The celebrated hip-hop artist, N.O.R.E., born Victor James Santiago Jr., candidly expressed his fondness for NYC Mayor Eric Adams following Adams’ intervention on the Flagrant podcast by Andrew Schulz, which aired on April 2, 2025. Displaying a section from the talk between Adams and Schulz concerning the essence of New York, Santiago Jr., fondly as N.O.R.E., shared, “Best mayor in New York ever I love @ericadamsfornyc.” Schulz’s exchange with Adams ventured into different aspects of New York, including a playful query about the borough endowed with the most beautiful women. Adams diplomatically affirmed each borough had its distinctive allure.
The dialogue meandered totouch upon Queens, labelled by Schulz as the preeminent location for strip clubs. Mayor Adams remarked on the potential of New York to accommodate a round-the-clock club analogous to Miami’s E11EVEN, hinting at prospective endeavors to bring such a venue to the metropolis. The city leader also unveiled his aspirations to contest in the upcoming elections.
Adams articulated his vision of prioritizing the inhabitants of New York over political inclinations and partisan affiliations. Throughout his discussion with Schulz, he shared insights into his daily regimen, revealing his habit of beginning the day with prayer. He touched on his childhood struggle with dyslexia that made reading a challenge for him.
Adams recounted the jest and mockery of his peers, who would mimic his unique reading style. Yet, it was only in college that Adams discovered he had dyslexia. This realization occurred when he overheard a documentary on dyslexia and recognized that it portrayed his academic struggle precisely. This discovery led him to understand that he wasn’t lacking in intelligence, but his learning methods were simply different from others. Consequently, his grades soared dramatically improving from D’s to A’s.
Amidst their discourse, Andrew Schulz differentiated between reality and sentiment, underscoring that one should not overlook people’s apprehensions, especially concerning safety in the subway, even if such fears might be predominantly founded on perception rather than objective facts. In response, Adams concurred, recalling how he made a similar assertion back in 2022, yet faced censure.
Adams believes perceptions do hold significance. Drawing from his experience as an ex-transit cop, he acknowledged the potentially unnerving feelings of subway commuters, who might feel insecure despite the reduction in crime rates, especially when they’re surrounded by disturbing news headlines or disconcerting instances on the trains. Consequently, Adams increased police visibility in the subway network to quell public anxiety and create a sense of safety.
He also recognized that even if crime statistics showed a downward trend, it’s not sufficient until commuters feel secure. Adams also touched upon the issue of immigration, explaining that New York City had recently witnessed a surge in migrants, especially from places like Texas.
According to him, the root problem stems from insecure borders that permit a diverse group of individuals, not all of whom are necessarily law-abiding, to enter the US. To comprehend the situation further, Adams made visits to countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico, and even made a risky journey through the Darién Gap to understand why so many individuals were willing to undertake such a perilous voyage.
Adams endeavoured to convey to these nations that New York City might not be the paradise of ease and luxury that many immigrants envision. But as per Adams, he is constrained by legal limitations in terms of controlling the influx of migrants via buses or allowing them to take up employment.
Federal regulations limit his jurisdiction, and city laws mandate provision of basic necessities such as food and shelter to all incoming individuals. His account reflects his commitment to addressing the prevailing problems in the city while ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.