Here’s the Iconic NYC Musician Who Stumped Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani During His ‘Track Star Show’ Music Quiz

New York voters will go to the polls on Tuesday (Nov. 4) to pick a new mayor, and in at least one late-breaking survey, leading contender Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani is on top again when it comes to his knowledge of iconic New York musicians. The democratic nominee who is facing off against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, popped in to the Track Star podcast this week to test his music IQ with host Jack Coyne, and the results were an across-the-board sweep.

Well, except for one legendary Long Island-based songwriter whose music Mamdani was surprisingly unfamiliar with.

Coyne started with a layup, with Mamdani smiling as he instantly identified Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ 2009 classic “Empire State of Mind.” Coyne suggested that his music test was “more important” than running for mayor, with Mamdani joking that despite his double-digit lead at press time, he feared he was “about to lose the race” if he blew the quiz.

He aced the next one as well, singing along to the chorus of the Strokes’ 2001 classic “Someday,” and casually dropping that his pal, band singer Julian Casablancas, is a “great guy,” who, despite working in a “pretty dirty” profession is a “straightforward, sincere, nice” person.

And you know track three was no worry, since it was his own song with HAB, “#1 Spice,” released under his nom de rap “Young Cardamom,” in 2016. If having a candidate who has dropped bars didn’t already make you feel old, the 34-year-old aspiring city leader said he recorded his first verses for an AP Lit class in high school before a friend from his native Uganda hit him up to record the track that he later heard a different politician using to hype his own campaign.

Within seconds, Mamdani blew a kiss to indicate that he knew Coyne was rocking Yonkers MC Jadakiss’ 2001 single “We Gonna Make It,” with the candidate revealing that his dream walk-on music is Ja Rule and Jada’s 2004 anthem “New York.”

He ran the board on the next three, correctly bagging the Beastie Boys’ party starter anthem “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”, grooving to the “incredible” Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” and bobbing his head to Queens’ own Mobb Deep and their 1995 single, “Survival of the Fittest.”

“M-O-B-B-D-E-E-P,” Mamdani chanted.

And then things went off the rails.

As the legendary piano intro to Long Island legend Billy Joel’s 1976 homage to his home, “New York State of Mind,” played over his headphones Mamdani had to get real. “You know, as a politician it’s important to be honest,” he said as Coyne tried to help out by noting that the musician plays piano and is, as we said, from Long Island.

Nothing.

“That’s not on your go-to playlist?,” Coyne asked. “Got to be honest, no,” Mamdani said, hoping that his fellow New Yorker’s won’t ding him for not knowing the track from the artist who holds the record for the most shows by an act at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden at 150.

Mamdani proved his music bona fides last week as well, when he popped up for a surprise cameo on Friday (Oct. 24) at PinkPantheress’ Brooklyn show at the Kings Theater. When the camera cut to him in the audience, he flashed the get out the vote message, “Our Time Has Come Vote Nov 4,” which was scrawled across his hands.

Watch Mamdani on the Track Star show here.