MSNBC’s resident Hip-Hop anchor, Ari Melber, invited New York City Democratic mayoral candiate Zohran Mamdani to The Beat this week. During the dialog, Melber boldly introduced up 50 Cent’s criticism of Mamdani’s tax insurance policies.

“He’s a critic!” Mamdani concurs. “I didn’t even know what my salary would be until I opened up Instagram and saw this thing that was like, ’50 Cent offers Mamdani x-amount of money.’ I was like, ‘That’s a very specific amount of money. Oh my god!’”

With urgent from Melber, Mamdani seems straight on the digital camera and addresses 50 Cent, saying, “I proceed to suppose that having the highest one % on New York City who’re making multiple million {dollars} a yr, having them pay two % extra for an financial agenda that might remodel each New Yorkers’ life, together with their very own, is one thing that’s value whereas.

“The reason I say including their own is when you see a city like ours that is underfunding its city agencies, that is pulling back on the most basic things like library services and trash cans, everybody feels the effects of that. And my job, as somebody who cares deeply about the public sector, is to ensure we are delivering public excellence and that means every dollar we raise, I want to be able to prove to you that every dollar is being well spent.”

He provides, “And even though we have a disagreement, every time I get a death threat, I still listen to ‘Many Men.’” Melber, unsurprisingly, goes on to cite 50 Cent’s 2005 single “Piggy Bank” just like the Hip-Hop aficionado he’s confirmed to be.

“Mamdani and 50 have been beefing over taxes for months, so this was a natural question to cover,” Melber tells AllHipHop. “It seems like they’ve extra widespread floor on music than coverage.

50 Cent’s beef with Mamdani started after Mamdani known as out the rapper during an interview on The Breakfast Club whereas discussing his plan to boost company taxes and impose an additional two % tax on the highest one % of New Yorkers, who make over $1 million a yr.

Anticipating pushback from rich and distinguished figures, Mamdani stated, “I know if 50 Cent is listening, he’s not going to be happy about this. He tends to not like this tax policy, but I want to be very clear this is about $20,000 a year.”

50 Cent responded swiftly and publicly, posting a clip of Mamdani’s feedback on Instagram and providing $258,750 together with a first-class one-way ticket out of New York for Mamdani, writing, “Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan no. I’m telling Trump what he said too!”

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Find the total interview between Melber and Mamdani beneath.

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