Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B has taken on a civic role by collaborating with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to promote a new initiative aimed at expanding access to free childcare for families. The Bronx-born artist appeared alongside the 34-year-old mayor in a YouTube video released on Friday, April 3, where they unveiled a citywide jingle competition. This contest is designed to encourage parents to enroll their children in New York City’s upcoming 2-K program.
The 2-K initiative, scheduled to launch this fall, will offer 2,000 free childcare spots for children aged 2 through kindergarten. During the announcement, Cardi B commended Mamdani’s leadership, humorously noting his youth. “Can you believe that we got a 34-year-old mayor? I feel like I’m a kid and you’re like, running New York,” she remarked to the mayor.
In response, Mamdani asked Cardi B for her perspective on free childcare, prompting her to share a candid reflection. “Sometimes us women, we can’t really go forward because we don’t have nobody to help us take care of our kids,” she said, emphasizing the critical importance of childcare access. The rapper, who is a mother of four, added, “Oh I would judge it for sure… I’m gonna judge, and he’s gonna give ‘cause he’s the one with the funds.”
Cardi B has frequently spoken about the difficulties of balancing her career with family responsibilities, making her involvement in this campaign particularly meaningful. Meanwhile, the mayor’s initiative aims to ease these challenges for many families by providing accessible childcare options through the 2-K program.
