Kanye West Demands Credit for Livestreaming Influence, Takes Shots at Kai Cenat
Kanye West wants his credit for shaping modern livestream culture — and he believes popular streamer Kai Cenat owes him some serious recognition.
In a new clip shared by AkademiksTV, Ye doubled down on his claim that he pioneered the style of immersive livestreams that have become central to internet culture today, especially among influencers like Cenat.
“I invented the streaming sh*t with Donda,” Ye declared, referencing the massive livestream events he held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium while finalizing his 2021 album Donda.
Ye argued that his Donda livestreams — where he lived, worked, and even slept in a stadium while fans watched — set a new standard for performance-based streaming. He wasn’t shy about calling out Kai Cenat and others for, in his words, “taking the whole swag and running with it.”
Kanye: “Livestreaming Was My Whole Sh*t”
While acknowledging that livestreaming existed before, Kanye insists he redefined the culture, blending performance art, behind-the-scenes access, and real-time connection with fans on a scale no one had previously achieved.
Referring to Kai Cenat’s recent viral prison-themed livestream, Ye remarked:
“This na gon’ tell me, ‘Oh, Kai Cenat had nas in the prison.’ I said, ‘Jews been had n**as in prisons.’ That was my whole sht. Sleeping in the stadium.”
Kanye also touched on the common generational tension between innovators and newcomers:
“That’s one thing old nas be doing. Nas will pull up and want you to remember some sht. That’s how n**as get out and get shot and sh*t. ‘Man, you remember?’ ‘No.’ Bow. You out of here.”
Kanye West and Kai Cenat’s Complicated History
This isn’t the first time Kanye West and Kai Cenat have had friction.
Their tension traces back to the VULTURES era, when Kanye sent Kai a box of merchandise — which Cenat promptly mocked live on his stream because it didn’t fit.
Ye didn’t take the joke lightly, later snapping:
“Fk that n*a, corny,” Ye said about the streamer.
Still, despite the jabs, there have been moments of mutual admiration between the two, suggesting their relationship is more of a love-hate saga than an all-out beef.
At this point, it’s unclear whether their back-and-forth will escalate into a true feud or simply fuel more viral moments that keep both stars trending.
Ye’s Lasting Impact on Culture
Regardless of how the Kai Cenat situation plays out, Kanye West’s influence on music, fashion, and now digital media is undeniable.
His Donda livestreams shattered records, and his ability to merge art, technology, and spectacle has inspired a new generation of entertainers to think bigger.
As Ye himself would likely say — whether the industry gives him his flowers or not, the culture already knows.