A history of Kanye's lyrics and controversial statements about slavery, including calling it "a choice"

"New Slaves," released as part of West's 2013 album "Yeezus," is one of the artist's "most explicit evaluations of slavery and its legacy" and how slavery has lived on, according to Shea Watts, a professor who studied theology and cultural criticism.

The song opens with a description of West's mother and the racism she experienced — "My mama was raised in the era when / Clean water was only served to the fairer skin" — and distinguishes between "broke" and "rich n**** racism."

"He suggests there are different layers of racism. I believe he's alluding to class and how that changes how racism is expressed and experienced," Watts told Insider. "Being a new slave is about being held captive to consumerism, even assimilation of class."

References to how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) "teamed up" with the "Corrections Corporation of America" (CCA) to "make new slaves" convey West's criticism of the prison industrial complex, where Black prisoners still provide free labor for the benefit of the wealthy elite.

In his 2016 song "Saint Pablo," West alludes to the Atlantic slave trade, which began in the 16th century. The song addresses West's $53 million of debt. By rapping about how people are "buyin' our own chains," he again brings up the idea of how buying into commercialism is another form of slavery, according to Watts.

Others have also interpreted the lyrics to suggest that West has turned an object that represented oppression and slavery into a symbol of empowerment.

During a May 2018 interview with TMZ, West made one of his most controversial statements about slavery.

"When you hear about slavery for 400 years," he said. "For 400 years? That sounds like a choice. You was there for 400 years and it's all of y'all. It's like we're mentally in prison. I like the word prison because slavery goes too direct to the idea of Blacks. Slavery is to Blacks as the Holocaust is to Jews. Prison is something that unites as one race, Blacks and whites, that we're the human race."

West made the remark after talking about his choice to wear a "Make America Great Again" cap, his love for then-president Donald Trump, and the need for free thought.

"I felt a freedom in doing something that everybody tells you not to do," he said about wearing the hat.

West later apologized for his statement about slavery being a choice.

In June 2018, less than a week after dropping his eighth album "ye," West added a new line to his opening track, "I Thought About Killing You."

The addition — about choosing not to be a slave — came a month after his explosive interview with TMZ.

In the song, West explores the theme of mental strength, alluding to his contemplations of suicide. In 2016, West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which he called his "superpower" in his song "Yikes."

West's lyrics capture him trying to overcome mental illness "through the power of positive thinking," according to Watts.

Similarly, "he may actually believe that thinking differently about slavery actually changes things like history. Thinking things into a different reality," Watts said.

"Last Name" was originally teased on Instagram in 2018 during West's visit to Fader, and was fully leaked in October 2019. In the song, he attempts to diassociate himself from his "slave name," West, which he raps was likely given to his family's ancestors by slave owners.

In September 2018, he tweeted that he would go as "Ye," not "Kanye West."