By: Alex Madsen 
Kanye West, Ye, YEEZY, Genius, Idiot, anti-Semite. These are some of the vast array of labels Kanye West has acquired throughout his time in the spotlight following his debut album The College Dropout in 2004. It seems everyone has an extreme opinion on the artist, with two prominent labels being the consensus between fans and haters alike: controversial and influential.
West has dominated the music and fashion scenes with his groundbreaking and often reckless sense of creation. In fact, the majority of artists within the hip-hop industry can trace direct inspiration back to West. He has been a pioneer in music after revolutionary leaps of faith in the genre, such as chipmunk soul, jazz infused rap, autotune/emotional toned rap, aggressive rap, synth heavy instrumentals, gospel and more. However, after a string of antisemitic remarks in late 2022, West found himself falling from the public’s graces. He apologized for his remarks recently, with a full-page ad in the Washington Post, in which he blamed his erratic behavior on failing to take his bipolar medication.
Due to West’s interesting life, in 2008, director Nico Ballesteros, who was 18 at the time, was granted exclusive access to film West constantly. Now, after 3,000 hours of footage that has now been edited, Ballesteros has finally released these first-hand accounts in a documentary, spotlighting the most controversial and influential figure in modern art. IN WH
OSE NAME premiered in theaters mid-September 2025 before being released on streaming services within the past week. From the comfort of my couch, I had the opportunity to watch the film.
Notably, Ballesteros went with a very distinctive approach on the production. Contrary to the majority of documentary productions, IN WHOSE NAME opts for no omniscient commentary over the clips, placing the focus on the actual actions and 
dialogue within the clips. This unorthodox approach is the most impactful, given the content of the documentary.
ACT ONE of the documentary starts at a Grammy award show, where a younger West is shown smiling ear to ear after performing his magnum opus “Runaway.” Many A-list celebrities run up to West to send praise and applause for his extravagant performance. Later, we see the young West’s sly awkwardness and humility transform into unordered arrogance. He starts losing (or gaining) control after a conflict-filled Saturday Night Live performance and a White House visit, all around 2018. West’s wife at the time, Kim Kardashian, is visibly and audibly upset at her husband’s controversial remarks about slavery, the music industry and Donald Trump.
ACT TWO has the central theme of West’s faith and reinvention. After falling out of the public’s grace, West abandoned his highly anticipated album Yandhi and completely reinvented his lifestyle to appease the Lord. West started a prayer group, The Sunday Service, where he offered traditional and spiritual gospel songs. The Sunday Service performed in prison for the incarcerated. West moved himself and attempted to move his family—to Kardashian’s disapproval—to a 6,700-acre ranch in Wyoming.
Finally, the t
heme of ACT THREE revolves around destruction and consequence. This section starts with the definitive decline of West’s public persona and private life. Kardashian officially divorced him in the summer of 2021. West did not take the breakup well and decided to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt in an appearance with controversial right-wing columnist Candace Owens. West later started tweeting anti-semantic rhetoric, depicting Jews as money hungry and corrupt. Adidas dropped West, along with nearly every other company associated with him. The act finishes on the creation, performance and release of DONDA, A Kanye album dedicated to his beloved late mother, Dr. Donda West.
The documentary is brilliant, as it fully illustrates West without endorsing or condemning his views and actions. Ballesteros clearly and intentionally presents a full, unfiltered vision of the legendary artist’s actions within the documentary’s timeframe. It provides a fascinating and compelling glimpse into the intricacies of the modern Picasso.
