Netflix just dropped the hyped and much-talked-about ‘Jeen-Yuhs’, a three-part documentary series that chronicles the singer, rapper, and producer Kanye West’s rise to fame. Directed by Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah, the Netflix-produced documentary is a compilation of footage recorded across two decades. The first part of the four-and-a-half-hour documentary film provides glimpses into how ‘the Old Kanye’ was.
The first episode, titled ‘Act 1: Vision’, begins with Coodie meeting a 21-year-old Kanye while filming the show ‘Channel Zero’ in Chicago. Intrigued by Kanye’s radiating energy and passion for having his music recognized, Coodie plans to follow him with a chance of making a ‘Hoop-Dreams’ style documentary. The recorded behind-the-scenes footage shows an enthusiastic and charming version of Kanye from his early days that is almost unrecognizable today, thanks to his penchant for controversy.
Wonderfully narrated by director Coodie Simmons, a standout moment in the first episode features Kanye playing his music to a group of uninterested Roc-A-Fella employees, showcasing his struggle up the rungs of the music industry ladder. The docuseries also delves into Ye’s close bond with his mother Donda—and his adoration and appreciation of her support for his musical pursuits indeed leave a lasting impression on the viewer. The first of three acts of ‘Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’ is now available to stream on Netflix, with the remaining episodes releasing over the next two weeks.
