{"id":184869,"date":"2026-04-03T21:24:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T21:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/184869\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T21:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T21:24:46","slug":"cardi-b-to-judge-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdanis-free-childcare-song-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/184869\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardi B to Judge NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Free Childcare Song Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tFrom growing up in the New York City public school program to raising young kids of her own, Cardi B <\/a>has a lot of reasons to back Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s 2-K initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd on Friday (April 3), the mayor and the rapper partnered to launch a citywide contest as Mamdani searches for the perfect jingle to encourage families to apply for the 2-K program. The duo is seeking submissions for 15- and 30-second original tunes \u2014 which Cardi will help in selecting the finalists \u2014 before New Yorkers get the chance to vote on which song will win.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a video that arrived with the announcement, the mayor meets up with the Bronx rapper, who exclaims upon meeting the politician, \u201cCan you believe that?! We have a 34-year-old mayor! I feel like I\u2019m a kid, and you\u2019re, like, running New York!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMamdani then gets right to business. \u201cCardi,\u201d he begins in the clip. \u201cWhat do you think of free childcare?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Grammy-winning artist \u2014 who is a mom of four little ones \u2014 responds truthfully. \u201cI feel like free childcare is very important,\u201d she shares. \u201cSometimes us women we can\u2019t really go forward because we don\u2019t have nobody to help us take care of our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe mayor then makes his pitch. \u201cThis fall we\u2019re starting to deliver universal 2-K, which is just like pre-K, just like 3-K, but 2-K for 2-year-olds. Free childcare, 2,000 seats in the fall, and there\u2019s gonna be seats in the Bronx starting it up,\u201d he explains. \u201cEnrollment actually starts in June, and we had a question for you: We\u2019re going to have a competition to create a jingle, so New Yorkers are going to submit their best jingle, and we wanted to know if you would help judge that competition!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tCardi gives an enthusiastic yes before adding, \u201cThe mayor\u2019s going to help you! And I\u2019m gonna judge, and he\u2019s going to give because he\u2019s the one with the funds!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWatch the pair\u2019s announcement video above.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAs Cardi B says: \u2018I can get \u2019em both. I don\u2019t wanna choose,’\u201d Mayor Mamdani said in a statement, quoting the rapper\u2019s \u201cBodak Yellow,\u201d which was a Billboard Hot 100<\/a> No. 1 for three weeks in 2017. \u201cWith universal child care, New Yorkers won\u2019t have to. For too long, families have been forced to choose between affordable care and staying in the city they love. Now, they can have both \u2014 free care in the greatest city in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSubmissions for the jingle contest can be made via New York City\u2019s website<\/a>, where the rules and guidelines can also be found. Song submissions must be received by April 17; the winning jingle will become the official theme for the program, and will be played on the radio. Entrants are encouraged to share their original tunes online with the hashtag #NYC2KJingle and tag @nycmayor.<\/p>\n

\n\tMamdani first announced plans for the 2-K program in the second week of his mayoral term with the intent of providing free childcare for NYC families with 2-year-olds at home, regardless of financial or immigration status. This fall, the first 2,000 seats of the flagship program will roll out across four districts: Fordham (Bronx), Washington Heights (Manhattan), Southeast Queens and Canarsie (Brooklyn). Enrollment begins June 2 and closes June 26.<\/p>\n

\n\tCardi\u2019s work with the Big Apple\u2019s most progressive mayor yet comes after years of the Bronx native speaking out about politics and backing the Democratic party. She\u2019s also known for showing love in different ways to her home city. For instance, Cardi recorded a series <\/a>of subway safety and etiquette PSAs for the MTA in September.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Grammy winner also knows as well as any mom of young children how difficult parenting 2-year-olds can be. So far, two of Cardi\u2019s kids have gone through the proverbial \u201cterrible 2s,\u201d as she shares 7-year-old Kulture, 4-year-old Wave and 1-year-old Blossom with estranged husband Offset. She\u2019s also Mom to a 4-month-old son with ex Stefon Diggs.<\/p>\n


\"Billboard
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