It takes a pretty connected man to assemble the most star-studded rap album ever released.
The Tunnel features all of the biggest and best MCs in hip-hop --
DMX,
Jay-Z,
Nas,
Method Man,
Eminem,
LL Cool J,
Snoop Dogg,
Capone-N-Noreaga,
Mary J. Blige,
Raekwon, and
Redman and
Erick Sermon -- freestyling over tracks, most of them produced by
Rockwilder or
Funkmaster Flex himself. The affair is somewhat similar to his popular mixtape series, which alternated hip-hop classics with guest appearances from MCs inserted between standard productions. The mere presence of all these incredible rappers is more than enough to push
The Tunnel over the top, and the addition of a live freestyle between
2Pac and the
Notorious B.I.G. recorded in 1993 makes it worthwhile for that track alone. Among many highlights, "True" with
Method Man, "For My Thugs" with
Jay-Z, "We in Here" with
the Ruff Ryders, and "Ill Bomb" with
LL Cool J are the best here. ~ Keith Farley