A viral song celebrating New York’s diversity and the Knicks’ run to the NBA Finals has taken over social media, turning a 23-year-old fan into an unlikely online figure at the heart of the city’s basketball fever.The New York Knicks went 4-1 in the NBA Finals, winning their first championship since the 1970s. As excitement builds throughout the city, the streets in Manhattan become filled with blue and orange.Amid the basketball buzz, a short song posted online has become a cultural talking point that extends beyond the sport itself.“My mayor is a MuslimMy cake is JewishMy Christian DiorKnicks in four”
Those lines were first shouted in a viral video on TikTok by MD Ahnaf Hossain, a 23-year-old Knicks fan, in a clip described by prediction market firm Kalshi.
The video went viral to the point that the logo appeared on merchandise such as T-shirts and hats.The New York Times described the hymn as “pure New York City poetry.”Hussein later appeared in a follow-up video, where he updated the chant to reflect the ongoing series:“My mayor is still a MuslimMy cake is still JewishThe Pope is on our sideKnicks in five”The clip was filmed in New York, and also included a playful reference to the Pope, as Knicks continued his championship run.
Speaking about the origins of the chant, Hussein said his goal was to bring people together. “I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis and Bengalis,” he told The Washington Post.“I just had to bring everyone together,” he added.Hussein himself reacted calmly to his sudden online attention: “I think sportsmanship brings a kind of love that we haven’t seen in the city in a very long time,” he told the New York Times.
“I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis and Bengalis,” Hussain said in interviews.The Washington Post identified him as someone who moved from Bangladesh to Jamaica, Queens, as a child.
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“My mayor is still a Muslim”This refers to Zahran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City. The line highlights that the city’s mayor is Muslim and celebrates New York’s multicultural identity. The word “still” was added in the updated version of the hymn.“My cake is still Jewish”The bagel is closely associated with New York’s Jewish community, which played a major role in popularizing it in the city. The line is a playful nod to New York’s Jewish heritage and food culture.“The Pope is on our side”This is a sarcastic reference to a Knicks fan who went viral for partying in Vatican City during the NBA Finals. He jokingly points out that even the Pope supports Nix.“Nix in five”This is a sports prediction that fans often say “Team in X” to predict how many games their team will need to win a playoff series. After the Knicks lost a game, “Knicks in Four” was no longer possible, so Hussein updated the chant to predict winning the championship in five games instead.“Christian Dior”This line is a reference to Christian Dior, the famous French luxury fashion brand known as Dior.The viral moment was linked to the excitement of sports and New York’s broader cultural identity. The chant mixes humor, religion, fashion references, and basketball prediction culture. It also revolves around a lot of American popular culture.
