Rap mogul 50 Cent is taking a stand and casting shade on Instagram against a millionaire tax plan proposed by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. And yes, that does involve a threat to snitch Donald Trump.
It began with Mamdani's appearance on The Breakfast Club this week, in which the democratic socialist, who is also the newly elected New York State Assemblymember, outlined his vision for a more progressive and equitable city. A key piece of his plan is imposing new corporate profits taxes and a 2% income tax increase on the city's top earners, which includes people who earn above $1 million a year.
But Mamdani didn't just share his policy; he also name-checked.
"And I know if 50 Cent's listening, he isn't going to be happy with this," Mamdani added in a mid-pitch. "He usually doesn't like this tax policy."
Well, 50 heard it loud and clear and wasn't going to let a comment like that fall by the wayside. Adding a clip of the interview to Instagram, 50 shot back in classic trolling form:
"Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I'm not feeling this plan, no. I'll pay him $258,750 and a one-way first-class ticket out of NY. I'm telling Trump what he said, too!"
While a few fans rooted 50 on (he's a vocal anti-tax kind of guy), the comments section turned into a battle. Many supporters came to Mamdani's defense, noting that his policies are meant to make life easier for working-class and low-income New Yorkers, not rap millionaires.
"I got to be broke 'cause it's all I hear him help out is the middle-lower class," one user said. Frankly, it was a motherf***ing tackle, but I didn't complain or tape it. Shoot over the top, a good six, a good-ass mix CD, hit the button. Praise the Lord, I had some soul. At 50, you haven't done anything for NYC. Not mad at someone who did."
And then there was the most blunt response: "He's fighting for all you broke n* in the chat. Do your research on him."
Mamdani, 33, made news earlier this week when he ousted the former Governor Andrew Cuomo as a longtime, incumbent Member of the Assembly, and who is building a campaign around a platform of free public transit, universal childcare, a $40 minimum wage, and rent freezes in public housing, which he would pay for by taxing the city's most prosperous.
With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Mamdani had 44% of the vote, while Cuomo had 36%. If Mamdani is elected on General Election Day, November 5, he will be the first Muslim and Indian-American mayor in NYC.
As for 50, it remains to be seen whether he will make good on his threat to fund Mamdani's one-way ticket out of the Big Apple or to place that call to Trump. NYC politics have become a lot more interesting and entertaining.
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