Rapper and music mogul Kanye West, now known simply as Ye, has ignited intense public discourse following a raw and unsettling revelation on social media related to his past. The post, which appears to be part of the promotional rollout for his upcoming track titled Cousins, dives deep into his early life and shares disturbing personal experiences.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ye revealed that Cousins centres around a relative of his who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of a pregnant woman. The rapper suggested that their shared childhood experiences may have played a role in shaping his cousin’s path.
“This song is about my cousin who’s serving life in prison. I remember telling him we couldn’t look at explicit magazines together anymore, and a few years later he committed that horrific act,” Ye wrote.
What followed shocked many — Ye opened up about early exposure to adult content, which he said deeply affected both him and his cousin. In a series of messages, the artist suggested that some of the explicit material had been discovered in his childhood home and implied it may have originated from his late mother’s belongings. These experiences, he admitted, led to troubling behaviours between the two boys during their formative years.
The graphic nature of Ye’s revelations has sparked widespread concern and debate, with some fans expressing sympathy for his apparent trauma, while others have questioned the timing and purpose of sharing such painful memories in connection with a music release.
Ye’s latest track is expected to explore these dark themes further, offering insight into the emotional turmoil he links to his upbringing. He also hinted that his personal guilt and unresolved issues from childhood may have contributed to the tone of the song.
Although Ye has long been known for controversial statements and unconventional methods of self-expression, this level of vulnerability and the nature of the allegations have struck a chord — and a nerve — with his audience.
As the internet reels from the revelations, many are now left wondering whether Cousins will serve as a therapeutic outlet for the rapper or another polarising chapter in his ever-controversial legacy.
