Kanye West’s Controversial Single Fails to Gain Traction on Streaming Platforms

LOS ANGELES — Kanye West, now known as Ye, is facing backlash after releasing his new single titled “Heil Hitler.” The track, which was posted on SoundCloud this past Thursday, was removed within a day from all major streaming platforms.

In a post on social media platform X, Ye expressed his frustration, stating, “‘Heil Hitler’ by Ye has been banned by all digital streaming platforms,” highlighting that the song is currently unavailable on Spotify and Apple Music.

The controversial single is a departure from Ye’s earlier works, featuring lyrics that target his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and allude to his tumultuous custody battle over their children. One line reflects his feelings: “With all this money and fame, I still can’t get my kids back.” Ye’s lyrical content is notably darker, even declaring, “So I became a Nazi, yeah, bitch, I’m the villain.”

Adding to the controversy, the song includes a sample from a speech by Adolf Hitler. Ye indicated that his situation resembles that of other artists, like Randy Newman, whose song “Rednecks” remains available despite its own controversial content.

In recent months, Ye’s public behavior has drawn criticism, leading to multiple bans from media platforms, including a Twitch ban shortly after his first livestream event. He has openly remarked on how his art has been received by the media, asserting, “There’s so much love in the art that I put out. This is what you get for now, we can circle back when you can count.”

The artist’s ongoing attempts to return to mainstream media come amid a history of accusations against him, particularly concerning antisemitism, which have led to significant fallout in his professional relationships and personal life. As of now, the status of his upcoming album featuring the contentious single remains unclear.