The Intricate Mind of Ye
Kayne West has been a well-known face in the music industry for decades. He is arguably one of the most influential artists of our generation. Starting as a Chicago producer at the age of 15, to now having ten studio albums, owning a $4 billion brand, and securing over 20 grammy awards; Kayne is no less than legendary. However, with all of the limelight and revenue coming in, with any new artist, fame can quickly become your enemy. In Kayne’s rise to stardom, he became the entity of controversy. His comments and behaviors created much backlash from the public. Today, people either love Kayne or they hate him; there’s no in-between.
My opinion of Kayne has always been indifferent. I have lots of respect for his artistry and I am a fan of his music but I could never understand his potent “god-complex” personality. However, after watching the Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix, I understood why his confidence was unmatched and the fight he took to get to the top.
This documentary encapsulates Kayne’s life as a rapper, producer, fashion designer, and so much more in three acts: Act i: Vision, Act ii: Purpose, and Act iii: Awakening.
One of the things I loved most about watching this film was the moments Kanye spent with his mother, Donda West. Witnessing the chemistry between the two was magical. I was finally able to understand why Kayne is well… Kayne! His mother has always been his right-hand man, and his biggest cheerleader when it came to music and producing. From watching them interact, you can definitely tell that Kanye has always been sure of himself.
After the death of his mother, Kanye seems to lose his ground. For years, Kanye has been tossed around the media for being “crazy” because of his outlandish acts, but how many of us have taken the time to really try to understand why all of these events are taking place. Is Kanye really mentally ill or is he just crying out for help?
One valuable piece I took from this documentary was a quote from Kanye himself. He says, “Sometimes God gotta sit you down, to wake you up.” Whether you’re religious or not, this message reigns true! When life is constantly going up, and new doors are opening, it’s important to be humble and appreciate every step in your process. We’ve all witnessed the downfall of many celebrities in the media when fame seems to hit them too fast. Every TV star, musician, and social media personality is a REAL person. They struggle with the same problems as the rest of us. Before you call a celebrity “crazy”, think about what’s causing them to “lose their minds”; you never know what someone is battling with.
I highly recommend this documentary, if you haven’t seen it already. Watching Kanye talk so highly about himself and his work was extremely inspiring. Sometimes, as a creator, I struggle with being confident in what I put out. I always want to remain humble but sometimes it may be beneficial to be a little cocky. Nobody is going to hype up Kanye more than himself, and that’s how it should be. I think Kanye’s personality is the reason he’s reached so many milestones in his career. His drive, confidence, and perseverance encouraged me to continue to work hard to achieve my dreams!
Check out Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix now!