He’s already made a name for himself as a producer at this point in the documentary and is working to gain credibility as a rapper.
Simmons had met West a few years before while filming his public access show “Channel Zero,” which chronicled the rise of hip-hop in Chicago. The filmmaker recognized immediately that West was “different” and took a “leap of faith,” he says, moving to New York City to make a documentary following West as far as he could go.
“People used to always ask me why would I stop everything to start filming Kanye? Well, watching his dreams become reality showed me — it showed everyone — that if you move in faith, all things are possible,” Simmons says in the series. “And to think, this was just the beginning.”
Simmons chronicles West through the car accident that left his jaw wired shut and inspired the breakout hit “Through the Wire.” He’s there for the recording of “The College Dropout” and the 2005 Grammys, where it was awarded best rap album.
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In footage filmed at the time, both men credit God with their success.
Asked why he thinks he’s been so successful, West says, “I just think it was in God’s plan. I think he just has me here for a reason, and I have something to say.”
As Simmons parts ways to pursue making films and music videos, he says, “I’m going to go out here, and I’m going to do my thing, because I already know that I ain’t really doing this. God’s doing this. He’s directing. I’m like, I’m just going to hold the camera.”
Simmons planned to end the documentary there, he says in the series, but West was leery of giving audiences such an intimate look into his life. (As recently as last month, West demanded he be allowed to edit and approve the Netflix documentary.)
And so Simmons spends the last episode watching with the rest of the world as West courts controversy, struggles publicly with his mental health and emerges as a Christian artist.
The filmmaker reconnects with West, offering encouragement and prayer at low points. Simmons films some of the “Jesus Is King” recording sessions, where West declares, “I dealt with a lot of fear and anxiety, and now that I’m reborn, every day, every moment is the best day of my life. Each day keeps getting better.” Simmons thinks he finally has the ending to his docuseries.
“From ‘Jesus Walks’ to ‘Jesus Is King,’ things had come full circle. God had directed us all to this point, and now it felt like our movie had the perfect ending — at least that’s what I thought,” Simmons says.
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Then comes the announcement of West’s run for president, his breakdown during a rally. There are moments when Simmons puts down his camera, uncomfortable filming when he knows West has struggled with his mental health.
