Ye, known for revealing much of his life through music and public statements, is now offering a deeper, unfiltered look into his world in the upcoming documentary In Whose Name?. Directed by Nico Ballesteros, the film promises an intimate and often intense portrait of the Chicago-born artist, exploring his mental health, personal relationships, and creative drive.
The trailer, released this week, spans different chapters of Ye’s career with a strong focus on his experiences living with bipolar disorder and his decision to stop taking prescribed medication. Opening the preview, Ye plainly states, “I’m off my meds for five months now.” Later, he makes an even more striking declaration, saying he would rather be dead than have to take medication. Yet, he also frames his diagnosis through an artistic lens, noting, “You know the best thing about being an artist and bipolar? Anything you do and say is an art piece.”
The film, set to premiere exclusively in theaters on Sept. 19, also delves into Ye’s marriage to Kim Kardashian and the toll his unpredictable lifestyle took on their family. In one emotional moment from the trailer, Kim tells him, “Your personality was not like this a few years ago.” Another scene shows the two arguing on a couch, followed by a heated moment where Ye shouts about almost killing his daughter.
His Sunday Service movement also features prominently. Ye recalls how the concept came to him during a hospital stay, admitting that he once felt “embarrassed or ashamed” to cry. The trailer shifts to a Sunday Service gathering where the late DMX and Kid Cudi stand by him, offering comfort as he sheds tears.
Ballesteros spent six years filming Ye, capturing over 3,000 hours of footage through grueling 15-hour days. The documentary also traces his return to his childhood home in Chicago. “Ye returns to his childhood home in Chicago, walking through its empty rooms with neighbors who knew his family when he was a boy,” the description reveals. “In these moments, stripped of fame, he reflects on his roots, his grief, and the family he longs to hold onto. Walking through Ye’s inner circle, we see the loyal, the opportunistic, and the legendary; a man alternately driven by vision and consumed by ambition.”