New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration speech was a cultural smorgasbord of references that left many scratching their heads. The young mayor peppered his address with everything from Jadakiss and the Knicks to Mandy Patinkin and Babbulicious, cementing his reputation as a master wordsmith who's quick on the draw.
But it's not just policy speeches where Mamdani is dropping cultural references - he's doing it in interviews, online posts, and even at city events. Whether it's referencing Scorsese or Spiderman, Spike Lee or Cardi B, Zabar's or Supreme, Mamdani is making a point to stay relevant and connected to New Yorkers.
One notable example of this trend was when the mayor announced his plans for universal child care in a Manhattan preschool, joined by popular children's entertainer Ms. Rachel. While the war in Gaza wasn't discussed at the time, Ms. Rachel's presence echoed Mamdani's support for Palestinians and marked another cultural reference that had clear ties to his personal brand.
Indie musician Lucy Dacus also made headlines after the mayor plugged her song "Bread and Roses" in a press conference, highlighting his commitment to tackling "junk fees" charged by ticketing agencies. A week later, Mamdani subtly referenced Swifties when he spoke about Taylor Swift tickets, drawing parallels between the frustration of high fees and the plight of indie rock fans.
But not all references are met with enthusiasm. During a speech at a Manhattan site where plans for road redesign were being discussed, Mamdani quoted notorious NYC planner Robert Moses to make his point about tearing down "viciously carved up" neighborhoods. While this move was seen as an attempt to show support for the plan, it also drew boos from the crowd, suggesting that some may not see the mayor's nod to Moses in a positive light.
As Mayor Mamdani continues to shape New York City, his cultural references will be worth watching. Will he keep referencing Jadakiss and Scorsese with equal ease? Only time will tell - but one thing is for sure: this young mayor is no stranger to using pop culture as policy.
But it's not just policy speeches where Mamdani is dropping cultural references - he's doing it in interviews, online posts, and even at city events. Whether it's referencing Scorsese or Spiderman, Spike Lee or Cardi B, Zabar's or Supreme, Mamdani is making a point to stay relevant and connected to New Yorkers.
One notable example of this trend was when the mayor announced his plans for universal child care in a Manhattan preschool, joined by popular children's entertainer Ms. Rachel. While the war in Gaza wasn't discussed at the time, Ms. Rachel's presence echoed Mamdani's support for Palestinians and marked another cultural reference that had clear ties to his personal brand.
Indie musician Lucy Dacus also made headlines after the mayor plugged her song "Bread and Roses" in a press conference, highlighting his commitment to tackling "junk fees" charged by ticketing agencies. A week later, Mamdani subtly referenced Swifties when he spoke about Taylor Swift tickets, drawing parallels between the frustration of high fees and the plight of indie rock fans.
But not all references are met with enthusiasm. During a speech at a Manhattan site where plans for road redesign were being discussed, Mamdani quoted notorious NYC planner Robert Moses to make his point about tearing down "viciously carved up" neighborhoods. While this move was seen as an attempt to show support for the plan, it also drew boos from the crowd, suggesting that some may not see the mayor's nod to Moses in a positive light.
As Mayor Mamdani continues to shape New York City, his cultural references will be worth watching. Will he keep referencing Jadakiss and Scorsese with equal ease? Only time will tell - but one thing is for sure: this young mayor is no stranger to using pop culture as policy.
Mamdani's got a weird vibe goin on, you feel? He's all about throwin' in these random references like they're gonna make him sound cooler or somethin'. Newsflash, Zohran: just 'cause you know who Jadakiss is don't mean the whole city's gonna be on the same page. I get it, tryin to connect with the people, but do you gotta go so deep? Sometimes less is more, you know? 
. It's like he's trying to make New York City the coolest place on earth! I mean, who else can mention Jadakiss and Scorsese in the same breath? 
But for real, it's cool that he's staying connected with his constituents by using cultural references that are relevant to us young folks. The thing is, not everyone might be feeling the love for all these nods to Moses 
... I guess you just gotta love the mayor's style or hate it 
"
. It feels like he's trying too hard to fit into the NYC hipster crowd and it's just coming across as insincere. And what's with all these random references to Scorsese and Cardi B out of nowhere? Is he really that desperate for validation? 
He's like, totally vibing with the youth and using pop culture to connect with N.YC on a deeper level 
Like, who else would drop Jadakiss and Scorsese in an inauguration speech? 
But what's even more impressive is how he's making it work for his policy agenda - from universal childcare to tackling junk fees, he's got the cultural references game on lock 
. Of course, not everyone will appreciate some of these nods (looking at you, Robert Moses 
), but I think that's the beauty of it - he's pushing boundaries and keeping the conversation fresh 
. if u can't handle a lil Jadakiss drop or a Scorsese reference, maybe ur not part of this city anymore 
. and btw, Ms. Rachel is a queen 
. can't wait to see what other references come next 
