Music & Madness: Revisiting the Wildest Kanye West Crash-Outs of the Decade

Many Kanye West crash-outs have run rampant in the media throughout the years. Whether he was interrupting award shows, burning bridges in real time, or posting online… straight from the edge, the rapper/producer’s viral-worthy moments are pop-culture spectacles we’ll never forget. Let’s get into these classic occurrences below.

Aside from his production genius, we all grew to love West as one of the most prominent voices in hip-hop, crushing through the industry ceilings with his debut project, The College Dropout. The early-2000s effort spawned his chart-topping songs “Jesus Walks” (2004) and “Gold Digger” (2005), among others, setting the foundation for West’s then-budding career in the rap game.

Following the release, the 2010s saw a more forefronted version of the Chicago-born lyricist. West’s fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, catapulted a new era amid his global stardom. From Yeezus (2013) and The Life of Pablo (2016) to Ye (2018) and Jesus Is King (2019), the Donda phenomenon has only continued to stay relevant… and chaotic.

As if his oddly designed clothing line, Yeezy, wasn’t enough to keep him atop most of the controversy, West’s public outrages have proven that he’s no stranger to flying too close to the sun and lighting the whole sky on fire.

In no particular order, these are our ‘Top 5’ blow-ups from the Cuck rhymer.

The Craziest Kanye West Crash-Outs in Music History

1. Revealing a Childhood Incestuous Relationship with His Male Cousin (2025)

In April 2025, West stunned fans and critics with the release of a song titled Cousins. In it, he made a revelation about an experience from his childhood: an incestuous relationship with his male cousin. The story, as told in the lyrics, began when the two discovered pornographic magazines together at just six years old.

“Hangin’ with my cousin, readin’ dirty magazines / We seen two n*ggas kissin’, we ain’t know what that sh*t mean / Then we start re-enactin’ everything that we had seen / That’s when I gave my cousin h*ad,” he rapped over the EDM-themed beat.

Additionally, Ye reflected on the incident in a post to X (formerly Twitter). Attaching a clip of the now-talked-about record, he said in the caption, “This song is called COUSINS [and it’s] 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.”

Expressing the guilt he’s carried since the situation, the 47-year-old furthered: “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 on what we saw. My dad had playboy magazines but the magazine I found in the top of my moms closet were different. My name is Ye and I sucked my cousins d*ck till I was 14.”

After the disturbing reveal, individuals poured into the social platform with various reactions–some riddled with scrutiny while others offered sympathy.

“That’s pretty disgusting. We really didn’t need to know that,” a user replied.

Someone else added, “It’s sad [because] a lot of black men have this type of trauma. They just don’t speak on it.”

2. “I’m a Nazi” Declaration (2025)

In early 2025, West ignited another firestorm of controversy by posting a series of inflammatory and antisemitic remarks on X. Among the most provoking was his self-identification as a Nazi. 

In a contentious thread, West not only praised Adolf Hitler but also declared, “I’m a Nazi,” while suggesting that antisemitism was a fabrication designed by Jewish communities to shield their power and influence. Per NBC News, he also recanted his previous apologies for his past remarks, writing, “I’m never apologizing for my Jewish comments. I can say whatever the f*ck I wanna say forever. Where’s my f*cking apology for freezing my accounts[?]”

The “Carnival” giant didn’t stop there. He went a step further to unveil a limited line of merchandise featuring the swastika—the emblem synonymous with Nazi Germany.

Moreover, this wasn’t his first run-in with antisemitism. Between 2022 and 2023, he faced mounting backlash for a consistent pattern of harmful rhetoric. West posted antisemitic tropes on social media, amplified conspiracy theories in interviews, and made hostile statements targeting Jewish people. As a result, major corporate partners, including Adidas, Balenciaga, and his talent agency, severed ties with him.

3. TMZ Live “Slavery Was a Choice” (2018)

In May 2018, West appeared on TMZ Live and had a full-blown rant to remember. During a broadcasted conversation about his battle with opioid addiction, body dysmorphia, and his stance on American history/enslavement, West spewed: “When you hear about slavery for four hundred years—for four hundred years? That sounds like a choice. Like… you were there for four hundred years and it’s all of y’all?”

Viewers and commentators alike condemned the statement as historically inaccurate, offensive, and deeply insensitive to the realities of chattel slavery in the United States. One of the most memorable segments from that interview came from TMZ producer Van Lathan, who confronted West directly on-air. Lathan told West, “I actually don’t think you’re thinking anything. I think what you’re doing right now is actually the absence of thought.”

He expanded, “Kanye, you’re entitled to your opinion, [and] you’re entitled to believe whatever you want. But there is fact and real-life, real-world consequence behind everything you just said. And while you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you’ve earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives. We have to deal with the marginalization that has come from four hundred years of slavery that you said–for our people–was a choice.”

West later attempted to clarify his sentiments, claiming that he was referring to the mental imprisonment and systemic oppression that persisted long after slavery was formally abolished. However, the damage was done. This one would (definitely) be considered among the Kanye West crash-outs of all Kanye West crash-outs!

4. White Lives Matter Shirt (2022)

During Paris Fashion Week in October 2022, Kanye West stunned the fashion world once again. He appeared at his Yeezy Season 9 show wearing a shirt covered with the phrase “White Lives Matter” on the back, alongside conservative commentator Candace Owens, who wore a matching version.

This act sparked worldwide criticism, with many accusing West of being tone-deaf and dangerously dismissive of the Black Lives Matter movement. Civil rights activists, celebrities, and even listeners of Ye distanced themselves, labeling the stunt as either trolling gone too far or a deliberate move of provocation for attention.

The phrase “White Lives Matter” has long been associated with white nationalist groups, which made Ye’s decision to promote it publicly even more controversial. The backlash was swift from media outlets, industry insiders, and fans alike, pushing West further into the storm of cultural and political outrage.

5. Presidential Run Meltdown (2020)

West’s short-lived 2020 presidential campaign is remembered less for its political substance and more for the highly publicized personal unraveling that came with it. In July 2020, West held his first campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina. Wearing a bulletproof vest with “2020” shaved into his head, he delivered an erratic and emotional speech that floored everyone.

One of the most front-page-worthy instances came when he broke down in tears while discussing abortion, revealing that he and his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, had considered terminating her pregnancy with their first daughter, North West. He shouted through tears: “I almost killed my daughter!”

Following the rally, West launched a series of X rants that revealed deeply private family matters and bizarre allegations. According to TMZ, he even went as far as to say that Kim Kardashian tried to have him involuntarily hospitalized. These outbursts, combined with his out-of-the-box behavior on stage, led to growing concerns about his mental health. 

Which of these Kanye West crash-outs do you remember? Let us know in the comments below!