Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap - Tunnel (CD)

All Music Guide

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, All Music Guide