Kanye West has once again ignited controversy. This time with an explosive and deeply personal revelation that blends trauma, confession, and music. In a graphic post on X (formerly Twitter), the 47-year-old rapper shared a clip from his new song “Cousins,” accompanied by a disturbing statement alleging an incestuous relationship with his male cousin during their childhood.

The track’s raw lyrics and the visuals in the accompanying video deliver a stark, chaotic portrait of a childhood marred by abuse and confusion. West 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.” The artist then described how he found those magazines in his late mother Donda West’s closet and how that discovery led to inappropriate experiences between him and his cousin.

The lyrics of “Cousins” leave little to the imagination. Lines are repeated with haunting clarity. West further admits that he told his cousin to keep it a secret, following it up with a line referencing his inner turmoil: “I don’t think they understand that I’m not attracted to a man.”

The music video itself is just as jarring—interspersed with semi-pornographic clips, gun violence, childhood home videos, and a burning cross. It’s a montage meant to unsettle and provoke, which, in true Kanye fashion, it does in spades.

West has always walked a fine line between artistic expression and controversy, but this confession feels different—darker, more confessional, and arguably more troubling. Both he and his ex-wife Kim Kardashian have previously mentioned the cousin in question, adding another layer of tension to the already disturbing narrative.

Whether this is catharsis, shock value, or an earnest attempt at transparency, one thing is clear: Kanye West has once again forced the world to look. Now, perhaps more than ever, it’s unclear what we’re supposed to see.