In their new Prime Video documentary Megan Thee Stallion: In her wordsGrammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion takes an in-depth look at her public triumphs and personal struggles behind the spotlight. The Nneka Onuorah-directed film, presented by Amazon MGM Studios in association with Roc Nation and TIME Studios, premiered at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles and ten other IMAX theaters across the United States, attracting fans and industry insiders alike.

The San Antonio-born artist, whose real name is Megan Pete, dedicates a significant portion of the film to the memory of her mother, Holly Thomas. Thomas, who died of brain cancer in 2019, was Megan’s first manager and most enthusiastic supporter, and the documentary captures Megan’s struggle with grief and her journey to healing, even under the pressure of the spotlight. “I drew so much strength from my mother. She was super tough, super outspoken, and when I found her voice inside me, I thought, ‘Go out there and tell people exactly who you are.'”

Portions of the film take viewers back to Megan’s early rise to fame and the struggles the “Hot Girl Summer” rapper faced along her journey. In a tearful segment, Megan described the heartache of having to decide whether to take her mother off life support, noting that the moment took a toll on her life and career.

Notably, the documentary doesn’t shy away from Megan’s 2020 assault by rapper Tory Lanez, a case that garnered much publicity surrounding domestic violence, assault, and other aspects of the duo’s relationship. Lanez was later convicted of the attack and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, there has been ongoing debate over the incident, with both artists facing intense public scrutiny in different ways.

Filmmaker Nneka Onuorah faced a unique challenge in capturing such deeply personal content. According to Onuorah, Megan was initially cautious about sharing her story, so she held back. “Sometimes she wouldn’t show up,” Onuorah said diversity. “There were days when I had to call her at 3 a.m. just to say, ‘Look, I’m here to support you as a woman.'” Ultimately, their countless late-night conversations paid off, and Onuorah was able to take some of them with her of Megan’s most vulnerable moments. The timing of In her words marks a turning point in the rapper’s life and career with his latest deluxe album Megan: Act IICollaborations and charting singles have made her one of the modern rappers with marketability and public appeal.

It was important for Megan to share these experiences, especially now. “When my mom died, I forgot who I was,” she reveals in the film. “I lost confidence because she was always there to guide me.”

The Texas native later shared that her late mother would have wanted her to focus on her craft. The film offers a less flamboyant view of Megan Thee Stallion’s humanity that is not easily accessible, but still relevant to understanding her career in the music business.