Kanye West's ‘Heil Hitler' song blocked from streaming platforms
A new song by rapper Kanye West has been removed from streaming platforms for glorifying Adolf Hitler.
The rapper, now known as Ye, has been accused of anti-Semitism for releasing a song on VE day last week called 'Heil Hitler', which includes lyrics that praise the Nazi dictator.
Sites such as Spotify and Soundcloud have blocked the track, although it is still available on Elon Musk's X, where it has received more than 8m listens.
In the song's chorus, Mr West says: 'They don't understand the things I say on Twitter, Heil Hitler'. This is against the backdrop of a choreographed group of singers who repeat the refrain 'Heil Hitler'.
A clip of Adolf Hitler speaking is also played towards the end of the song.
Jim Berk, chief executive of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organisation, told Billboard Magazine: 'Kanye West's release of a song entitled 'Heil Hitler' on VE Day, the anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi regime, is hate speech, pure and simple.'
He added that it was 'totally in line with the despicable messages we now expect from West'.
The release of 'Heil Hitler' follows a string of anti-Semitic comments made by the rapper in recent years.
In February, he posted on X: 'I'm a Nazi … I love Hitler'. In another song released in March, called WW3, he refers to himself as 'anti-Semitic fully'.
Previously, he has designed t-shirts featuring swastikas and tried to sell them online.
In a post on X, Mr West said his song 'has been banned by all digital streaming platforms while Rednecks by Randy Newman remains streamable' – referencing the 1974 track by Mr Newman known for its controversial use of racial slurs.
He later posted a video appearing to show the controversial influencer Andrew Tate playing the song loudly from a sports car.
In recent years, Mr West's anti-Semitic comments have caused him to lose millions of dollars worth of sponsorships with major brands.
In 2022, Adidas cut ties with the rapper by ending a seven-year partnership to manufacture his Yeezy trainers. This came after Mr West said on X that he would 'go death con 3 on Jewish people'.
Spotify and Soundcloud were contacted for comment.
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