Nico Ballesteros’ documentary about Kanye West is hitting streamers at midnight.
In Whose Name? will be accessible on Apple, Amazon, Google/YouTube and Fandango (in select territories) after being released theatrically on Sept. 19.
Ballesteros began shadowing the rapper, also known as Ye, when he was a mere 18 over a period of six years. The doc chronicles West’s bipolar diagnosis, his mental health struggles, the demolition of his marriage to Kim Kardashian and his controversies over the years.
“I am humbled at the reception this movie has gotten from audiences, critics and my peers in the filmmaking community,” Ballesteros said in a statement. “By extending its reach beyond the theater, the film brings its exploration of American belief, power and identity to a global audience, offering a deeper understanding of America’s contradictions while illuminating the life and legacy of one of the most iconic entertainers of our time.”
In the teaser for the doc, West says, “I’m off my meds for five months now. … I would rather be dead than be on medication.” One viral moment from In Whose Name? that The Hollywood Reporter exclusively obtained before its release saw the rapper and Elon Musk discuss the billionaire’s relationship with his former partner and mother of three of his children, Grimes. (Her real name is Claire Elise Boucher.)
“So are you and Kim like off and on or something? Or, I don’t know, it’s hard to tell,” Musk said to West, to which he didn’t answer. “Claire and I, Grimes, we’re sort of … in the same text stream, she’s like, ‘I love you.’ And then, like, you know, a day later, like, ‘I hate you.’”
“And what do you do?” West asked. “And you probably know exactly, and I’m like, ‘Whoa, OK.’ Yeah, exactly,” Musk responded, which led to a long pause before the “I Wonder” rapper responded, “I don’t have answers. Answers to everything except for that.”
And Musk isn’t the only high profile cameo, as President Donald Trump, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Drake, Rihanna, LeBron James, Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, Diddy, Anna Wintour, the late Charlie Kirk and Kim Kardashian all appear in the doc.
The film’s official synopsis reads, “What began as silent observation evolved into a profound journey of artistic and personal growth. Immersed in Ye’s world of extremes, he bore witness to brilliance and breakdowns, triumphs and turmoil; but also observed the paranoia and intensity that increasingly shaped Ye’s world. In the end, Ballesteros captured not just a portrait of Ye, but a reflection of the human condition in all its contradictions.”
Filmmaker Ballesteros spoke with THR ahead of the doc’s release, where he said it was “very important” to him that the project had a theatrical release when asked how he hopes it will be received.
“I cut a film for the theatrical experience, not for anything else. I edited the film in a theater. The fact that it’s getting a wide release and not something that’s limited or only available for a weekend already, is something that I’m so grateful for,” he said. “That alone really is the world to me, honestly.”
Ballesteros directed, produced and edited In Whose Name?, while Simran A. Singh produced. Jack M. Russell and Justin Staple served as editors; Nick Jarjour and Amy A. Singh executive produced; Shy Ranje and Jack M. Russell co-produced; and Justin Staple co-executive produced.
