Rappers’ NYC delight

IT’S the “Empire State of Mind” collaboration New Yorkers didn’t see coming. Hip-hop icons Jay-Z, Nas and Diddy are lending their voices to city politics for the first time — endorsing Ray McGuire for New York City mayor. The rappers appeared on a Zoom call with McGuire, Angie Martinez and Steve Stoute to discuss their mayoral candidate’s “inclusive comeback” plan for the city. “When New York was the most vibrant, it was because it was a destination for people to come there and create,” Jay-Z said. The Roc Nation mogul revealed that he reached out to McGuire to run a fund he was planning to start for black and brown people. “He told me about his plans for running for mayor. I was like, ‘Man, there goes that!’ I understood where he was coming from,” the rapper said. Queens native Nas stressed how broken the city is, and said he’s endorsing McGuire because “everything he’s saying is what I want to hear.” Meanwhile, we’re told Diddy’s role in the campaign goes beyond just endorsing McGuire. “Puffy is going to be an integral part in how we reach voters. He knows the communities Ray needs to reach and he’s an integral part in driving that. Only Puffy can make a mayoral campaign sexy,” a campaign insider told us. We wouldn’t be surprised if the candidate’s Spotify playlist now includes Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind” and “If I Ruled the World,” Jay’s “Run This Town” and Diddy’s “It’s All About the Benjamins.” But if he does have “99 Problems,” celebrity endorsements certainly ain’t one: McGuire already has the support of Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Donna Karan, LL Cool J, Spike Lee and Steve Martin.