Tum Thousand & Six Turns 19: Celebrating a Dallas Classic That Defined a Sound

Tum Tum with Big Tuck and Slim Thug on "Tussle" video

Today marks 19 years since Dallas rapper Tum Tum shook the city and beyond with the release of his groundbreaking mixtape Tum Thousand Six, originally dropped on August 15, 2006. The project was a defining moment not only for Tum Tum’s career but for the shaping of the Dallas hip-hop identity that would soon gain national recognition.

At a time when fellow Dallas heavyweight Big Chief held the streets down with trap anthems, Tum Tum carved his lane in the mixtape game. Known for his legendary DSR freestyles, Tum teamed up with DJ Chuck T to deliver a raw, organic Dallas sound that resonated in every corner of the city. The tape would soon produce what became a true Dallas anthem — Dub Duece D’s — a track that captured the culture’s pride in old school box Chevys, unique style, and the soulful swagger of the Triple D.

Tum Thousand Six served as the launching pad for Tum Tum’s debut album, Eat or Get Ate, which featured the smash hit Caprice Music. That single went on to dominate BET’s 106 & Park countdown for weeks, shining a national spotlight on Dallas talent and energy. But before the hit records, the mixtape itself was the spark.

“This mixtape gave us a sense of identity,” reflects a Dallas barber who witnessed the wave firsthand. “From the funny haircuts to the candy-painted rides, Tum Tum let the world know just how different and soulful we were.”

Released during the rise of the ringtone era, Tum Thousand Six was the preliminary soundscape that would lead into the D-Town Boogie movement, ushering Dallas into the national hip-hop conversation. For many, it was more than music — it was a movement of pride, originality, and community spirit.

Dirty South Rydaz

Nineteen years later, Tum Thousand Six stands as a Dallas classic, a reminder of when the city found its voice and set the bar high for the artists who followed. Tum Tum’s impact on the culture remains undeniable, and his mixtape continues to echo as a symbol of the soulful, gritty, and authentic Dallas sound that changed the game.

Writer: DJ Bobby Eupho

Dallas, Texas

BCE Label | theofficialeupho.bcethelabel@gmail.com