Kanye West On Upcoming Doc 'In Whose Name?': 'It Was Like I Was Dead Looking Back On My Life'

Ye (formally known as Kanye West) has another documentary in the works, but this time it will be directed by a newcomer with a “billion dollar budget” and “armed with an iPhone” instead of two old friends from Chicago.

Directed by 18-year-old Nico Ballesteros and produced by Goodfellas and Utopia, the doc will premiere at the upcoming American Film Market in Las Vegas with a promo reel this week with a hopeful release date sometime in 2025.

Via the press release, the synopsis reads: “With a billion dollar budget and a commitment to the 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 of celebrity life confronting the challenging opinions, big visions and daring counterintuitiveness that have established him as the world's most controversial artist.

“The film follows Ye's rise to become the richest black man in American history while revealing why the superstar risked everything he had built in the name of freedom. Examining the culture that spawned the star, “In Whose Name?” explores the overlapping influences of corporate exploitation, racial complexities, and psychological struggles inherent in the American Dream.”

Marie Zeniter, Vice President of Sales at Utopia said in a statement: “We are excited to introduce In Whose Name? This powerful documentary offers an unfiltered view without narrative, inviting the audience to draw their own conclusions about matters of fame, religion and power. We believe audiences worldwide deserve the opportunity to watch one of the world's most influential figures navigate the complexities and contradictions of celebrity.”

Ballesteros posted a photo from the document and a text exchange with Ye on Instagram, along with the caption, Coming to Theaters Worldwide 2025. In the text exchange, Ye apparently told the young director, “The document was very deep. It was like I was dead and looking back on my life,” to which Ballesteros replied, “That's the most profound text message I've ever received. I love you bro.”

Aside from the doc, Ye is also working on his 11th studio album titled Bully.