When you move in faith, all things are possible.
During the Sundance 2022 Film Festival, we were introduced to Coodie and Chike Ozah’s first episode of “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.” The series comprises three documentary films, each feature-length, surrounding the rise of artist Kanye “Ye” West.
With footage from over 20 years in the making, documentarian Coodie shares his experience behind the lens following success-driven West during the beginning stages of his career.
Just a young boy from the south side, currently known as the east side of Chicago, he was eager to show the world how talented an emcee he was.
Despite the typical connotation of hip-hop artists in the early 2000s, Kanye was different from the norm. He struggled to fit into society’s standard of hip-hop while also surviving off a dollar and a dream. Already working with big names like Jay – Z and Talib Kweli, Kanye only received respect as a producer — nothing more, nothing less.
As a fellow Chicagoan and fan of Kanye, it was an exciting experience to relive the journey of Kanye’s success.
Coodie and Chike Ozah did an excellent job of sharing this journey. It felt like I was watching home after seeing known landmarks and famous names like RhymFest, Teefa, No ID, Mike Love, and many more. There was a warm moment to watch Kanye visit his mother, Donda West, in her high-rise in Chicago, IL. They both sat in the kitchen and reflected on his growth. “Tell ‘em we ain’t always have a view like this. It ain’t like this on 79th St.”
There was a sweet moment to see the joy his mother brought as she spits one of her favorite rhymes by her child. Kanye introduced his soul into hip-hop, shed light on the talents within Chicago, and proved that if you invest as much time and dedication into your passions, you are destined for greatness.
“Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy” is the perfect film to show up-and-coming artists who are eager for success and in need of inspiration. I enjoyed watching this documentary and looking forward to continuing the series in its release on Netflix later this month.