Read my 'Voice Retrospect : I Miss The Old Kanye', and it will be evident how much of a fan I am of Kanye West.
So you can imagine my excitement when I heard there would be a documentary on the multi-hyphenate. Netflix’s ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ [Genius] chronicles the story of one of the most polarising figures within hip-hop, from ‘The College Dropout’ to ‘The Life Of Pablo’.
This review will assess three criteria before deciding on a rating; plot, soundtrack and cinematography.
Plot
Jeen-Yuhs looks through the eyes of one of the artist’s oldest friends - Clarence Ivy Simmons Jr. (‘Coodie’). Coodie documents Ye’s journey from his humble origins as a producer to the star he is today. Indeed, this documentary was not something commissioned by the streaming service and subsequently filmed,, but a labour of love from a man who was there as it happened and thankfully had been filming it all. Jeen-Yuhs’ story has religious undertones, which is no surprise considering that Coodie and Kanye are Christian, but there certainly seem to be deeper lessons which can be gleaned from the three-part doc.
Naturally, the plot follows a chronological sequence and is conveniently organised into three ‘acts’; ‘VISION’, ‘PURPOSE’ and ‘AWAKENING’.
The plot is hard to criticise given that it is based off of fact but it certainly makes you feel a type of way. Below, I will explore the plot and the artist’s career arc in some of my personal favourite moments of Jeen-Yuhs.
Act I - VISION
VISION chronicles the beginning of the magnate’s transition from a producer to producer and rapper. Kanye is virtually unrecognisable to those who may only know him from the sensationalist headlines; friendly, funny, personable and engaging with Coodie – a far cry from the man who punches paparazzi.
One of the stand-out segments from the film, which will no doubt resonate with viewers, is his mother, Donda. Coodie manages to capture intimate and inspiring moments we would otherwise not be privy to, delivering quotables such as the incredible line; “the giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing”.
Kanye is clearly driven in large part by the belief instilled in him by his mother and sets sights on NYC. Unfortunately, we see doors slammed in the bright-eyed creative’s face, and he is just not taken seriously – Ye is recognised as a producer but certainly not as a rapper and this is all much to his visible dismay. One of the most memorable scenes from this act and indeed perhaps even the documentary as a whole, is when he stalks the offices of Roc-A-Fella Records playing ‘All Falls Down’ to the disinterested staff.
This is in many ways an underdog story and therefore needs to show him being the underdog. Coodie does a tremendous job of adopting a ‘fly on the wall’ style that inspires frustration from viewers. After all, the show is named what it is because of a later conversation between Kanye and Rhymefest - Rhymefest asking him; “who are you to call yourself a genius?”
Act II - PURPOSE
PURPOSE is something of a turning point, where we finally see talent being recognised for what it is.
However, it’s not that straightforward.
Kanye first has to endure a life-altering car crash, which infamously left him with his jaw wired shut. Kanye has never been one to lack faith in himself though, and turns this setback into a stepping stone. In ‘Through The Wire’, we are made privy to the creative process behind the platinum-selling record.
The momentum starts to change when he is finally embraced by the likes of Jay-Z and Dame Dash. Dame famously had only signed him for his beats but later blessed him with the iconic label’s chain. Jay-Z even gives him the opportunity to rap a verse over a track from ‘The Blueprint 2’ on ‘The Verse’.
PURPOSE is perhaps the episode which best displays the career arc and the essence of Kanye West. Unfortunately, this represents the peak of the curve.
Act III - AWAKENING
AWAKENING is a stark reminder of the price of fame.
Kanye may have got closer to fame, but tragically further away than ever before from both Coodie and Donda. Kanye forgets Coodie, literally. The now famous artist forgets one of his longest-standing friend’s name, and passes over him to enlist Hype Williams to direct ‘Jesus Walks’ (although later reshoots it with him).
Donda passes away and in doing so he loses not just his mother but also his mentor and inspiration. The tragedy hits him hard and we see his mental health deteriorate in the public eye for all to witness. Coodie to his credit however handles this sensitively and masterfully.
The episode is dark but some glimpses of sunlight do manage to seep through the cracks. Coodie and Kanye, for example, do eventually reconnect, just in time for The Life Of Pablo, allowing the former to capture some now iconic moments.
You have to remember that this is a documentary, not a fairy-tale, so a happy ending is not promised. Coodie frequently chooses to stop recording and distress is clear in his voice over his childhood friend, ending with something that almost resembles a prayer for Kanye.
Thoughts on the plot
Jeen-Yuhs is perhaps one of the most visceral, rich, and in-depth documentaries I have ever watched. ‘The Last Dance’ comes to mind in that it is also a documentary which anybody can watch and enjoy, regardless of what you think of Kanye West.
If you're a fan then you are in for an absolute treat as it will help you appreciate the man and the music. There’s no doubt that you will watch the documentary and either re-listen to or discover classics such as The College Dropout.
Whilst I personally loved every second of the documentary I have to think about other viewers as well. The episodes clock in at around about ninety-minutes each so if you’re not necessarily a fan of Kanye, it can feel bloated.
Soundtrack
I chuckled at the thought of reviewing the soundtrack as it is primarily filled with music from the subject: Kanye West.
For me, I loved the soundtrack and high and low moments were accompanied by complimentary scores. These stirred emotion at just the right moments whether that be feelings of joy or feelings of melancholy. Kanye’s own music certainly doesn’t hurt either.
Cinematography
Beautiful.
What I loved about the doc is the juxtaposition between two styles that are the antithesis of eachother. Coodie’s recordings from his camcorder are candid, grainy and at times can be a little… unprofessional. Yet, he makes the creative decision to juxtapose these with clean, high-quality images that are just incredible – one which still stands out in the final episode is where the artist gets hoisted in the air at the listening party for Donda.
This allows the documentary to walk the delicate line between being personal without missing anything. Coodie does an excellent job of showcasing how big his muse was becoming with professional shots, before cutting to videos he recorded on the fly that let the audience into what is normally a locked door.
Coodie’s cinematography is not just excellent but is complimented by an equally as good creative vision.
Verdict
I would absolutely recommend watching Jeen-Yuhs regardless of whether or not you are a big fan of Kanye West.
As I said, just don’t go into it expecting a fairy tale but instead a candid peep behind the curtain. The plot is an extended look, which is a treat for fans but may perhaps feel a bit bloated for others. Coodie’s underlying religious tones also impart wisdom without ever feeling condescending, which can be a fine line to balance.
The soundtrack and cinematography, in my opinion, are absolutely excellent and frame this story well. Kanye’s story is something which seems as if it was ripped straight out of a movie, and they do it justice – who doesn’t love a good old ‘rags to riches’ story?
I can understand if its length and your subjective music taste may lead to you knocking off a star. Personally, I wouldn’t, I feel Jeen-Yuhs is essential viewing regardless of whether you’re a fan of Kanye West or not.
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