Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York, has sparked controversy with his plan to increase taxes on the city's affluent residents. Rapper 50 Cent criticized Mamdani with a post prepared using artificial intelligence, declaring 'New York is dead.' In response, Mamdani offered a humorous retort: 'Even under threat, I'm still listening to 50 Cent.'
Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Democratic socialist mayor of New York, didn't waste any time in announcing one of the city's most comprehensive tax reforms upon taking office. Under the proposed plan, corporate taxes would see a hike to 11.5%, and an additional 2% tax would be imposed on those with annual incomes exceeding one million dollars. This move has been met with stiff resistance from the business circles and millionaires in Manhattan. However, it has been hailed by many New Yorkers as the 'first step toward economic justice.'
The reform plan has also drawn the ire of famous rapper 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III). The artist expressed his disapproval by sharing an image of a tombstone, artificially generated by AI, on his Instagram account with the caption 'New York City is dead.' Previously, 50 Cent had targeted Mamdani, mocking him with remarks such as, 'Where did this guy come from, who's he friends with?' He also made headlines with his statement, 'I'll give Mamdani $258,750 and buy him a one-way ticket out of New York.'
The new mayor, Mamdani, responded to 50 Cent's criticisms with a touch of humor on MSNBC's 'The Beat with Ari Melber':
'I had no idea what my salary would be until I saw the news on Instagram saying '50 Cent offered this much to Mamdani'. I thought, 'Wow, what a specific amount'.'
Mamdani continued his remarks by referencing 50 Cent's famous song, Many Men:
'We may have differing views on tax policy, but I'm still listening to Many Men when I receive a threat.'
The chorus of the song goes like this: 'Many men wish death upon me, blood in my eye dog and I can't see...'
While explaining the rationale behind his reform plan, Mamdani emphasized social justice:
'An additional 2% tax on the top 1% earning over a million dollars annually could fundamentally transform life in New York. As our resources dwindle, everyone is impacted, from libraries to trash cans.'
These remarks resonated on social media as a 'call for tax equality.'
Addressing the criticism, Mamdani expressed that he took it in stride:
'As a politician, you need to have a thick skin if you're being targeted by wealthy rappers for no apparent reason.'