In the three-part Netflix documentary, “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” directors Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah follow the life of music artist Kanye West. This documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at the budding and early career of West, showing how he grew  from a small producer to a name known across the world. The series starts in 2020 with the West the world knows today.

With a microphone in hand and a mixed beat, West is recorded in his natural environment doing some vocals. After that, West’s public life flashes on screen, including mentions of his 2020 presidential campaign, the Rolling Stone cover of him with a throne and crown, his handshake with Donald Trump and snippets of his many performances throughout the years.

Though we first see these more popular moments flash before us, through the series the audience can also see a new side of West not shown in the media. From West’s holiest of moments to his more human moments, this series gives an insight into the life of one of the most influential artists of the 21st century.

The documentary series is split into three different parts, and the title of each one represents a part of West’s life. The first episode is entitled “act i: VISION,” and it shows West as a producer in his early twenties trying to make a name for himself in an already saturated industry. While West was making waves producing beats for many famous rappers, he was still trying to get signed, so he could pursue a solo career. 

The second episode, “act ii: PURPOSE,” follows West after his tragic car crash that left him with a broken jaw, seemingly halting his budding rap career. While this accident could have meant the end of his career, he pushed through, even with his jaw wired shut, as he continued to finish his debut album, “The College Dropout.” In this episode, we begin to see how impactful West’s music is and how he dealt with the newfound success of his first album. 

The last episode of the series, “act iii: AWAKENING,” feels the most rushed with content as it contains the rest of Kanye’s extensive career after “The College Dropout.” The last episode glosses over many of Kanye’s most infamous moments in order to fit the rest of his twenty-year life into an hour and a half.

The first two episodes, “VISION” and “PURPOSE,” give an astounding look into who West really is outside of the spotlight. It conveys his true love for his craft and his hunger for success. Simmons functions as a third party perspective  through Kanye’s creative process making his first album. Simmons shows Kanye’s drive to be more than a background producer and to make a name for himself. The most emotional moments are West’s interactions with his mother, Donda, who is his biggest supporter and motivator. His love and admiration for his mother is an important part of why West never lost hope in his dreams. Donda gives West confidence in what he’s doing, making him better at his art. We see that West’s love for his craft comes from Donda’s love and belief in him, and I believe that without her support, West would not have become the artist he is today. While West continues to gain success, he never loses touch with his mother. After seeing how Donda impacted West’s life, it is devastating to see how her death massively impacted West and his mental health afterward. These moments with Donda show a West who is vulnerable and humble while also showcasing Donda’s impact on West.

It has recently become increasingly difficult to justify West’s actions. However, when looking at “VISION” and “PURPOSE,” viewers can see why West is so widely loved and admired by many of his fans. West’s determination and hunger for success is something that is deeply admired universally, especially considering artists like Pharrell and Jay-Z who are in awe of West’s pure talent. It is West’s early years which personally piqued my interest in him as an artist; he was a fresh face with incredible talent, and he was doing what he loved.

When viewing the last episode, I could feel the disconnect between Simmons and West in the growing years. “AWAKENING” is a very packed episode and is clearly rushed in comparison to the last two episodes. This episode quickly passes through some of the most major public moments in West’s career.

When I first saw the trailer, there were many clips of West’s most public moments: West saying on live television that, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” West interrupting Taylor Swift’s award speech and West’s relationship with Donald Trump. Simmons might have rushed through these moments because this project was not meant to be completely about West’s life. I think when setting out to make this documentary, Simmons just wanted to capture what he saw in a young and up incoming musical genius. 

While I still have my criticisms towards the last episode, it does illustrate the constant struggles that came after West’s debut album, especially after the passing of his mother. “Jeen-Yuhs” serves to give people an insight into who West really is behind all the controversies and drama surrounding his life.

Simmons’ awe for West’s art is apparent throughout the series, and we as the viewers see why West has amassed such a devoted fan-base throughout his musical career. This documentary is definitely one for long-time fans of West, but the first two episodes can also serve as a way for nonfans to understand West’s impact on music today. While many fans today can agree that West can at times be difficult to support, it is undeniable that he is incredibly talented at what he does.