Kanye West, now known as Ye, has long been a polarizing figure in the music industry, celebrated for his groundbreaking artistry while often criticized for his controversial behavior. On April 21, 2025, he once again ignited a firestorm of debate with the release of a snippet for his new song, “Cousins,” accompanied by a shocking revelation on X. In the post, Kanye claimed to have had an incestuous relationship with his male cousin during childhood, a confession tied to the song’s deeply personal and disturbing lyrics.
This revelation has left fans, critics, and the public grappling with questions about the truth, Kanye’s motivations, and the broader implications of such a disclosure. Let’s dive into the layers of this unfolding story, exploring the facts, the song’s content, and the public’s reaction.
The Revelation That Shocked the World
On April 21, 2025, Kanye West took to X to share a snippet of his new track, “Cousins,” alongside a lengthy caption that detailed a traumatic childhood experience. In his post, Kanye alleged that he and his male cousin, who is now serving a life sentence for murdering a pregnant woman, sexually experimented with each other as children.
He claimed the experimentation began at age 6 after they discovered adult magazines in his late mother Donda West’s closet. Kanye wrote, “This song is called COUSINS about my cousin that’s locked in jail for life for killing a pregnant lady a few years after I told him we wouldn’t ‘look at dirty magazines together’ anymore.” He added, “Perhaps in my self centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6 and then we acted out what we saw.” Kanye explicitly stated, “My name is Ye and I sucked my cousins d**k till I was 14,” a line that sent shockwaves across the internet.
The accompanying music video for “Cousins” further amplified the controversy, featuring spliced clips of video games and semi-pornographic images, with Kanye rapping lines like, “Hanging with my cousin reading dirty magazines / We seen some n*as kiss, and we ain’t know what that st mean / Then we start reenacting everything that we had seen / That’s when I gave my cousin head.” The song also touches on Kanye’s fear of judgment and his plea for secrecy, with lyrics such as, “Told my cousin not to tell nobody / People tell me take it to my grave / ‘Truth will set you free someday’ / I don’t think they understand that I’m not attracted to a man.”
The Context of Kanye’s Cousin
Kanye’s cousin, who remains unnamed in his posts, has been a recurring figure in the rapper’s public narrative. According to Kanye, this cousin is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of a pregnant woman, a crime committed years after their alleged childhood experiences. Kanye first mentioned this cousin publicly in a 2018 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, where he stated, “My cousin is locked up for murder and I love him. So he did a bad thing, but I still love him.”
Kanye’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, also referenced this cousin in April 2020 during a discussion with Marc Howard of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice. She noted that the cousin received a double life sentence for a murder committed at age 17, adding that Kanye’s aunt had come to terms with the outcome, saying, “That’s just what happens to the kids in our neighbourhood.”
The connection Kanye draws between their childhood experiences and his cousin’s later crime has raised eyebrows. In his X post, he suggested a sense of guilt, wondering if his actions—showing the magazines and engaging in the experimentation—contributed to his cousin’s “dark path.” However, Kanye stops short of explicitly linking the two events, leaving room for interpretation and fueling debates about the long-term effects of childhood trauma.
The Lyrics and Themes of ‘Cousins’
“Cousins,” which was created during sessions for Kanye’s album initially titled WW3 (later renamed CUCK), is a raw and confessional track. The song features a warpy, guitar-led beat and incorporates samples from Playboi Carti’s 2020 song “New Tank,” Dave Blunts’ 2024 track “10 PERCS,” and Double Virgo’s 2024 song “Were the Originals.”
It runs at a tempo of 68 BPM in the E♭ key. Beyond the explicit references to his childhood, the song delves into themes of guilt, shame, and coping mechanisms. In the chorus, Kanye raps about using nitrous oxide and Percocet to escape his pain, singing, “Nitrous don’t help me, it just put me in a trance / I’m talkin’ about euphoria, I am not talkin’ about a man / Told her, ‘Don’t leave me, ’cause I need you by my side.’”
The track also reflects Kanye’s struggle with public perception. He addresses the fear of judgment head-on, rapping, “And I know these n***as ’bout to judge me now / Started off when we was hanging out.” This line underscores Kanye’s awareness of the potential backlash, yet he chose to share this deeply personal story, raising questions about his intentions—whether this is a genuine attempt at catharsis or a calculated move to generate buzz for his upcoming album.
Public Reaction and Controversy
The public reaction to Kanye’s revelation was swift and divided. Many fans and followers on X expressed shock and discomfort at the explicit nature of the disclosure. Some empathized with Kanye, viewing the song as a brave exploration of childhood trauma. One fan commented, “Idk how anyone could laugh at this. This is childhood trauma not to be taken lightly.
I love you dude and I appreciate your vulnerability always.” Others, however, criticized the decision to share such intimate details on a public platform, with some questioning whether it was a marketing tactic. Another user wrote, “You need to understand how Kanye works and his marketing genius. I’m not discounting the trauma of this but he uses shock to drive his marketing campaigns.”
Critics also raised concerns about the potential stigmatization of trauma survivors. By linking his childhood experiences to his cousin’s crime, Kanye risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the long-term effects of trauma, some argued. The decision to delete the original X post shortly after sharing it—though screenshots ensured its continued circulation—suggests that Kanye or his team may have recognized the potential negative impact.
Kanye’s History of Controversy
This revelation is the latest in a long line of controversial moments for Kanye West. In recent years, he has faced backlash for a series of troubling actions, including wearing a black KKK-inspired robe, making antisemitic statements, and defending Adolf Hitler. Just a month before the “Cousins” controversy, Kanye told an interviewer he never wanted children with Kim Kardashian, despite sharing four children with her. His public appearances with Bianca Censori, including a controversial nearly nude outfit at the 2025 Grammys, have also kept him in the headlines.
Kanye’s tendency to court controversy has long been part of his public persona, but the “Cousins” revelation feels different. Unlike his previous provocative statements, this disclosure is deeply personal and touches on sensitive topics like childhood trauma and sexual experimentation. It raises questions about the boundaries of artistic expression and the responsibility of public figures when addressing such issues.
What’s Next for Kanye and ‘Cousins’?
As of April 22, 2025, “Cousins” has not been officially released, though the shared snippets have already made it one of the most talked-about works of the year. The song’s future remains uncertain—its explicit content and controversial themes could either cement it as a masterpiece of vulnerability or alienate listeners further. Kanye’s decision to rename his upcoming album from WW3 to CUCK adds another layer of intrigue, hinting at a possible shift in his artistic direction.
The mystery behind “Cousins” lies not just in the story Kanye tells, but in what it reveals about his state of mind. Is this a genuine attempt to process trauma through art, or another calculated move by a master provocateur? As the public continues to grapple with these questions, one thing is clear: Kanye West remains an artist who thrives on pushing boundaries, even at the cost of his own reputation.
