The US rapper said he now wanted to be referred to by the new name in a post on Twitter on Saturday, the same day he was due to release new album, Yandhi, during an appearance on Saturday Night Live.

“The being formally known as Kanye West,” he wrote. “I am YE.”

West has used the moniker at various times throughout his career, while his eighth studio album, released earlier this year, was also called Ye.