Cipha Sounds Presents: The 75 Greatest Tunnel Bangers
Tun·nel bang·er (noun) Circa 1994-2000, a record—often hardcore and aggressive—that whipped the crowd into a frenzy during the prime-time hour after 1 a.m. at the NYC club’s Sunday-night party.
To truly understand the definition of a “Tunnel banger,” you first need to know about the Tunnel itself. Peter Gatien’s NYC nightclub was a hotspot for house music and techno in the early ’90s, but it wasn’t until the creation of a Sunday-night party called “Mecca” that the Tunnel would cement its place in hip-hop lore. When Funkmaster Flex took over the party’s prime-time slot—roughly 1 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.—in the mid-’90s, the “Tunnel banger” was born.
So what was the Tunnel like on a Sunday night? As Flex’s warm-up DJ (along with Big Kap), Cipha Sounds was there for it all. The crowd? “The thugs, the drug dealers, the fucking jail dudes. Even the security guards were hustlers,” says Ciph. The mood? “It wasn’t a ‘dance’ club, people weren’t really dancing,” he says. “But records would just make people go crazy, hands in the sky, jumping.” And the music? “The records you would not hear at any other club because they were too hard,” says Ciph. “Street records, which would usually just be album cuts, became their own genre.” Yep: Tunnel bangers. This all sound kinda crazy? Well, it was—the Tunnel was shut down nearly every year because of violence, and eventually closed for good in 2001. All that remains are the memories…and the music. With a Flex co-sign, Cipha Sounds went back to the good ol’ days©—when hardcore rap and NYC still mattered—for this epic countdown of the 75 Greatest Tunnel Bangers. Now take your shoes off and get in a single-file line…
Mick Boogie & Terry Urban – The Great American Mixtape – Side B (Mixtape)
From Anatomy Magazine:
World, meet Anatomy Magazine’s Great American Mixtape: Side B, by Mick Boogie & Terry Urban. This side, in contrast to The Hood Internet release, features America’s favorite rock hits translated into block rockin’ hip-hop tracks ready to kick a hole in your speakers and your perception of the genre. That is because Side B of the Great American Mixtape does something that no other mixtape has done before: It truly cross pollinates rock music artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Guns and Roses, The Doors and Led Zeppelin with hip hop into one comprehensive and radiant piece of work with thought provoking soundscapes that reveal everything that the hip-hop genre can be.
Rap/rock mashups? What could go wrong here? You can even check out the Tabi Bonney feature before you download below.
Trey Songz x Nicki Minaj – Bottoms Up
Download: Trey Songz x Nicki Minaj – Bottoms Up
Co$$ – It’s All Happening
From Co$$’ project with producer Numonics. The project includes features from Blu, Big K.R.I.T., Reks, Naledge (of Kidz In The Hall,) Wrekonize, Shawn Jackson, Freddie Gibbs and Sene. Presented by 2dopeboyz, Crooks & Castles and PONY International.
Download: Co$$ – It’s All Happening
Lil Wayne – Letter #04: As Time Flies
The newest letter from Lil Wayne, now 4 months in at Rikers:
Hello world… I’m good. Counting the days and still smiling. Most of those smiles come from hearing my kids’ voices over the phone. The others come from reading fan mail. Let me just say that I have the best fans in the world! The devotion, dedication, support, love, and most of all, prayers are simply the best. I never imagined that I could have such an impact on people’s lives. Because of this, I vow to be a bit more careful of what I say.
Rick Ross x Cee-Lo – Tears Of Joy
Produced by NoI.D. Teflon Don comes one week from today.
Download: Rick Ross – Tears Of Joy
Jay-Z & Black Eyed Peas Make Highest Grossing Tour List
Yep. And Jay-Z still has the shows with Eminem coming up.
Butcher’s Block TV Episode 1 – CurT@!n$
The music is Bamboo Child by Ryo Kawasaki…got that whole “70s soul vibe” to it. Sample, anyone?
Source: The Buther’s Block on Vimeo.
Usher x Gucci Mane – OMG (Remix)
La Flare blesses the hit Ursher/will.i.am track.
Download: Usher x Gucci Mane – OMG (Remix)
Kid Sister x Tabi Bonney At U Street Music Hall
Thursday, Chicago rapper Kid Sister made her big splash with the infectious (not really) single ‘Pro-Nails’. She’ll be at the U Street Music Hall with Tabi Bonney, Roxy Cottontail and DJ Jackie O. Oh, and Nails By Naomi will be handling the manicures. $10 in advance/$12 at the door, 9 p.m.
Big Boi – Shutterbugg (On Jimmy Fallon)
You already know it’s gonna be live when backed by the Roots. He also shouts out “Free Khujo Goodie” during the performance. Damn.
8Ball x MJG – Blunts & Broads
8Ball & MJG come back with their first single from From The Bottom 2 The Top, only 2 months after Ten Toes Down. Stay on the grind.
Download: 8Ball x MJG – Blunts & Broads