Several people who were once close to Kanye West have told CNN that he has long been fascinated by Adolf Hitler and once wanted to name an album "Hitler".

A person who has worked with Kanye West on business matters told CNN that the rapper created a hostile work environment, in part through his "obsession" with Hitler.

"He was praising Hitler, saying how incredible it was that he was able to gain so much power, and talking about all the great things he and the Nazi Party had achieved for the German people," said the person, who preferred to remain anonymous. due to a confidentiality agreement and fear of retaliation from West.

He said Kanye was open about having read Mein Kampf, Hitler's 1925 autobiographical manifesto, and expressed his "admiration" for the Nazis, Hitler and their propaganda. According to the source, people in the inner circle were "fully aware" of his interest in Hitler.

Four sources told CNN that Kanye had suggested the title "Hitler" for his 2018 album, which was released under the name "Ye."

Van Lathan Jr., a former TMZ employee, did tell CNN that in the rapper's 2018 interview with TMZ — where he said "slavery is a choice" — Kanye said something along the lines of, "I love Hitler, I love them the Nazis". TMZ removed his statement from the interview.

This new data comes at a not-so-quiet period for Kanye West and his career, after controversial and critical statements about Jews, people of color and more.