Sarah Moore
Who else has always been waiting for Kanye West to drop a documentary about himself? And the timing seems about right for it too.
Netflix dropped the official teaser for Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy two weeks ago on January 10, briefly showcasing the hip hop artist’s journey in the industry spanning over two decades. The four-and-a-half-hour documentary will premiere on February 16.
The film is directed by Chike and Coodie, who also produced in cohorts with Natasha Thomas.
Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy is a three-sequence documentary that narrates Kanye’s rise to stardom in the hip hop industry, the controversies surrounding him during his spotlight years and the dark period in his career pending his mother’s passing in 2007.
The documentary takes a subjective creative approach, showcasing Kanye’s fame close up before watching the artist going through a storm from a distance. This contrasts the young Kanye from the older experienced Kanye.
The documentary is categorized into three instalments namely Act I: Vision, Act II: Purpose and Act III: Awakening.
The hip hop artist came up with the documentary idea in 2002 to cover his journey up to the release of his initial album. Though Coodie Simmons was ready to drop it after Kanye’s Late Registration in 2005, the artist wasn’t quite ready.
In the first instalment, Coodie explains his journey with Kanye and how the artist invited him to New York to film his career rise. The second act illustrates Kanye’s challenges that led him to create a debut solo album that won him two Grammy Awards.
The third instalment shows Kanye’s transition after his mother died, consisting of drifting apart from a close friend (Coodie) and collaborator in his documentary.
There is so much to learn about Kanye that can’t be showcased in the documentary. But if you are interested in the artist’s career life, then this is your chance to get a glimpse of it.
