Tack-Fu: the man, the myth, the

Mr. Tack a.k.a. Tack-Fu is a hip-hop producer and record label CEO of Tack-Fu Productions, a company based in Iowa City, Iowa. He has released 3 compilation cds to date (Yen & Slang '99 / Chained Reaction '00 / Tack-Fu: Presents: 85 decibel Monks '04) These separate projects have been reviewed in national publications such as URB, Insomniac, & Elemental. Several instrumentals produced by Tack-Fu have also appeared on dozens of cable network shows (MTV's "Cribs," VH1's "Behind the Music," A&E's "Biography," & Comedy Central's "Mind of Mencia" are a few examples) since '03.

In 2001, Tack-Fu Productions formed the 85 decibel Monks, a production team consisting of 4 producers with over 30 years of combined production experience. Their collaborative efforts have moved Tack-Fu's musical musical style from a loop based boom-bap foundation, to a more jazz orientated brand of hip-hop that skillfully blurs the line between major label rap and independent hip-hop. "The musical snippets and odd tempos consistently add tension and drama to the mix," says Steve Horowitz, Iowa City music critic.

Ninety percent of the tracks I've recorded in the past were collaborative efforts," explains Tack. "It just made sense to give the collective a group name." Tack's job description, because of his work with local artists throughout the city, is half musical visionary and half ambassador to the musical collective. "It's my mission to complete tracks, adding my work to the work of others, no matter the time, place, or day."

Currently, Tack-Fu works at Public Access Channel 18 in Iowa City as an assistant community director, and he also produces his own hip-hop video show called 85 dB TV, which can be seen every Friday night @ 9:30pm and Saturday morning @ 2:30am.