Producers include: Funkmaster Flex. Engineers include: Kieran Walsh. From his central post DJing at New York's Hot 97, Funkmaster Flex found himself in the perfect position to stamp his imprint on hip-hop. He did it with his MIXTAPE series, which played out like parties where the Bronx-born Flex held sway as all the biggest names stepped in. It all started on this original volume, with the DJ spinning classics from the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, and Eric B. & Rakim. Meanwhile, a roster of VIPs including Redman, Fugees, Erick Sermon, Busta Rhymes, and Method Man dropped original flows into the mix. Flex even invited fellow DJs such as Mark the 45 King and DJ Kool along to show off their stuff. With THE MIX TAPE, VOL. 1, Funkmaster Flex introduced the mixtape as an important gathering ground for the hip-hop universe.