While Iowa isn’t exactly a Mecca in the hip-hop world, Iowa City’s own Tack-Fu Productions is letting the country know Iowa can hang with the best of them.

“It cracks me up, these stereotypes people assume nationwide when you say you’re from Iowa,” says Tim Tack, founder of Tack-Fu Productions. “I know as much about farming as a kid raised in Chicago.”

Music has been in Tack’s blood from the get-go. Hitting up the yard sales in Clinton as a kid with his bargain hunter mom, Tack accumulated an eclectic stack of 45s.

“The record itself, the color of the label, the record player . everything about recorded music just fascinated me,” Tack says “.I think that is what turned me onto hip-hop – the use of previously recorded music as an instrument, the use of various instruments. When you produce hip-hop, one is not limited to bass, drum and guitar.”

While attending the University of Iowa as a junior college transfer, the NCAA declared Tack ineligible to play basketball at the ripe age of 24.

Previously a musical bystander, Tack abandoned his hoop dreams and dived into the musical world head first by closing out his checking account and investing in some cheap equipment.

Picking up the craft quickly and finding his musical niche, Tack has released two self-produced and self-released compilations, 1998’s “Yen & Slang” and 2000’s “Chained Reaction.”

Tack hopes “85 decibel Monks” will spread his musical dream across the country, exposing the fact that musicians in Iowa offer up more than most would expect.

Having put forth a year’s worth of time to establish and produce Iowa hip-hop acts The Committee and MC Angle, Tack felt it was time to bring forth his own production team.

Enter the 85 decibel Monks. Tack says a lot of the unique sound of Tack-Fu can be credited to his production team.

“I really do have the crŠme de la crŠme of pre-and post-production recording gurus on the job. From initial mix down to final mastered mix . they are amazing,” Tack says.

The Internet has proved to be a valuable tool in exposing Tack-Fu’s music to the world, Tack said, and now the label has nationwide distribution through New York’s Boiling Point Distribution.

“85 decibel Monks” is available at Hip-Hop Heavens in Des Moines, as well as online at www.geocities/tack-fu.

“It’s not an ego thing, it’s a quality thing,” says Tack. “And the quality we bring is never ending.”

Tack-Fu is showcasing its latest compilation, “85 decibel Monks,” tonight at Gabe’s Oasis in Iowa City, with special guests Animosity and DJ Skwint. Opening the show is Galapogos4, an independent hip-hop label out of Chicago, featuring names such as Offwhyte and the Typical Cats, Qwell and Quazaar. The show is all ages, $5 for those over 21 and $6 for under 21.

Doors open at 10 p.m.