American rapper Kanye West has announced his retirement from professional music, stating his uncertainty about what to pursue next. West shared this news in a recent conversation with fellow artist Rich The Kid, who posted a screenshot of their exchange on his Instagram story on Tuesday. In the message, West wrote, "I am retiring from professional music. Not sure what else to do."

Rich The Kid attempted to dissuade West from his decision, responding, "Retire? Why? How? The people need you. The music you, TY [Dolla $ign] and we have made was the biggest stamp in culture to this date in 2024. Drop Ye about mine & V2 and we do it all over again. The kids need you, big bro. Fashion maybe some time to chill but retiring ain’t it." The conversation did not reveal whether West was swayed by this advice.

Kanye West is a prominent figure in hip-hop, renowned for his diverse musical styles. He began his career as a producer in Chicago after dropping out of college. He gained fame co-producing Jay-Z's 2001 album ‘The Blueprint’ and was later signed as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. West released his debut album, ‘The College Dropout,’ in 2004, which received critical acclaim and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single 'Slow Jamz.' Over his career, he has become one of the most awarded hip-hop artists in Grammy history, tying with Jay-Z with 24 Grammy Awards.