Kanye West has reportedly been secretly working on a documentary for the past six years, aiming to explain his “public transition” through a “commitment to truth”, according to new details about the project. Mysterious case appeared this week.
Currently in post-production and having an exclusive promotional reel screening on November 7 at the 2024 American Film Market festival in Las Vegas, the documentary about Kanye West – who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021 – is being marketed by production companies Goodfellas and Utopia with the goal of releasing the film to a wider audience.
The film is titled In whose name? and contains exclusive never-before-seen footage, all captured by documentary filmmaker Nicolas Ballesteros. It is produced by Ballesteros and co-producers Jack M. Russell and Shy Ranje, along with co-executive producer Justin Staple and associate producer David Bullock. Ballesteros has previously directed several of West’s music videos and specials.
“With a billion-dollar budget and a commitment to honesty, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, invites 18-year-old, iPhone-equipped Nicolas Ballesteros on a six-year journey that reveals raw aspects of celebrity life facing provocative opinions.” , his grand vision and bold contrarianism have established him as the world’s most controversial artist,” the synopsis for the doc explains, as Diversity reports on Friday (November 1).
It continues, “The film follows how Ye became the richest black man in American history while also exploring why the superstar risked everything he built in the name of freedom. Find out culture that birthed the star, ‘In Whose Name?’ explores the overlapping effects of corporate exploitation, racial complexities, and psychological struggles inherent in the American dream.”
A statement from the executives of Utopia and Goodfellas said: “We are delighted to present ‘In Whose Name?’ at AFM, this powerful documentary offers an unfiltered look without narration, it invites audiences to draw their own conclusions about the themes of fame, religion and power that audiences across the globe deserve the chance to witness how one of the world’s most influential figures navigates the complexities and contradictions of fame.”
The film’s release comes after Ye faced backlash over the past few years, leading to severing ties with brands and collaborators. The controversy escalated in 2022 when he made a series of anti-Semitic comments and wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt at Paris Fashion Week, sparking outrage online.
Around that time, famous companies like Adidas and Balenciaga ended their partnerships with Ye, and Adidas even suffered a financial hit when it discontinued production of the Yeezy shoe line. Ye ran for president in 2020 as an independent candidate, and despite receiving minimal votes, announced his intention to run again in 2024.
Tags Kanye West, Music