Tierra Whack does things differently. The 27-year-old rapper from Philadelphia is using a medium other than music to let fans get a sneak peek into her world in her off-the-wall documentary Cypher, which won Best U.S. Narrative Feature at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. From a 15-year-old street rapper who went by the name “Dizzle Dizz” to signing to Interscope Records and receiving widespread critical acclaim in only a few years, Tierra is a force of nature. Her talent is undeniable, her style is unapologetically bold, and her confidence serves as inspiration. That much we know about Tierra Whack. But Cypher cheekily shows that there is much more to be discovered.

Cypher is billed as a pseudo-documentary, akin to the 2020 Sundance-selected The Nowhere Inn, starring St. Vincent and Carrie Brownstein. Whereas I wasn’t a big fan of the latter, I’m happy to report that Cypher’s execution nails the undefinable tone, perfecting the balance of authentic musical moments and self-aware mystery plots. Written and directed by Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: Five Foot Two, Banksy Does New York), Cypher grants access to Tierra’s life behind the scenes.

The film starts out simple enough, we see her in the studio, hanging out with friends, and performing in front of thousands of fans. Things take a turn after one of her shows, where she engages in a conversation with a woman she thought was a fan. Turns out, the fan, Tina Johnson-Banner is a conspiracy theorist who has been stalking Tierra both in person and online. Tina is a devout follower of a secret cult that claims Tierra Whack is the chosen one, their messiah, and won’t stop until the occult ritual is complete.

It serves to point out that the title Cypher is very intentional. One meaning of the word, perhaps more obvious, is a message written in a secret code. The other usage is to describe a gathering of rappers in a circle who make music together. This double meaning is indicative of the film’s slyness and hidden-in-plain-sight message.

Enjoyably self-aware, uncomfortably humorous, and poignantly dark, Cypher is an entertaining watch with a message. Through a consumer-friendly lens, it points out the many dark sides of being a public figure and how “fame” puts personal safety at risk. Especially in the age of social media and parasocial relationships that fans can develop with their ideals, Cypher proves that you never know who’s truly watching you.

This review originally ran on June 23, 2023 during the Tribeca Film Festival