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Kanye West, never one to stray far from the spotlight, has once again stirred public curiosity—this time over the evolving use of his name. Though he officially changed his name to Ye in 2021, dropping both his first and last names, confusion recently erupted when legal documents began referring to him as “Ye Ye.” This sparked a flurry of questions among fans and media outlets, unsure whether the rapper had adopted yet another moniker.
The root of the misunderstanding traces back to filings submitted by West’s chief financial officer, Hussain Lalani, where the rapper was repeatedly listed as “Ye Ye.” However, West’s representatives have now firmly dismissed the idea of any further name change. In a statement to US Weekly, they clarified, “There is no ‘Ye Ye.’” The explanation pointed to a technical error, describing “Ye Ye” as a byproduct of an online form that required both a first and last name entry, inadvertently doubling his legally recognized name.
Kanye West, now known simply as Ye, had previously offered insight into his name change during an interview with Big Boy. He said “Ye,” as used in the Bible, translates to “you,” symbolizing a broader sense of identity and interconnectedness. According to him, the change marked a shift from individuality—“Kanye,” meaning “the only one”—to a collective expression of humanity’s complexity, including its virtues, flaws, and contradictions.
This philosophical explanation aligns with the release of his 2018 album Ye, which the rapper described as a reflection of human duality and personal transformation. Despite this name change becoming legal years ago, Ye still uses “Kanye West” on his social media profiles, particularly on X, where his most provocative comments—often about his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and their ongoing custody disputes—continue to draw attention.
Ultimately, while the public may still grapple with how to address him, the artist himself has made it clear: it’s just Ye—nothing more, nothing less.