Decoding Kanye West’s Black Leather KKK Ensemble — What’s the Message?

The "Through the Wire" era of Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, feels like a distant memory. He went from being an inspirational rapper to someone with absolutely no filter, both in words and actions.

During a rushed interview with DJ Akademiks at the end of March 2025, which happened because he is apparently concerned for his safety in America and is relocating to China, he wore a black Ku Klux Klan-style (KKK) ensemble, even the pointed hood. It was a bold choice, even for him.

While we have an idea of what message Kanye was trying to convey, others are seeking a more definitive answer as to why he chose to make such a controversial statement during the interview. Let's dissect the KKK outfit and the other concerning remarks and actions from his interview.

Before we jump into Kanye’s all-black KKK outfit, something he had custom-made, let’s first talk about what he wore when he greeted DJ Akademiks at the door. He started the interview in a black Sean John T-shirt with the logo prominently displayed across the front. That alone sparked controversy, considering Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently sitting in jail on allegations of sex trafficking, forced labor, racketeering conspiracy, and other major offenses. A nod to Diddy? That’s strike one.

Shortly after Akademiks arrived at Kanye’s hotel (remember, he’s fearful of being in the U.S. and preparing to leave), Kanye stepped away to change into something less casual and even more controversial: a black leather KKK outfit.

Akademiks asked if he had worn the outfit out yet, and while he hadn’t, Kanye admitted, "I really wanted to wear it yesterday, but I thought they would, like, put me in the hospital for my outfit."

Then, as he was getting mic’d up, he revealed a large chain bearing a swastika pendant, joking, "I took that Nazi chain and made it bust."

In the interview, Kanye spoke about how Jewish and white culture have impacted his family life. He suggested that he has little control over his children's names and likenesses, especially after his daughter's name was featured in a song, despite having joint custody. He argued that he doesn’t truly have 50 percent control, saying, "This white woman and this white family have the control of these highly influential Black kids that are half the children of Ye."

His black KKK outfit may be a reversal of the traditional white KKK, an antisemitic group known for targeting both Black and Jewish people. In his mind, it could symbolize his resistance against white people and prejudice against Jews.

The swastika chain seems to be another form of antisemitism against Jewish culture, which Kanye claims holds the power to cancel tours and other ventures. He stated, "The Jews think they too powerful. ... They think they can get Kim to play with me. ... the Jews and the whites above the Jews."

He further alleged that Jewish culture is trying to "pull my kids in the Illuminati system, and I have no, no say-so on my kids."

Ultimately, Kanye seems to be implying, "I’m doing everything legally in my power" to fight those he believes are trying to take him down.

It's worth noting that this isn't Kanye's first public display of antisemitism or Nazi paraphernalia. In early 2025, the Yeezy store went down soon after listing a white shirt with a large black swastika on it. He's also repeatedly made antisemitic remarks on social media and went so far as to call himself a Nazi, per NBC News.