Kanye West has revealed what he thinks of upcoming documentary In Whose Name? which he has watched for the first time.
Directed by 18-year-old Nico Ballesteros, the film follows the controversial last six years of West’s life and was shot just using an iPhone.
Sharing a screenshot of a text message conversation he had with West on Instagram, Ballesteros revealed the rapper and mogul’s emotional response to the film.
West said to Ballesteros: “The doc was very deep. It was like being dead and looking back on my life.”
The teenage director replied: “This is the most profound text message I have ever received. I love you brother.”
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Ballesteros also hinted that people would be able to watch the documentary soon, captioning the post: “Coming to Theaters Worldwide 2025.”
In Whose Name? was unveiled just last month and claims it will “offer a unique and cinematic perspective on Ye’s public transformation”.
The synopsis reads: “With a billion-dollar budget and a commitment to truth, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, invites 18-year-old Nicolas Ballesteros armed with an iPhone on a six-year journey revealing unfiltered aspects of celebrity life which confront the provocative opinions, grand visions and bold contrarianism that defined him as the world’s most controversial artist.
“The film follows Ye’s ascent to becoming the richest Black man in American history while uncovering why the superstar risked everything he had built in the name of freedom. Examining the culture that birthed the star, In Whose Name? explores the overlapping influences of corporate exploitation, racial complexities and psychological struggles inherent in the American dream.”
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The period the documentary covers includes West’s highly publicized break-up from Kim Kardashian, a bid for president of the United States and an antisemitism controversy which included the rapper praising Adolf Hitler.
It is not known if the film will cover such events and to what degree West has creative control over the project.
A previous documentary about West, Jeen-Yuhs, was made by longtime friend Coodie Simmons and his partner Chike Ozah and released on Netflix in 2022 and was praised for its use of never before seen footage of a young Ye trying to make it in the music business.
