A Time Capsule Called The Tunnel
Who partied at The Tunnel in the 90s? Were the memories good, bad, or a mix of both? Ask anyone who was there, and you’ll get a mix of all three. It was a time when New York City’s nightlife was as raw and unpolished as the streets themselves. It was a time when stepping into The Tunnel meant stepping into exciting possibilities.
The Tunnel wasn’t just a nightclub. This establishment was a cultural checkpoint, a rite of passage, and for hip-hop, a stage unlike any other. From Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones” vibrating the dance floor to DMX’s growl echoing through the speakers, the club became the beating heart of 90s rap culture. It was a place where boroughs met and where legends were both born and bruised. It was a cultural epicenter that shaped the very fabric of hip-hop history. And on August 18, that energy resurfaced at the NYC trailer screening of The Tunnel, a scripted series directed by Fredro Starr of Onyx.
The Screening Event: Nostalgia Meets New Faces
The night felt like a reunion of eras. Hosted by Fredro Starr and DJ SNS, the screening drew a cross-section of NYC’s creative community, including artists, actors, comedians, and familiar personalities from the Tri-State scene. There were also fresh faces ready to stamp their own mark on a story rooted in hip-hop history. Alongside Fredro, the film also features Sticky Fingaz, Fredro’s fellow Onyx member, rapper, record producer, and actor known for his multi-platinum career in hardcore hip-hop. Sticky plays an OG character in the series, bringing both grit and authenticity to the project.
The cast also includes comedian and social media influencer Wil Milz, whose comedic energy balances the heavy nostalgia of the story. Together, the mix of legends like Fredro and Sticky Fingaz, and rising names like Wil Milz, signals that this project is not just a tribute to the past, but a platform for new creativity, a celebration of the past and a glimpse into the future of hip-hop culture.
The Tunnel: More Than a Club
The Tunnel was a labyrinth, literally and metaphorically. Converted from a freight terminal on Manhattan’s West Side, it spanned multiple levels and hidden corners. From the surreal glow of Kenny Scharf’s Lava Lounge to the chaos of the Club Kids V.I.P. basement, every room told a different story. The infamous unisex bathrooms, where gender lines blurred and danger still lurked, became part of its myth, a place where the unique culture of The Tunnel was most evident. Every Sunday night, the city came alive within its walls. Backpack rap and neo-soul acts gave one room its energy, while raw street anthems owned the main floor. It wasn’t unusual for Jay-Z, Biggie, or DMX to test new records here. Nor was it uncommon for violence to erupt just outside those tunnel-shaped doors. It was this duality of artistry and aggression, unity and fear, that made The Tunnel legendary.
My Memories of The Tunnel
By the late 90s, I was a college student and, like many others, couldn’t resist the pull of The Tunnel. Walking in, you knew the night could go either way. As a young Black woman, the experience was layered, exhilarating, and empowering, but also shadowed by misogyny and predatory behavior. These personal memories, both the highs and the lows, are a testament to the complex and unforgettable nature of The Tunnel.
One memory stands sharp: The Roots performing, the crowd electric, and out of nowhere, a man bit my neck hard while trying to dance with me. Shocking, disturbing, and yet somehow part of the chaotic cocktail that was The Tunnel experience. Still, despite moments like that, we showed up because the music was worth it. Because the culture being born in that space belonged to us. Because it was the place to be if you loved hip-hop and wanted to feel its pulse in real time.
Fredro Starr: From Onyx to the Director’s Chair
When I asked Fredro Starr about the project, he was quick to clarify:
“It’s not a documentary. It’s a movie about The Tunnel. I didn’t want to recreate the past — I wanted to capture the vibe. Back then, it felt like the time of your life, but you were also kind of scared for your life. That’s the energy I want to bring back.” Fredro’s vision is not about a retro reenactment (not a period piece with Timberlands and pager beeps) frozen in time. Instead, it’s about translating the Tunnel’s essence into today’s language. “If I tried to make it exactly like back in the day, you’d see a Tesla driving by in the background,” he joked (explaining the difficulty in producing a retro film.
The script (co-written by Jason Latief Anderson , pulls from real stories, moments where life and danger collided. Fredro compared it to Judgment Night (1993), the cult-classic film and soundtrack his group Onyx was part of: “That vibe of people trying to survive the night — that’s what inspired me. But this is the ghetto version.” He spoke about wanting an epic soundtrack in the spirit of Judgment Night, actively seeking both known artists and new talent. “We’re looking for music straight from the streets,” he said. His goal is a soundtrack that feels as alive and unpredictable as the club once did. This process involves reaching out to established artists as well as scouting for emerging talent, ensuring that the soundtrack captures the raw energy of The Tunnel’s heyday.
Fredro was at times playful, even distracted, joking about still being a barber and offering his services to NBA players for $1,000 a cut. But beneath the humor lay a seriousness: this was his directorial debut, and he was determined to honor the legacy of the place that had shaped him.
Dennis McDonald: A Bronx Connection
At the event, I also spoke with Dennis McDonald, an actor many will recognize for his role as Reggie Norman in Bad Boys II (2003), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). Born and raised in the Bronx, McDonald described the project as personal: “I grew up watching Fredro. To work with him now is a full-circle moment.” McDonald, who also runs a clothing brand that promotes self-expression, spoke about the importance of treating one’s art like a business. His cameo role in The Tunnel series may be small, but for him, it’s about contributing to something that authentically represents NYC’s culture.
Kenny Rock: Keeping It Authentic
Actor Kenny Rock also shared his perspective on The Tunnel and 90s hip-hop culture. As a public figure and brother to the Rock family of comedians, including Chris, Tony, and Jordan, Kenny Rock is no stranger to NYC’s entertainment scene. At the screening, he offered insights into the nature of 90s hip-hop culture, reminding us how vital spaces like The Tunnel were to an entire generation. “Everybody used The Tunnel to test the waters. It was where boroughs came together. The 90s hip-hop scene was raw, rugged, competitive, and authentic. You had to have talent.”
He recalled being a teenager when the cult classic film Belly (1998) premiered, with its opening scene set in The Tunnel. That film cemented the club’s cultural place for his generation. What he stressed most was authenticity, in the hope that Fredro’s final project would be powerful and involve people who lived during that era. “It keeps it true,” he said. And, he added with a laugh, “This was a time when we actually partied without cell phones. What happened in The Tunnel stayed in The Tunnel.”
Closing Thoughts: The Tunnel’s Legacy
The Tunnel was never just a nightclub. It was a playground, a creative incubator, and a time capsule of New York in the 90s. For those who lived it, memories remain sharp, whether they recall the music that shaped a generation or the risks that came with simply stepping inside. With his first project as a director, Fredro Starr is capturing both sides of The Tunnel: excitement and danger, creativity and rawness. The series introduces new characters and an updated story with a powerful soundtrack, making it less about looking back and more about bringing that experience to life again. With talents like Sticky Fingaz anchoring its authenticity, Wil Milz injecting new comedic energy, and a cast of both veterans and fresh voices, the series will reintroduce The Tunnel’s story to the culture and to those who never got to step inside its legendary walls.
The Tunnel was among the key spaces that carried 90s hip-hop forward.
