Mayor Mamdani made more than $1.6K in rapping royalties last year, tax return shows

Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News on Apr 16, 2026

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NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani made $1,643 in royalties from his now-defunct rap career last year, a copy of his tax return shows.

Before he ran for mayor, Mamdani moonlighted as C-list rapper “Mr. Cardamom.” Two years ago, in 2024, he took in $1,267 in royalties related to his music career.

In total, Mamdani reported $144,784 in joint gross income with his wife, Rama Duwaji. Duwaji made just $10,010 of that, for her work as a graphic artist, per the return — though after deductions for expenses, such as $500 for art supplies, she made $8,860.

The bulk of the couple’s income came from the $131,296 Mamdani made as a state assemblymember. They also reported $1,599 in income generated from investments.

The pair got a $7,011 tax refund. They took the standard tax deduction and so did not deduct for any charitable donations, Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the mayor, said.

Mamdani had a career making rap music before he took elected office, with his last song, “Nani,” released around the time he won his Assembly race in 2020 — although a 2025 song entitled “Mamdani” appears on his music profiles online and credits him. It was unclear if the mayor was collecting royalties on that track, released after Mamdani had won the Democratic primary.

As mayor, Mamdani is now making significantly more, raking in an annual salary of $258,750 — more than $100,000 more than he earned in the state Assembly. And he’s living with Duwaji at the mayor’s official residence, Gracie Mansion.

New York City mayors typically release their tax returns as a transparency measure. Ex-Mayor Eric Adams was less forthcoming with his tax information than Mamdani.

City Council Speaker Menin declined to release her returns, saying Thursday that former Speakers Adrienne Adams and Corey Johnson did not do so. That’s not true, however, as Johnson did release returns, as did his predecessor, Melissa Mark-Viverito.

“So I don’t think that there is a precedent to do that,” Menin said at a press availability. “I obviously comply with all of the required financial disclosure requirements.”

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