Kanye West (Ye) has stirred the tabloid pot once again, this time because he dropped what looks like a generational trauma dump about having inappropriate relations with his male cousin at a young age.

Ye relayed the odd claim on Twitter / X on Monday by dropping a song about the alleged inner-family relationship called "COUSINS." It takes the concept of the "cousin walk" a step further than expected.

If true, internet users are expressing sympathy with Ye. If false, many are wondering what viral marketing scheme the rapper has cooking.

But for now, what is Kanye's "COUSINS" song? Who is Kanye's cousin? Let's explain.

What Did Kanye Tweet About His Cousin?

On Monday, Kanye West (Ye) posted either the most cryptic or self-revealing tweet of his life (we're still not sure which one). He started by talking about his cousin, who allegedly killed "a pregnant lady" and is currently in jail. The two purportedly used to "look at dirty magazines together."

The tweet got stranger from there, as Ye stated that he used to give his cousin oral favors until the age of 14. "Tweet sent," he wrote, signing off.

What's The Kanye 'COUSINS' Song?

Ye's tweet attached a new music video for a song called "COUSINS." The blurry footage is pieced together like a collage. The subject matter is just as dark as its presentation — people shooting guns, falling to their death and Nazi symbolism are all included, like an MKUltra brainwashing.

The lyrics delve into the tweet's subject matter quite bluntly. "I gave my cousin head" is Ye's closing bar in the first verse.

Midway through, rapper Dave Blunts sings a verse. He's become one of Ye's latest collaborators as the two are working on an upcoming project called WW3, according to HotNewHipHop. "COUSINS" seems to be a track on it.

Blunts went viral recently for singing a different WW3 snippet at a concert. The verse rhymed "Adolf Hitler" with a "hard R," all the while, encouraging his mostly white crowd to sing along.

Dave Blunts performed Ye’s new song WW3 and his unreleased feature part👀 pic.twitter.com/gY38oCLsGv

— Gregor Estevan (@gregor_estevan) April 14, 2025

Who Is Kanye's Cousin?

Back in 2020, Metro UK reported that Ye and his now ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, spoke briefly about a cousin of Ye's who was allegedly serving two life sentences after being convicted at the age of 17. The cousin has never been mentioned by name.

According to the Metro, Ye also brought up the cousin when appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2018. "My cousin is locked up for murder, and I love him. So he did a bad thing, but I still love him," he said.

How Are People Reacting To Kanye's 'COUSINS?'

There isn't an exact consensus online, but it seems like the overarching reaction is surprise. "You what?" asked one viral reply, attaching a picture of a shocked Donald Trump.

Others are combining Ye's possible "coming out of the closet" revelation with the saddening news of Pope Francis' passing. "The Pope is dead and Kanye's gay. What a way to start the week," wrote one X user, showing himself unwinding from the stress with a Shower Beer.

The touchy subject of Ye's tweet is also being met with skepticism. The rapper and business mogul is no stranger to gaming the system of virality with controversial, eye-popping statements. His so-called "February 2025 Crashout" is the most recent example, when he went on an anti-Semitic tirade.

People might be done with Ye's antics at this point, as many people don't seem to be leaning in fully to this new "COUSINS" thing. Many are just numb to the circus by now.

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For the full history of Kanye's "COUSINS," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.