All the Celeb Cameos in Kanye West's “Jeen-Yuhs” Doc

Known as one of the most iconic rappers from the late 1990s through the 2000s and beyond, JAY-Z is a producer, songwriter, and rapper who became popular after the release of his debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” in 1996. The two collaborated several times together, and the rapper appears in “Jeen-Yuhs” amidst the release of his 2001 album, “The Blueprint,” which West helped produce. JAY-Z also founded Roc-A-Fella records in the mid-’90s, which eventually gave West his first record deal and helped to propel his debut album to success.

Pharrell Williams is a music producer, rapper, and singer. He is most known for his eclectic music style and collaborations with musicians ranging from Daft Punk to Robin Thicke. Williams and West came together through their mutual friend JAY-Z, and they’re seen together in “Jeen-Yuhs” backstage at a concert during JAY-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Dynasty Tour. The two collaborated on several songs in the 2000s, like “Number One” and “Gotta Have It.” In a 2020 interview for i-D, West recognised Williams as one of his musical influences due to his unique style.

West’s mother, Donda, is featured heavily in the first episode of “Jeen-Yuhs.” Several people in the documentary refer to her as “everybody’s mother,” and she is often seen supporting her son throughout his journey to establish himself as a rapper. Her relationship with West is gentle and loving, and she is shown to be a constant in his life. Donda tragically died in 2007 of a heart attack following complications arising from cosmetic surgery.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is a rapper, songwriter, and producer most known for his collaborations with big-time artists like Notorious B.I.G, Mase, and Mary J. Blige. Though Combs is not featured in the first episode of “Jeen-Yuhs”, West and Combs were in the same circle of both rappers and friends and went on to produce music together.

Mos Def was among the growing group of New York-based rap and hip-hop artists in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Alongside friend and rapper Talib Kweli (who is also featured in “Jeen-Yuhs”), Def went on to create a successful music career. He is first seen in New York with West, hanging out with Kweli and listening to music that he produced.

In the first episode of “Jeen-Yuhs,” rapper Mase is first seen at Jermaine Dupri’s birthday party in 1998, among others (including rap group Harlem World and West himself). Mase gained popularity after signing with Bad Boy Records, the New York-based record label founded by Combs. West has

called Mase his “favourite rapper ever,” and the two collaborated on West’s “Cruel Summer” album together.

Chicago native and rapper Common had humble beginnings like West did, and he grew to become a popular and beloved rap artist in the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s. In both West’s and Common’s early years of rapping, they both worked with Chicago-based producer No I.D., who is referenced frequently in the first episode of “Jeen-Yuhs.” Common and West would later collaborate together for Common’s “Be” album and West’s debut album, “The College Dropout.”

Rapper Ludacris gained notoriety in the early 2000s for early songs like “Stand Up,” which West helped produce. Ludacris is featured in the trailer for “Jeen-Yuhs” and will most likely be seen in the later episodes of the documentary as he and West collaborate together.