A raw documentary charts Kanye West’s rise, backlash and personal unravelling, now streaming worldwide
A new documentary offering an unfiltered look into the life of Kanye West has begun streaming, promising audiences an intimate and unsettling portrait of one of the most polarising figures in modern popular culture.
Titled In Whose Name?, the film is directed by Nicolas Ballesteros and follows West over a six-year period marked by creative ambition, personal strain and escalating public controversy. The documentary arrived on digital platforms this week, months after its theatrical release in September, and is now available to watch at home.
The project began when Ballesteros was just 18 years old and found himself immersed in West’s orbit. What started as a quiet observation gradually became an intense chronicle of life inside a world shaped by global fame, relentless pressure and emotional volatility. Over thousands of hours of footage, the filmmaker captured moments of artistic brilliance alongside episodes of instability, paranoia and collapse.
The documentary traces West as he navigates bipolar disorder, the breakdown of his marriage, diminishing corporate partnerships and a growing wave of public backlash. These personal struggles unfold in parallel with the continued expansion of his business empire, creating a stark contrast between success and fragility. The film does not attempt to soften these contradictions. Instead, it places them side by side, forcing viewers to confront the cost of celebrity at its most extreme.
Running for one hour and 44 minutes, In Whose Name? was assembled from roughly 3,000 hours of raw material. The result is a tightly edited narrative that moves between moments of triumph and visible psychological strain. The documentary presents West not only as a cultural force but also as a man increasingly shaped by the intensity of his own persona.
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Throughout the film, appearances and commentary from prominent figures underline West’s enormous influence across music, fashion and popular culture. Kim Kardashian features prominently, alongside Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, LeBron James and Elon Musk. Their presence reinforces the scale of West’s reach while also highlighting how closely his personal struggles have played out on a global stage.
Rather than functioning as a traditional celebrity profile, the film positions itself as a meditation on ambition, identity and belief. It examines how West’s pursuit of meaning through music, faith and fashion became inseparable from public scrutiny. As sponsorships faded and criticism mounted, the documentary shows a figure grappling with the consequences of fame that no longer offers protection.
Ballesteros’ perspective is central to the film’s tone. The director does not present himself as detached. Instead, the documentary reflects his own transformation as a young filmmaker witnessing the extremes of the West’s world. Long shooting days, constant proximity and emotional exposure shape both the subject and the storyteller, blurring the line between observer and participant.
The film’s release comes at a moment when interest in West’s legacy remains intense and deeply divided. For some viewers, In Whose Name? may feel like a confrontation with uncomfortable truths. For others, it offers insight into how unchecked visibility and mental health struggles can collide with devastating consequences.
Now available via premium video on demand, the documentary can be purchased or rented across major digital platforms. While pricing varies, the release ensures that the film’s stark portrayal of fame, breakdown and resilience is accessible to a global audience.
In Whose Name? does not offer easy answers or redemption guarantees. Instead, it leaves viewers with a lingering question about responsibility, identity and the human cost of building an empire under constant surveillance.
