in office. Former mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2012 tax filings showed he earned between $2,000 and $10,000 in residuals from appearances as himself in the Law & Order franchise, the TV special A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa, and the 2011 film The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon.

News world Zohran Mamdani Is Still Earning Music Royalties From His Rap Career. Here’s How Much

Read More