Good news came for Ye fans on Thursday, since the prolific Chicago artist is putting out a documentary chronicling his life and career.
Ye’s Sundance Documentary Debut
The Sundance festival will be screening films from Jan. 20-30. The screenings are available both in-person in Park City, Utah, and virtually. This decision comes after the new COVID-19 variant Omicron began making its rounds across the country. Among the lineup released was also “jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” a documentary containing years worth of footage captured by Clarence “Coodie” Simmons. Simmons is a director, producer, and also close friend of West’s.
“He had the foresight to see what Kanye was going to become and started making this movie from the very beginning,” stated Kim Yutani, director of programming for Sundance.
“So that’s one of the pleasures of this film, is really seeing Kanye become Kanye.”
Chike Ozah, the director responsible for some of West’s earliest music videos like ‘Through the Wire,’ is co-directing the film.
Story of Ye, Coodie, and Chike
Previously to the Sundance lineup announcement, the Youtube channel Still Watching Netflix also released a video on Dec. 2. In the clip, both Ozah and Simmons discuss their personal experiences as Ye’s close friends and directors of the documentary.
“When I first met Kanye, he was this kid that would come in this barbershop Mellowswing,” Simmons said. He then continued: “This dude, he’s not scared. He’s not scared of nothing…he was driven and talented and charismatic and fly too.”
Simmons subsequently spoke on some key moments that he captured over the years and how he curated footage for the documentary. For instance, “The first time Kanye did a song with Jay-Z, we’re documenting that. The first time Kanye let Pharrell hear through the wire, we’re right there.”
Chike, who directs music videos exclusively, also described how the trio made the film happen. “Kanye was trying to be heard as an artist; I wanted to make music videos, and you were filming as a director, so it all just all connected.”
“You’ll see that in his journey. I think it puts a visual to the type of work it takes and the type of hours and dedication it takes to something you love to actually succeed at it.”
Moreover, the documentary will address two fairly recent significant events in Ye’s life: the failed 2020 presidential campaign and the tragic passing of his mother, Donda.
“jeen-yuhs” First Peek
Back in Sep. Netflix also released an official trailer for the movie on Youtube.
The documentary snippet includes a 2-minute clip of Ye and NY rapper Mos Def reciting their verses from the College Dropout track ‘Two Words.’
Coming off the heels of Donda, possibly Ye’s most personal record yet, this documentary will give fans a chance to glance into the mind of the modern-day “jeen-yuhs.”
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