On Monday, Kanye West shared a preview of his latest music video titled Cousins, which was followed by a graphic statement posted on X!

On Monday, Kanye West shared a preview of his latest music video titled Cousins, which was followed by a personal and graphic statement posted on X. In the message, the 47-year-old artist appeared to reference a traumatic experience from his childhood involving a male cousin.

Kanye West wrote that the song centers on a relative who is currently serving a life sentence for the murd3r of a pregnant woman. He went on to describe an incident from their early years, saying that after discovering adult magazines in his late mother Donda West’s closet, he and his cousin engaged in inappropriate behavior.

What Did Kanye West Say?

Kanye West implied a sense of guilt, writing that he believed showing those materials to his cousin may have contributed to what followed.
He concluded the message with a direct and explicit statement about what occurred between them, referencing actions that took place up until he was 14 years old.

Though he did not name the cousin, both West and his former spouse Kim Kardashian have previously referenced this relative. In a 2018 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, West briefly mentioned him, stating, “My cousin is locked up for murd3r, and I still love him.”

Kim Kardashian provided additional context in her 2020 docuseries The Justice Project. She explained that the cousin was sentenced to a double life term for a crime committed at the age of 17. Speaking to criminal justice advocate Marc Howard, Kardashian mentioned how the cousin’s mother had accepted her son’s fate, reportedly saying that such outcomes were not uncommon for youth in their community.