BONUS: On Trump, 'Jeen-Yuhs' director breaks with Kanye; talks drive, talent & the retainers with Ari

From rebuking Pres. Bush over Hurrican Katrina, to backing Pres. Trump, to mounting his own brief run for President, Ye (formerly Kanye West) has made himself a controversial, unavoidable part of American politics, music, culture, fashion, social media, and business for decades. Two of his oldest collaborators and friends, Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, explain their belief and fascination in the artist and billionaire entrepreneur Ye -- even amidst some disagreements over politics, values, and business -- as they unveil one of the most unusual, long-running documentaries ever made, Netflix's "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy." The new film draws on hundreds of hours of previously unseen footage, 20 years in the making, which began when Simmons decided to devote years to filming a then-unknown music producer. In one of the most extensive, in-depth interviews about the project, Simmons and Ozah talk with MSNBC anchor and music obsessive Ari Melber about Ye; his relationship with them, other artists and his mother Donda - whom they knew well; the complex backstory of the project; the racial dynamics that Ye faced in the industry; their discussions about Drake narrating the film; how anyone can tap the lessons of passion and a "genius" mindset; and, on a lighter note, the way a young Ye's retainers figured into his early years. Ye is a complex artist and person who has proven controversial, maddening, gifted, and inspiring to so many people around the world. This bonus podcast explores some of the reasons for that, with people who have studied his life and work. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.