{"id":3199,"date":"2014-04-24T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2014-04-24T14:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=3199"},"modified":"2014-04-24T09:32:01","modified_gmt":"2014-04-24T14:32:01","slug":"redeye-documentary-captures-rappers-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2014\/04\/24\/redeye-documentary-captures-rappers-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"RedEye documentary captures rapper\u2019s dream"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Saint<\/a>

<\/a> Saint Millie<\/p><\/div>\n

Can a newspaper and website aimed at younger readers help transform an unknown rap artist into a bona fide star?<\/p>\n

Ernest Wilkins\u2019 cover story<\/a> earlier this week about Saint Millie was only the beginning of RedEye Chicago\u2019s<\/a> extraordinary efforts to raise the profile of the 22-year-old Oak Park musician (born Milton McKinney) and chronicle his \u201cRoad to Glory\u201d journey.<\/p>\n

Marking a new storytelling platform for the free daily tabloid published by the Chicago Tribune, RedEye has produced a 45-minute documentary about the determined and charismatic young man. It\u2019s been posted in five parts on YouTube<\/a> and RedEye\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n

Filmed, directed and edited by RedEye\u2019s Wilkins, Sean Ely and Lenny Gilmore, \"Road to Glory: The Documentary\u201d followed Saint Millie around the country for two months from the streets of Chicago to the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. (\u201cRoad to Glory\u201d also is the title of his mixtape, which he released for free in February.)<\/p>\n

His life story makes a compelling narrative: Writing music since he was 8, Saint Millie credits a tough life on the West Side with shaping him as an artist. His mother went to prison on a drug conviction when he was 12, and he spent most of his teens living with other relatives in various places. \u201cHe calls himself Saint Millie because when he started rapping at 18, he says, he was 'living in hell.' \u201d Wilkins reports.<\/a> \u201c'[After moving to the West Side] I was surrounded by the negativity in that neighborhood, so Saint Millie felt right. I felt like I had to be the good in the situation I was living in.' \u201d<\/p>\n

The documentary also provides a fascinating look inside the burgeoning rap music business and how Chicago figures prominently on the world stage. \u201cI\u2019m in this whole realm of the resurgence of Chicago \u2014 the Chicago renaissance,\u201d Saint Millie says. \u201cIf you can make it here in Chicago, you can really make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The official launch party<\/a> for \"Road to Glory: The Documentary,\u201d including a live performance by Saint Millie, will be at 8 p.m. Monday at Schubas Tavern, 3159 North Southport Avenue.<\/p>\n

Here is the first episode of the documentary series:<\/p>\n