An unauthorized documentary about Kanye West, In Whose Name?, opens in select theaters Friday and surveys six years of the rapper's life from 2018 to 2024. Directed by Nico Ballesteros, the film presents West as a complex figure navigating personal health challenges, family tensions and a string of public moments that have helped shape his career.
The film includes rare iPhone footage that captures West during periods of crisis, showing him at odds with Kim Kardashian and affecting the Kardashian–Jenner family dynamic. Ballesteros, who was 18 when filming began, documents West's struggles with bipolar disorder and questions about medication, alongside a history of controversial statements and behavior.
The documentary traces long-running feuds and pivotal moments, including the 2009 VMAs incident with Taylor Swift, and scenes with Pharrell Williams warning about consequences for West's career. It also portrays West's conversations with Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens and his broader look at culture and politics.
Beyond West, the film includes appearances by Lady Gaga, Drake, LeBron James, Chris Rock, Diddy, Rihanna and Justin Bieber, and features Elon Musk in exchanges about West and Kardashian's relationship and West's reported interest in a White House entrance.
The film does not shy away from West's attempts to frame his experiences in the public eye, including discussions about moving to Illinois and other personal decisions revealed in the footage, and it presents a portrait that intertwines celebrity culture with larger cultural and political discourse.
In Whose Name? opens in select theaters on Sept. 19, 2025, inviting audiences to weigh the complex mix of artistry, mental health, family dynamics and public perception that have characterized West's career over the past decade.