Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, has made a disturbing revelation about his childhood, claiming that he allegedly engaged in incestuous acts with his male cousin. The admission came on April 21 through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), coinciding with the release of a new song titled “Cousins,” according to NME.

In the caption accompanying the clip, West stated the track was about his cousin, who is currently serving a double life sentence for the alleged murder of a pregnant woman. He went on to describe traumatic alleged incidents from their childhood, saying he allegedly introduced the cousin to pornography at the age of six and that they later allegedly “acted out what we saw.”

“Perhaps in my self-centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was six, and then we acted out what we saw,” West wrote. “My name is Ye and I sucked my cousin’s dick till I was 14.”

The lyrics of “Cousins” are similarly explicit, featuring lines such as “I gave my cousin head” and “I told my cousin not to tell nobody.” West also attempts to clarify his sexual identity in the track, stating, “The truth will set you free someday, I don’t think they understand that I’m not attracted to a man.”

The music video includes a chaotic mix of clips, including nudity and Nazi imagery. West also references his recent split from his wife Bianca Censori.

The reaction to West’s post was immediate. Rapper A$AP Ferg responded publicly, offering support: “Good for @kanyewest now you can be whole. When people start to act out you never know the root of the issue! Sending love brother.”

West has previously alluded to the cousin in question. In a 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he mentioned a relative serving time for alleged murder, saying, “My cousin is locked up for murder and I love him. So he did a bad thing, but I still love him.” According to NME, Kim Kardashian also referenced the cousin in a conversation with the director of Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, noting he received a double life sentence for a crime allegedly committed at age 17.

The song “Cousins” and other tracks, including “Bianca,” are expected to appear on West’s forthcoming album WW3.

Photo credit: Brandy Hornback