Ye’s New Song Alleges Involvement in Childhood Sexual Encounter with Cousin

 

Ye appears in footage from the Netflix documentary “Jeen-Yuhs.” The rapper’s latest unreleased track, “Cousins,” has sparked controversy for its graphic lyrics and revelations about family trauma. (Photo via Netflix)

Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, ignited fresh controversy this week after sharing a graphic lyric about a family member in a snippet of an unreleased track titled "Cousins."

In an Instagram post that included audio from the song, Ye rapped, “I sucked my cousin’s d***,” a line that quickly set off a firestorm of online reaction. Delivered without explanation, the lyric appears amid broader themes of trauma, incarceration, and family betrayal.

The song's content is deeply personal and disturbing. In "Cousins," Ye recounts a sexual encounter with a male cousin during childhood, attributing the experience to early exposure to explicit material. He also claims that the cousin, whose name he has not disclosed, is currently serving a life sentence for murder.

Ye expanded on the track’s backstory in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“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. Perhaps in my self-centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6 and then we acted out what we saw.”

The lyrics describe discovering adult magazines in his mother's closet, reenacting what they saw, and a sexual relationship that reportedly lasted until Ye was 14. In the song, Ye describes the cousin as someone he once loved, but who later became estranged — and now, incarcerated.

The response was immediate and polarized. Critics and fans alike questioned Ye’s mental health and artistic judgment, while some attempted to interpret the song as a confessional or a commentary on generational trauma. Others viewed it as a calculated shock tactic.

Mental health experts have emphasized the need for sensitivity when addressing subjects involving abuse, family trauma, and childhood sexual experiences. Ye has previously spoken about living with bipolar disorder, and episodes like this have renewed public debate over the boundaries between transparency, trauma, and sensationalism in art.

The full track has not been released on streaming platforms, but the snippet remains available on Ye’s Instagram.

Shannon Sharpe Faces $50M Lawsuit From Woman Alleging Repeated Sexual Abuse

Shannon Sharpe, host of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, is being sued for $50 million in a civil case filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, alleging multiple instances of sexual assault. (Photo via Club Shay Shay)

Hall of Fame tight end and rising media mogul Shannon Sharpe is facing serious legal trouble just days after making headlines for reportedly seeking a nine-figure podcast deal.

A civil lawsuit filed Sunday in Nevada accuses the 56-year-old of sexually assaulting a woman on multiple occasions between late 2024 and early 2025, following what her lawyers describe as a “rocky, abusive relationship.” The woman, identified only as “Jane Doe,” is seeking over $50 million in damages for claims that include sexual battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

According to the 13-page complaint, the two first met in 2023 at a Los Angeles gym when the plaintiff was 20. She alleges Sharpe began pursuing her aggressively, ultimately coercing her into a relationship characterized by verbal abuse and controlling behavior. One alleged incident involved Sharpe threatening to kill her after he discovered she was attempting to share her location with friends for safety, while a firearm was visible in the room.

The suit claims the first assault occurred in October 2024, after Doe attempted to cut off contact following a livestreaming incident in which Sharpe allegedly broadcast himself having sex — though the woman in the video was not the plaintiff. The complaint says Sharpe showed up uninvited at her apartment and raped her while she was “crying and sobbing.”

A second alleged incident occurred in January 2025, when Sharpe visited her under the pretense of bringing a birthday and Christmas gift but again sexually assaulted her, this time without protection despite her protests.

“Shannon Sharpe… refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of ‘no,’” the lawsuit states.

Attorney Tony Buzbee, known for representing more than 20 women in lawsuits against NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson, is leading the case along with Micah Nash.

“It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against those with power, fame and money,” Buzbee said in a statement. “I look forward to pressing this case in court.”

The lawsuit also accuses Sharpe of secretly filming their sexual encounters and sharing the footage without her knowledge — allegations that appear to reference Sharpe’s September 2024 Instagram Live mishap, which went viral and drew public scrutiny.

Sharpe has not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of press time. He has not been criminally charged.

The civil complaint comes at a pivotal moment in Sharpe’s media career. Just last week, Front Office Sports reported that Sharpe is negotiating a podcasting deal worth over $100 million as his contract with The Volume expires. His “Club Shay Shay” YouTube channel boasts nearly 4 million subscribers, and his January 2024 interview with comedian Katt Williams has amassed over 89 million views. Sharpe also co-hosts “Nightcap” with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and frequently appears on ESPN’s “First Take.”

25 Years Later, Aaliyah’s Soundtrack for 'Romeo Must Die' Still Defines a Generation

Aaliyah and Jet Li share a scene in Romeo Must Die (2000), the hip-hop-infused action film whose chart-topping soundtrack helped define a generation. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Twenty-five years ago, the soundtrack to "Romeo Must Die" did more than just accompany a movie, it helped define an era.

Released in April 2000, the compilation captured the slick, futuristic pulse of R&B and hip-hop at the turn of the millennium. With Aaliyah as both the film’s star and the centerpiece of its soundtrack, the album became a cultural force, fusing sound and screen into one unforgettable moment in time.

The lead single, “Try Again,” didn’t just climb the charts — it rewrote them.

Produced by Timbaland, the track made history as the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on radio airplay, without a commercial single release in the U.S. Its sci-fi beat, driven by Timbaland’s signature synth bassline, gave listeners a glimpse into the sound of the future.

The music video, directed by Wayne Isham, blended stylized futuristic visuals with clips from the film, further cementing Aaliyah’s status as an icon. It went on to earn critical acclaim, winning both Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

 

But “Try Again” was just the beginning.

Aaliyah delivered multiple standout moments on the "Romeo Must Die soundtrack," including the DMX-assisted “Come Back in One Piece” — a gritty, East Coast-meets-sultry-South duet that mirrored the film’s streetwise romance. The slow-burning ballad “I Don’t Wanna” and the percussive, synth-tinged “Are You Feelin’ Me?” showcased her vocal range and cool control, further elevating her role not just as a performer, but as the executive producer shaping the project’s sound and identity.

  

Behind much of the album’s sonic innovation was Timbaland, whose glitchy, polyrhythmic production ran through the tracklist like an electric current. Whether on the playful Timbaland & Magoo cut “We At It Again” or Ginuwine’s smooth and seductive “Simply Irresistible,” his fingerprints were everywhere — reshaping R&B with every stuttered vocal, off-kilter drum hit and futuristic flourish.

Beyond its star power, the "Romeo Must Die" soundtrack played like a roll call of turn-of-the-millennium hip-hop and R&B. Destiny’s Child, still riding high on the success of "The Writing’s on the Wall," brought confident swagger with “Perfect Man.” Joe added smooth soul to the mix with “Rose in a Concrete World (J Dub Remix),” while Cash Money’s B.G. injected street grit on “Rollin’ Raw.” Rounding out the roster were Mack 10, Dave Hollister, Chanté Moore, and Static Major — a lineup that captured the era’s sonic range and commercial reach.

 

More than a collection of songs, the Romeo Must Die soundtrack became a sonic time capsule — the kind of album that blared from car stereos, rocked house parties, and soundtracked late-night club sets. It was music made for motion: dancing, driving, grinding, remembering. It didn’t just complement the film — it outlived it.

Today, the soundtrack stands as a lasting tribute to Aaliyah’s artistry and vision. Her untimely death in 2001 renders every track more poignant — a reminder of what was, and what could have been. Still, the music endures, echoing across generations and playlists.

On this 25th anniversary, revisit the soundtrack that dared to lead, not follow. Press play, reflect, and remember the moment when one album captured the rhythm of an entire era.

Stream the full album here: