Kanye West has disclosed that he and a now-incarcerated male cousin engaged in sexual experimentation when they were children. This revelation comes as West debuts a new song titled “COUSINS,” where he discusses these experiences, believing they have significantly affected both of their lives.
In “COUSINS,” West sings about discovering adult magazines in the possession of his late mother, Donda, specifically magazines featuring homosexual content. He recounts how he shared these magazines with his cousin, leading them to reenact male-on-male kissing scenes. West revealed that these encounters escalated to performing oral sex on his cousin, which continued until he was 14 years old.
The music video for “COUSINS” creatively juxtaposes images from video games and semi-pornographic content, emphasizing the song’s themes of sexual exploration and familial relationships. The lyrics explicitly reference giving oral sex to his cousin, marking a bold and provocative artistic choice.
West has a long-standing connection with his cousin, who is currently incarcerated for murder. In a 2018 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, he expressed his enduring love for his cousin, stating, “My cousin is locked up for murder and I love him. So he did a bad thing, but I still love him.” During his marriage to Kim Kardashian, they both actively monitored his cousin’s legal situation. Kim has also contributed to advocacy efforts surrounding criminal justice reform in relation to their family’s experiences.
Additionally, West announced his intention to change the title of his upcoming album from “WW3” to “CUCK,” reflecting a shift towards more personal themes in his music. This decision highlights his ongoing evolution as an artist and his willingness to confront complex subjects in his work.