Y’Ian Noel Flawlessly Embodies Kanye West In New Short Film, ‘Yay’
Y’Ian Noel may have to play Kanye West in an official biopic after this performance.
On Friday (Dec. 13), blase.world uploaded a short film, Yay, based on the complex artist and starring Noel.
The film follows a particular moment in West’s life when he was at odds with Adidas and wanted out of his UMG deal. Noel remarkably channels the rapper’s mannerisms, speech patterns, facial expressions, and even his demeanor as he shouts on the phone and to people around him during a photoshoot.
Morgan Stevenson Cooper handles the direction of the piece, with moody lighting and distortion to add to Noel’s emotionally charged performance. The film comes to a head towards the end of the piece, as Noel can be seen riding in a car with his daughter, North West. North asks her dad why he’s always on the phone, to which West hangs up and returns to earth—grounded in his love for family.
Reactions to the film were overwhelmingly positive, with social media praising everything from the color grading to the acting. “Interesting how he keeps setting boundaries, and they keep overstepping,” one account typed on IG. “This was a really beautiful representation of what I truly believe is Kanye’s mind. Great performance and artistry!” another account opined. “I can tell how much thought and intent you put into your silence and voice. Your performance has incredible depth and intention! I’m such a fan now!” one man commented.
The short film is based on Ye’s infamous rant where he calls out Cardi B for allegedly being a part of the “Illuminati” and voices his disdain for Scooter Braun and Adidas.
The ran also found Ye shifting his attention toward his G.O.O.D. Music collaborators. West could be seen losing his temper with Scooter Braun when discussing leaving his once-coveted label behind. He shares how he regrets producing projects for Teyana Taylor, Pusha T, and Nas. The Chicago producer also alleges that the trio of artists didn’t “appreciate” him.
Watch the short film above.
More from VIBE.com
Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
