Kanye West Changes Name to ‘Ye Ye’ Amid Continued Reinvention and Public Contrition

Kanye 'Ye' West (seen in February) has changed his name once again as he now wants to be known as 'Ye Ye'

Kanye West Changes Name to ‘Ye Ye’ Amid Continued Reinvention and Public Contrition

Kanye West, now known professionally as Ye, has legally changed his name once again, adopting the new moniker “Ye Ye,” according to recently filed business documents. The 48-year-old rapper and fashion mogul made the change as part of an ongoing reinvention following widespread backlash over past antisemitic remarks and controversial public behavior.

Documents list “Ye Ye” as the “manager or member name” associated with several of his companies, including Yeezy Apparel, Yeezy Record Label, LLC, and Getting Out Our Dreams Inc. West has not publicly commented on the name change, which marks his second legal renaming since switching from Kanye Omari West to simply “Ye” in 2021.

This is yet another reinvention for Ye in just a matter of weeks as last month he said he had done a full 180 on antisemitism following substantial backlash to his new song Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version), which was released two weeks prior

The move follows a recent public statement in which Ye renounced antisemitism, signaling a shift in his tone after facing intense scrutiny for his lyrics and comments. On May 22, he wrote on social media, “I am done with antisemitism. I love all people. God forgive me for the pain I've caused. I forgive those who have caused me pain. Thank you God.”

Ye attributed this change to a FaceTime call with his children, saying it inspired him to “save the world again.” The 24-time Grammy winner shares four children — North, 11; Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 5 — with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, whom he divorced in 2021 after six years of marriage. Despite his wealth and fame, Ye has lamented his limited access to his children, which he referenced in lyrics from his song Heil Hitler, rapping: “With all of my money and fame I still don't get to see my children.”

The newly-named star is pictured with his on-again wife Bianca Censori in 2023

Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version), released two weeks before his May statement, was widely criticized for referencing Nazi ideology. The track includes lyrics in which Ye says he “became a Nazi” and refers to himself as “the villain.” Ye was previously dropped by major brands including Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga following his 2022 tweet saying he was going “death con 3 on Jewish people.” He also lost representation from his agency and saw projects canceled.

Ye had previously praised Adolf Hitler, worn clothing featuring swastikas and “White Lives Matter” slogans, and repeatedly espoused antisemitic views. However, in 2023, he made headlines for posting on Instagram that Jonah Hill’s performance in 21 Jump Street had changed his mind about Jewish people. “No Christian can be labeled anti-Semite knowing Jesus is Jew. Thank you Jonah Hill, I love you,” he wrote.

The rapper is expected to release his 11th studio album, Bully, on June 15 — the same day his eldest daughter North celebrates her 12th birthday. It remains unclear whether the album will include what he once described as “that anti-Semitic sound,” which he previously teased on March 6.

Despite his controversies, Ye continues to maintain a strong music following, with an average of 62.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. On June 5, he released a new track titled Alive, featuring YoungBoy NBA, on Instagram. He will mark his 48th birthday on June 8.