Kanye West ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ Documentarians Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah Talk About The Netflix Trilogy

Name: Kanye West ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ Documentarians Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah Talk About The Netflix Trilogy
Uploaded: 2025-11-07T06:36:10-08:00
Duration: 50 min 9 s
Channel: SWAY'S UNIVERSE
Description: Documentarians Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah discuss the creation of the Netflix trilogy 'Genius,' detailing their 15-year journey filming Kanye West…

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About this episode Documentarians Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah discuss the creation of the Netflix trilogy 'Genius,' detailing t… AI summary

Documentarians Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah discuss the creation of the Netflix trilogy 'Genius,' detailing their 15-year journey filming Kanye West from his early days in Chicago to his global stardom. They emphasize that their success and Kanye's were parallel, driven by unwavering faith, patience, and a commitment to authenticity over financial gain or control. The conversation highlights how maintaining a genuine, unfiltered relationship allowed them to capture a definitive narrative that Kanye himself eventually embraced.

Key takeaways 5

Financial Leverage in Creative Partnerships: Coodie Simmons deliberately avoided taking payment for early footage (like the 'Through the Wire' video) to maintain creative control and leverage. He explains that taking money would have meant losing ownership of the story, stating, 'if he decides to like make it easier on him to get this done and take money he loses all his leverage he loses control over the project.'
The Role of Faith in Patience: The documentarians attribute their ability to endure a 15-year filming process and Kanye's volatile behavior to deep faith. Chike Ozah notes that Coodie's faith provided the patience necessary to stay the course, describing Coodie as a 'godsend' who helped build his own faith and keep the long-term vision clear amidst short-term chaos.
Editing Philosophy: The team used Robert McKee's book 'Story' as a guiding principle for editing 330 hours of footage down to 6 hours. Their rubric was strict: 'if this amazing clip that would go viral everywhere if it don't move the story forward we have to get rid of it,' prioritizing narrative cohesion over viral moments.
Authenticity Through Non-Judgment: Coodie Simmons explains that Kanye remained 'real' around him because Coodie never judged or tried to manipulate him. He states, 'you can't be any other side of yourself other than your real self when you're in front of cody,' suggesting that his empathetic, non-performative presence allowed for intimate access that others couldn't achieve.
Redefining Genius: The core thesis of the documentary is that genius is not tied to madness but to dedication. Chike Ozah defines genius simply as 'putting so many hours into something that you love and are passionate about that it and what you're doing you far exceed the average person in that.'

Notable quotes 5 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.

“Yesterday's price is not today's price.”

▶ 3:31 Coodie Simmons clarifying a viral quote often attributed to Kanye West, noting it was originally said by Heather B and co-opted by Kanye.
“If it don't move the story forward we have to get rid of it.”

▶ 15:48 Coodie Simmons explaining their strict editing criteria for the documentary, prioritizing narrative over viral potential.
“You can't be so mean you can't be any other side of yourself other than your real self when you're in front of cody.”

▶ 31:13 Chike Ozah describing why Kanye remained authentic around Coodie, highlighting Coodie's role as a non-judgmental observer.
“Genius is simply like putting so many hours into something that you love and are passionate about that it and what you're doing you far exceed the average person in that.”

▶ 34:07 Chike Ozah defining genius as a result of dedication and passion rather than mental instability.
“I didn't see that kanye when i started filming i didn't see my daughter you know as this alien looking baby.”

▶ 16:50 Coodie Simmons reflecting on the parallel growth he witnessed between Kanye's rise and his own daughter's development during the filming period.