Midway: The Story of Chicago Hip-Hop is a feature-length documentary film and archival project that tells the story of the evolution, the triumphs and the struggles of hip-hop culture and its community of artists and personalities in the city of Chicago.
Beginning in the late 1970’s with graffiti, popping and locking to today’s musical success stories of Kanye West and Chance the Rapper, this film goes deeper than just a linear timeline. Midway explores how the nation has largely neglected the presence of Chicago’s contribution to the most popular culture in the world, due to issues of politics, gangs, segregation, lack of professional music infrastructure and even the dominance of Chicago’s house music scene.
Midway shows how hip-hop broke down invisible barriers to create community, allowing kids to travel to all sides of the city, regardless of race, gender or gang affiliation — the exact opposite of how hip-hop culture and the city of Chicago is portrayed in mainstream media.
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Current Team
Director
Producer
Co-Writer
Producer
Producer
Social Media Producer
About This Team
The team assembled here was hand-picked by Director/Producer Ryan Brockmeier, first and foremost, for their love of hip-hop culture and deep history within Chicago’s hip-hop community. Most of the team has known each other for over 15 years. That love for the subject and each other shows by the long hours and hard work they’ve all put into this project, now close to three years in.