[Image courtesy of the Los Angleles Times]

By Grace Koennecke, Staff Writer

Kanye West, also legally known as Ye, debuted Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy – Act 1 (Vision)  at Sundance Film Festival last Sunday night. Act 1 (Vision) is the first of three parts to be released, with a seven and a half hour run time. 

Directed by friends of West, Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah, Act 1 (Vision) specifically starts in 1998 at a birthday party for the Atlanta-based producer and head of So So Def Records, Jermaine Dupri. It also shows West’s evolution from the start of his career with rapper Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records in the late 1990s until he became the label’s newest artist. 21-year-old West was at the forefront throughout the first part with fellow artists such as Ma$e and Cardan. It creates the tone for the rest of the film, highlighting the rapper’s youth and determination to become successful in the cutthroat world of hip hop.

West’s hunger for fame and stardom was present as scenes of the rapper wearing retainers to alter his voice and running 20 blocks from one studio to the next, searching in earnest for Jay-Z to hear his decks. This intimate moment proves the drive West has and gives insight to the early days of his rap career.

The documentary is set for nationwide theatrical release Feb. 10 before its Netflix premiere on Feb. 16. West said to Pitchfork “I must get final edit and approval on this doc before it releases on Netflix”. With this being said, it is now unclear if West will allow for the film to be shown on the streaming platform.