LA Judge Approves Kanye West’s Petition to Change Legal Name to Ye

Famous Times Staff

Kanye West, a powerhouse in the industry, needs no introduction, but his new name does. The Grammy Award-winning rapper, whose debut solo album, The College Dropout, immediately put him on the map, has managed to create a legacy in the music scene, turning into a worldwide icon with considerable reach and influence. Known for his flamboyant personality and multiple changes in his image, it doesn’t come off as a surprise why he petitioned to adopt another name legally.

Last August 24, Kanye West, now officially “Ye,” made a legal move to shorten his name. Currently bearing no middle or last name, the rapper, producer, and fashion designer filed for the change for personal reasons. On October 18, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams Court acknowledged the request. “There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted,” she said in court documents.

While there has been no further explanation about the impetus behind his petition, the choice of moniker didn’t raise any eyebrows as West has gone by Ye for years. In 2018, the polarizing artist dropped ye, a studio album that gained massive visibility because of a controversy. In the month prior to its release, he appeared with a Trump-autographed Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat and declared that not only is slavery a choice but also that African American slaves gave the nod to their enslavement.

Ye has long made his persona official on Twitter, tweeting that he was “the being formerly known as Kanye West. I am YE,” on September 29, 2018. When asked to shed light on that development, he referenced the Bible in a radio interview. “I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible, it means you. So I’m you, I’m us, it’s us,” the Billboard Artist Achievement awardee shared. “It went from being Kanye, which means ‘the only one,’ to just ‘ye’ being a reflection of our good, our bad, our confused, everything. It’s just more of a reflection of who we are.”

Fresh from performing two songs from his recent Donda album, Ye is basking in the success of his latest drop despite the controversies attached to it. He claimed that Universal Music Group released the much-delayed tenth studio album without his approval, an allegation that shortly came after it made its way on streaming platforms. Amid this, the Billboard 200 chart-topper received countless acclaim and support, particularly from his wife, Kim Kardashian West.

With the 44-year-old rapper changing his name to Ye, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has received questions about whether or not she’ll change her last name accordingly. The two of them in the middle of splitting, Kim reportedly did not ask for a name change upon filing for a divorce in February.

Given Ye’s brand, the brand-new name will not be the last of his moves, and he’s set for another surprise announcement in the near future.