Rapper 50 Cent has thrown down the gauntlet to New York City’s mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, offering him $258,750 and a first-class ticket out of town to protest his socialist policy proposals.
At a Glance
- Rapper and businessman 50 Cent has offered Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani $258,750 to leave New York.
- The offer is a direct protest against Mamdani’s plan to raise taxes by 2% on those earning over $1 million a year.
- The public feud highlights a major clash over the economic future of New York City.
- While 50 Cent opposes his agenda, Mamdani has garnered support from a roster of left-leaning celebrities.
50 Cent’s Challenge to Mamdani
Rapper and entrepreneur 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, has launched a public attack on New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, over his socialist policy proposals. In a widely circulated social media post, the rapper offered Mamdani a personal check for $258,750 and a first-class ticket to leave the city for good.
“Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan. No,” 50 Cent wrote, according to the Western Journal. The specific amount offered is reportedly what the rapper would owe in additional taxes under Mamdani’s plan.
A Socialist Plan for New York
The feud was ignited by Mamdani’s progressive economic platform, which includes creating city-owned grocery stores and, most notably, raising taxes on high earners. “We’re talking about corporations that are making millions of dollars, not in revenue, but in profit,” Mamdani explained in a recent interview. “And the second is taxing the top 1% of New Yorkers. We’re talking about people who make a million dollars a year or more, taxing them just by a flat 2% tax increase.”
This proposal has drawn the ire of business leaders and high-net-worth individuals like 50 Cent, who previously endorsed Donald Trump in 2020 over similar concerns about tax hikes.
A Tale of Two New Yorks
The public clash represents a larger cultural and political battle for the soul of New York City. While 50 Cent’s position reflects the frustration of entrepreneurs and taxpayers who feel targeted by progressive policies, Mamdani’s agenda has found fervent support among a different set of public figures.
According to the Indian Express, Mamdani’s campaign is backed by a roster of left-leaning celebrities, including Emily Ratajkowski, Cynthia Nixon, and Michael Moore. This stark divide highlights the competing visions for the city’s future: one centered on free-market capitalism and the other on socialist-inspired economic redistribution. 50 Cent’s challenge has made him a vocal champion for those who believe the city’s progressive policies are chasing away the very people who generate its wealth.
