JUGGERNAUTZ—a passion project that showcases the incredible journey of Mike del Mundo (aka Deadly Mike), a respected and influential figure in the world of breaking and comic book art.
This is the behind-the-scenes story of how we turned a simple idea into a documentary series that celebrates Toronto's underground hip-hop community and the artists who've elevated the culture to new heights.
Inspiration and Pitch
The idea for this project sparked during the pandemic in 2021. We had conviction that Toronto's underground hip-hop scene deserved more recognition. The artists grinding, perfecting their craft, and eventually breaking into mainstream success—their stories needed to be told.
We immersed ourselves in the work that inspired us. We studied Red Bull Music Academy's intimate artist profiles, Netflix's Abstract: The Art of Design for its visual storytelling, and Drink Champs for its authentic conversation style.
From there, we crafted a pitch deck and presented it to Red Bull Canada. To our amazement, they believed in the vision and awarded us $1,000 in funding. It wasn't a fortune, but it was validation. Our first subject: Mike del Mundo, embodied everything we wanted to capture. From breaking with his crew Dirty Defiant Tribe (DDT) to joining Marvel's roster of elite comic artists.
Crafting the Narrative
Working with community members, we developed interview questions that would take Mike's story from his early days in art and breaking through his transition into the comic book industry. The structure emerged naturally: past, present, and process.
Storyboard by Caerina Abrenica.
During storyboarding, we identified our key visual elements: archival footage from the breaking scene, Mike's artwork evolution, and intimate b-roll of him drawing. The story would be told through these layers, building a complete picture of the artist's journey.
Shoot Day
September 17th, 2021: Shoot day at Toronto Collective in collaboration with Designs of Collor (DOC) who helped us with the videography. Mike was generous with his time and stories. We wrapped up feeling like we'd captured something special.
BTS of the interview at Toronto Collective.
Post-Production
Post-production began with optimism. We received a batch of beats from dxgree ° that suited the vibe completely, initial edits from Anyo of DOC, and started hunting for archival materials. Shoutout to Bag of Clips, Flex, and Scramblelock for providing the crucial footage that would bring Mike's breaking history to life.
“Bboy Deadly Mike of DDT for Hot Cakes” from Bag of Clips.
Early title and logo ideas by Mark Collantes.
During this phase, our title was born. Working with Mark Collantes from DOC, we brainstormed words that captured our vision. From that list, "JUGGERNAUTZ" emerged—powerful, memorable, and perfectly suited to the unstoppable force of the artists we wanted to showcase.
Hiatus
We took a break for 1.5 years due to personal health and survival reasons. At this point, we were not sure if this project would see the light of day.
March 2024 marked our turning point. Our situation had somewhat stabilized, giving us the breathing room we desperately needed to continue where we left off.
Logo design by Michael Brobbey.
We created the intro animation, finalized the logo design, and suddenly JUGGERNAUTZ had its complete visual identity. The project was alive again.
Final Cut
Seven drafts later, we were getting closer to the story we wanted to tell. By the time we reached the final cut, we faced a new challenge: distribution.
Getting the Word Out
November 2024: Our social media strategy paid off in ways we never expected. One Instagram reel hit 59K views and 1,700 interactions, with 90% coming from non-followers.
Artwork by Mike del Mundo. Official trailer by Jeff Han Lin.
We partnered with the talented Jeff Han Lin for our official trailer and collaborated with Ghostown Recordz to and Ensemble to host the first Cypher Gallery—an event combining art, music, dance and community at It's OK*
Cypher Gallery
January 9th, 2025: JUGGERNAUTZ premiere night. Artists, fans, and community members came together to celebrate not just Mike's story, but the broader culture we all love.
dxgree ° preforming his set at Cypher Gallery.
The next day, January 10th, 2025, we released the full documentary on YouTube. Four years, seven drafts, one hiatus, and countless learning experiences later—JUGGERNAUTZ Episode 1 was live.
What We Learned
This journey taught us that most meaningful projects often take longer than expected and challenge you in ways you never anticipated.
JUGGERNAUTZ became more than a documentary; it became proof that with enough persistence, creativity, and community support, you can turn a $1,000 grant into something that resonates with your people.
What's Next
Episode 1 was just the beginning. Toronto's underground hip-hop scene is rich with stories waiting to be told, artists deserving recognition, and journeys that will inspire the next generation.
JUGGERNAUTZ Episode 1 is now available on YouTube. Follow our journey and catch future episodes by subscribing to Melting Pot Collective.
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