The buzz surrounding Kanye West's latest single, titled "Cousins," is not only about the provocative lyrics but also the shocking artwork associated with the track. The artwork has drawn criticism due to its historical connections to Adolf Hitler. Now available on major streaming services, the single is accompanied by a striking image—a rendition of "Leda and the Swan" by Paul Mathias Padua.
The image featured in "Cousins" portrays a German woman in a controversial scenario with a swan. This particular painting was first exhibited in 1939 in Munich and later acquired by Martin Bormann, who served as Hitler's private secretary. Bormann gifted the painting to Hitler, who displayed it in his mountain retreat situated near the Austrian border. Notably, Padua is known for creating several pieces of Nazi propaganda during World War II, further complicating the artwork's association with the Nazi regime.
This isn't the first instance of Kanye West choosing artwork with connections to Nazism. His previous single, "Vultures," features an artwork from the 1830s by renowned landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich. Hitler famously regarded Friedrich as one of his favorite artists, and his works were employed to promote Nazi ideology during the 1930s and 1940s. Moreover, the aesthetic of "Vultures" appears to draw inspiration from the Norwegian black metal band Burzum, known for its controversial ties to Nazism. The band’s founder, Varg Nikernes, is a convicted murderer and notorious neo-Nazi, adding another layer of controversy to West's artistic choices.
Following the release of "Cousins," West took to social media to provide context for the song. He revealed that the track is about his cousin, who is currently serving a life sentence for killing a pregnant woman. West expressed feelings of guilt for exposing his cousin to inappropriate content at a young age, stating, “Perhaps in my self-centered mess, I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6.” He further added, “My dad had Playboy magazines, but the magazines I found in the top of my mom's closet were different. My name is Ye, and I sucked my cousin's dick till I was 14. Tweet sent.”
As "Cousins" continues to attract attention for both its artwork and lyrics, it raises important questions about the intersection of art, morality, and cultural sensitivity in the music industry.
