Netflix released a three part documentary series on rap and fashion icon, Kanye West. “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” highlights Kanye West’s rise to fame and wealth while facing challenges along the way.
The documentary has been twenty years in the making, and dates from his time as an up-and-coming producer to his listening parties for “Donda,” his 2021 album. The premise follows film director Clarence “Coodie” Simmons meeting Kanye West, and his uphill battle to produce his album.
The first episode, “act i: VISION,” documents how West went from a small producer out of Chicago, to signing with Roc-A-Fella Records. It was no easy task, West had to prove to everyone that he was worth the deal.
Footage of Kanye playing “Jesus Walks” and “All Falls Down” to producers who didn’t believe in his ability is striking. The episode concludes with him getting signed. He was still stuck without support to produce his album.
In “act ii: PURPOSE,” West not only struggled to prove his value through his music, but also overcame a life-threatening accident. In 2002, he was in a car accident that left him with a broken jaw—possibly ending a career that barely started. Unbelievably, the incident inspired the song, “Through the Wire.”
The final installment of the trilogy, “act iii: AWAKENING,” is the most dramatic episode. Despite controversy, his mother’s passing, and his publicized case of bipolar disorder, he continued to be a force within the music and fashion industry.
During the listening party for his album, “Life of Pablo,” he also highlighted his upcoming YEEZY clothing line. This episode covers more recent events, such as his presidential run in 2020 and his turn towards Christianity within his music.
At the start of West’s career, nobody thought much of his music. Today, he has released ten studio albums and has won numerous awards, including 21 Grammy awards with 75 nominations. Along with his success in the music industry, he also became a multi-billionaire from his clothing brand YEEZY.
Though Kanye has released his tenth album “Donda,” and somewhat controversial “Donda 2,” his debut album, “The College Dropout,” is projected to sell twenty-thousand copies this week alone. Kanye West has proved to be one of the most influential people within the pop culture community—something that no one could have predicted.
