The Tunnel (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = The Tunnel
| type = album
| artist = Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap
| cover = The Tunnel album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = December 7, 1999
| recorded = 1993, 1999
| studio = *Mirror Image Times Square (New York City)
- Quad Recording Studios (New York City)
- Criteria (Miami)
- Chung King (New York City)
- The Hit Factory (New York City)
- Enterprise (California)
- Electric Lady (New York City)
- Erick Sermon (Long Island, N.Y.)
- Sound On Sound (New York City)
- Sony (New York City)
- Soundtrack (New York City)
- Cash Money (New Orleans)
- Battery (New York City)
- Big Noise (New York City)
| venue = Madison Square Garden (New York City)
| genre = Hardcore hip hop
| length = {{Duration|h=1|m=9|s=15}}
| label = Def Jam
| producer = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex {{small|(also exec.)}}|Big Kap {{small|(also exec.)}}|Darrell "Digga" Branch|DJ Head|DJ Riz|DJ Scratch|DJ Sizzahandz|DJ Twinz|Erick Sermon|EZ Elpee|Irv Gotti|Jocko|JoJo Brim|Lil' Rob|Mannie Fresh|Rahim|Ric Rude|Rockwilder|Robert 'Shim' Kirkland|Cipha Sounds|Dart La}}
| prev_title = The Mix Tape Volume III: 60 Minutes of Funk (The Final Chapter)
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = 60 Minutes of Funk, Volume IV: The Mixtape
| next_year = 2000
| chronology = Funkmaster Flex
| misc = {{Singles
| name = The Tunnel
| type = album
| single1 = We In Here / Real G's
| single1date = November 30, 1999
| single2 = Ill Bomb / Confrontation
| single2date = February 29, 2000
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-tunnel-mw0000255414|title=The Tunnel - Funkmaster Flex {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|last=Farley|first=Keith|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=April 29, 2020}}
}}
The Tunnel is a collaborative album by American DJs Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap. It was released on December 7, 1999, via Def Jam Recordings.
Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Times Square, at Madison Square Garden,{{clarify|date=September 2023|reason=was part of the album recorded live?}} at Quad Recording Studios, at Chung King Studios, at The Hit Factory, at Electric Lady Studios, at Sound On Sound, at Sony Music Studios, at Soundtrack Recording Studios, at Battery Studios and at Big Noise Studios in New York City, at Criteria Studios in Miami, at Enterprise Studios in California, at Erick Sermon Studios in Long Island, and at Cash Money Studios in New Orleans.
Production was handled by several record producers, including Rockwilder, Irv Gotti, Mannie Fresh, DJ Scratch, Funk Flex and Big Kap themselves. It features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel, 2Pac, Amil, Angie Martinez, B.G., Black Child, Caddillac Tah, Capone-N-Noreaga, DMX, Drag-On, Dr. Dre, Dutch & Spade, Eminem, Erick Sermon, Eve, Fatman Scoop, Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Jinx Da Juvy, Juvenile, Kool G Rap, Lady Luck, Lil' Kim, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Memphis Bleek, Method Man, Nas, Notorious B.I.G., Prodigy, Raekwon, Redman, Snoop Dogg, Swizz Beatz and The Lox.
The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200, at number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 7, 2000. It spawned two singles: "We In Here" with DMX, Eve, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Jadakiss, Drag-On and Swizz Beatz (b/w "Real G's" with Snoop Dogg), and "Confrontation" with Mary J. Blige (b/w "Ill Bomb" with LL Cool J).
Track listing
{{track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro
| note1 = featuring Pain In Da Ass
| writer1 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|W. Hirschorn|K. Bell|S. Bono}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|DJ Head}}
| length1 = {{duration|m=2|s=11}}
| title2 = Biggie/Tupac Live Freestyle
| note2 = featuring Mister Cee, Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac
| writer2 = {{hlist|C. Wallace|T. Shakur}}
| extra2 =
| length2 = {{duration|m=1|s=49}}
| title3 = We In Here
| note3 = featuring Ruff Ryders
| writer3 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|E. Simmons|E. Jeffries|D. Styles|S. Jacobs|J. Phillips|M. Smalls|K. Dean|J. Parker|C. Cason}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|Dart La{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = {{duration|m=4|s=23}}
| title4 = If I Get Locked Up
| note4 = featuring Eminem and Dr. Dre
| writer4 = {{hlist|M. Mathers|A. Young|D. Stinson}}
| extra4 = Rockwilder
| length4 = {{duration|m=3|s=40}}
| title5 = Real G's
| note5 = featuring Snoop Dogg
| writer5 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|C. Broadus|L. Diaz|J. Forman|E. Wrubel|M. DeBarge|E. DeBarge|E. DeBarge|J. Bedford|S. Striplin|R. Ayers|C. Fredrick|E. Rudnicki}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|Cipha Sounds{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length5 = {{duration|m=3|s=46}}
| title6 = True
| note6 = featuring Method Man
| writer6 = {{hlist|C. Smith|D. Stinson}}
| extra6 = Rockwilder
| length6 = {{duration|m=2|s=43}}
| title7 = Q.B.G.
| note7 = featuring Prodigy and Kool G Rap
| writer7 = {{hlist|A. Johnson|N. Wilson|R. Grant|R. Grant}}
| extra7 = DJ Twinz
| length7 = {{duration|m=2|s=53}}
| title8 = K.I.M. Interlude
| note8 = featuring Lil' Kim
| writer8 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|K. Jones|L. Diaz|E. Barrier|C. Bobbit|J. Brown|B. Byrd|W. Griffin}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|Cipha Sounds{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length8 = {{duration|s=31}}
| title9 = Confrontation
| note9 = featuring Mary J. Blige
| writer9 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|M. Blige|J. Brim|J. Heard|L. Grooms|A. Prendatt|A. Constant|P. Harvey}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|JoJo Brim}}
| length9 = {{duration|m=4|s=6}}
| title10 = Okay
| note10 = featuring Redman and Erick Sermon
| writer10 = {{hlist|R. Noble|E. Sermon}}
| extra10 = Erick Sermon
| length10 = {{duration|m=2|s=54}}
| title11 = Dem Want War
| note11 = featuring Raekwon
| writer11 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|C. Woods|L. Porter}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|Ez Elpee}}
| length11 = {{duration|m=2|s=5}}
| title12 = For My Thugs
| note12 = featuring Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel and Amil
| writer12 = {{hlist|S. Carter|D. Stinson|M. Cox|D. Grant|A. Whitehead}}
| extra12 = Rockwilder
| length12 = {{duration|m=4|s=31}}
| title13 = Wow
| note13 = featuring Angie Martinez
| writer13 = {{hlist|A. Martinez|A. Roberts}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|Jocko|Rahim}}
| length13 = {{duration|m=3|s=2}}
| title14 = Respect
| note14 = featuring the Cash Money Millionaires
| writer14 = {{hlist|D. Carter|T. Gray|C. Dorsey|B. Thomas}}
| extra14 = Mannie Fresh
| length14 = {{duration|m=3|s=59}}
| title15 = Ill Bomb
| note15 = featuring LL Cool J
| writer15 = {{hlist|J. Smith|G. Spivey|E. Wrubel}}
| extra15 = DJ Scratch
| length15 = {{duration|m=3|s=51}}
| title16 = Def Jam 2000
| note16 = featuring Fatman Scoop
| writer16 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|I. Freeman III|J. Rizzo|E. Bini|A. Moon|T. Thomas|E. Simmons|K. Dean|S. Carter|R. Walters|G. Mays|D. Barnes}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|DJ Riz|DJ Sizzhandz}}
| length16 = {{duration|m=2|s=40}}
| title17 = Thuun
| note17 = featuring Capone-N-Noreaga
| writer17 = {{hlist|A. Taylor|K. Holley|V. Santiago|E. Alexander}}
| extra17 = {{hlist|Funkmaster Flex|Ric Rude}}
| length17 = {{duration|m=5|s=23}}
| title18 = Live at the Tunnel
| note18 = featuring the Murderers
| writer18 = {{hlist|J. Atkins|R. Gill|T. Crocker L. Raynor |R. Mays|I. Lorenzo|S. McKenzie|W. Mitchell|K. McKenzie}}
| extra18 = {{hlist|Irv Gotti|Lil' Rob}}
| length18 = {{duration|m=3|s=31}}
| title19 = Millennium Thug
| note19 = featuring Nas
| writer19 = {{hlist|N. Jones|N. Jones|K. Carter|R. Grant|R. Grant|K. Khaleel|T. Embden}}
| extra19 = {{hlist|Big Kap|DJ Twinz{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length19 = {{duration|m=3|s=37}}
| title20 = Dead Man Walking
| note20 = featuring Beanie Sigel and Dutch & Spade
| writer20 = {{hlist|A. Walker|A. Burbage|D. Grant|D. Branch}}
| extra20 = Darrell "Digga" Branch
| length20 = {{duration|m=4|s=27}}
| title21 = Bounce
| note21 = featuring Lady Luck and Jinx da Juvy
| writer21 = {{hlist|S. Jones|D. Carr|R. Kirkland|S. Carter|I. Lorenzo|J. Atkins|R. Mays}}
| extra21 = Robert "Shim" Kirkland
| length21 = {{duration|m=3|s=13}}
| total_length = {{duration|h=1|m=9|s=15}}
}}
;Notes
- {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer.
;Sample credits
- Track 1 contains a sample from "Bang Bang", written by Sonny Bono and performed by Vanilla Fudge
- Track 3 contains a sample from "My Song", written by Charles Richard Cason and performed by Al Wilson
- Track 5 contains samples from "Juicy Fruit", written and performed by James Mtume, "I'm Afraid the Masquerade is Over", written by Allie Wrubel and performed by David Porter, "Stay With Me", written and performed by DeBarge, "You Can't Turn Me Away", written by James Bedford, Sylvia Striplin and Roy Ayers and performed by Sylvia Striplin, "Do the James", written by Caliente Fredrick and Erik Rudnicki and performed by Super Lover Cee
- Track 8 contains samples from "You Know You Got Soul", written by Eric Barrier, Charles Bobbit, James Brown, Bobby Byrd and William Griffin, and performed by Eric B. & Rakim
- Track 9 contains excerpts from "Where My Homies", written by Lorenzo Grooms, Anthony Prendatt, Alphonse Constant, Patrick Harvey and performed by Ill Al Skratch
- Track 15 contains a sample from "I'm Afraid the Masquerade is Over", written by Allie Wrubel and performed by David Porter
- Track 16 contains samples from "Children's Story" and "Mona Lisa", written and performed by Slick Rick, "Seven Minutes of Funk", written by August Moon and Tyrone Thomas and performed by the Whole Darn Family, "Money, Cash, Hoes", written by Shawn Carter, Earl Simmons and Kasseem Dean and performed by Jay-Z, "Hip Hop Junkies", written and performed by Nice & Smooth
- Track 18 contains a sample from "Live at the Barbeque", written and performed by Main Source
- Track 19 contains a sample from "King of the Beats", written by Kurtis Mantronik and Touré Embden, and performed by Mantronix
- Track 21 contains a sample from "Can I Get A...", written by Shawn Carter, Jeffrey Atkins, Irving Lorenzo and Robin Mays, and performed by Jay-Z
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1999)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Billboard200|35|artist=Funkmaster Flex|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 29, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|3|artist=Funkmaster Flex|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 29, 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2000)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ|title=2000 The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=53|page=YE-54|date=December 30, 2000|accessdate=August 8, 2021}}
| 67 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Funkmaster Flex|title=The Tunnel|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|46583|Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap – The Tunnel}}
{{Funkmaster Flex}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tunnel, The}}
Category:1999 collaborative albums
Category:Funkmaster Flex albums
Category:Def Jam Recordings albums
Category:Albums produced by Irv Gotti
Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch
Category:Albums produced by Rockwilder
Category:Albums produced by Erick Sermon
Category:Albums produced by Mannie Fresh
Category:Albums recorded at Chung King Studios