The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel

Last updated
The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
Picksickleshovel.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1997 [1]
Studio
  • Ameraycan Studios, North Hollywood, CA
  • Firehouse Studios, NY
  • Paul's Coffee Shop
  • Unique Recording, NY
  • Wu Mansion, NJ
Genre Horrorcore [2]
Length59:38
Label Gee Street/V2/BMG Records
63881-32501
Producer
Gravediggaz chronology
The Hell E.P.
(1995)
The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
(1997)
Nightmare in A-Minor
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-neither.png [4]
Entertainment Weekly B [5]
Pitchfork 6.5/10 [6]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel is the second studio album by hip hop supergroup Gravediggaz. [8] [9] Released on September 16, 1997, [10] via Gee Street, V2 and BMG Records, the album has a more socially conscious sound and is considerably calmer than its predecessor; it features heavy production input by the RZA and his production team the Wu Elements.[ citation needed ]

Contents

In contrast to the group's debut album, Prince Paul had less involvement in the production of this album. [11] He did produce the outro and the skit preceding "Hidden Emotions." He was still billed as an official member of the group, however, and appeared on the cover and inserts of the album.

Two singles were released from the album, "Dangerous Mindz" and "The Night the Earth Cried," though neither made it to the Billboard charts.

Critical reception

Spin called the album a "fanciful dystopia," writing that "each rap suggests a creative act of desperation." [12]

Rolling Stone (9/18/97, p. 104) – 3 stars (out of 5) – "...an exotic, multilayered soundscape that is often melancholic, but also melodic....the Gravediggaz deliver plenty to sink your pick into."

Entertainment Weekly (10/31/97, p. 108) – "...guest rappers Killah Priest, Omen, and Hell Razor spin oblique horror stories from ghetto hell over bruising beats by RZA and Prince Paul." – Rating: B

Vibe (11/97, p. 149) – "This second offering from Gravediggaz...finds the Wu-Tang boardsman moving away from production and immersing himself fully in the power of words....RZA is a master MC."

Option (11-12/97, p. 100) – "Individually, it seems the Gravediggaz are trying to outdo each other (and every other MC) by writing and rapping denser, more complex rhymes than anybody....they maintain remarkable flow."

Melody Maker (09/13/97, p. 50) – "...machetes injustice, decapitates the real criminals, and burys the lot of 'em in a festering, snake-filled pit."

Rap Pages (11/97, p. 110) – "There's a lifetime supply of meta-force wordplay for the heads, enough braggadocio for the hard-core and plenty of hooks for the pop quadrant."

Track listing

Track listing information is taken from the official liner notes. [13]

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"1:16
2."Dangerous Mindz"
4:54
3."Da Bomb"
4:10
4."Unexplained"
  • A. Hamilton
  • A. Berkeley
2:58
5."Twelve Jewelz"
2:51
6."Fairytalez"
  • S. Kinchen
  • A. Hamilton
  • A. Berkeley
  • Goldfinghaz
4:46
7."Never Gonna Come Back"
  • S. Kinchen
  • A. Hamilton
  • A. Berkeley
  • B. White
  • Goldfinghaz
3:48
8."Pit Of Snakes"
  • R. Diggs
  • D. Harris
  • A. Hamilton
  • A. Berkeley
  • Truemaster
  • The RZA (co.)
4:19
9."The Night The Earth Cried"
  • R. Diggs
  • S. Bougard
  • A. Hamilton
  • A. Berkeley
  • Fourth Disciple
  • The RZA (co.)
4:32
10."Elimination Process" (Featuring Shabazz The Disciple, Omen and the Aleem Brothers)
  • Poetic
5:37
11."Repentance Day" (Featuring Sunz Of Man and Killah Priest)
  • Poetic
5:18
12."Hidden Emotions"
  • Truemaster
6:17
13."What's Goin' On" (Featuring 9TH Prince)
  • The RZA
4:32
14."Deadliest Biz"
  • A. Hamilton
  • A. Berkeley
3:03
15."Outro"
1:17
Total length:59:38

Notes

Samples

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Paul (producer)</span> American record producer and DJ

Paul Edward Huston, better known by his stage name Prince Paul, is an American record producer, disc jockey and recording artist from Amityville, New York. Paul began his career as a DJ for Stetsasonic. He has worked on albums by Boogie Down Productions, Gravediggaz, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane and 3rd Bass, among others. Major recognition for Prince Paul came when he produced De La Soul's debut album 3 Feet High and Rising (1989), in which he pioneered new approaches to hip hop production, mixing and sampling, notably by including comedy sketches.

<i>Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)</i> 1993 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

Enter the Wu-Tang is the debut studio album by the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993, by Loud Records and RCA Records. Recording sessions took place during late 1992 to early 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City, and the album was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA. Its title originates from the martial arts films Enter the Dragon (1973) and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravediggaz</span> American hip-hop group

Gravediggaz was an American hip hop group from New York, known for its dark sense of humor and abrasive, menacing soundscapes. Gravediggaz blended hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap and heavy metal with horror elements to pioneer the hip-hop subgenre of horrorcore.

<i>6 Feet Deep</i> 1994 studio album by Gravediggaz

6 Feet Deep is the debut album of the American hip hop supergroup Gravediggaz. Formed by former Tommy Boy Records artists Prince Paul, RZA, Frukwan and Poetic, the group utilized horror-themed imagery and lyrics combined with black comedy and satire to vent their frustrations with the hip hop record industry. The album's concept satirizes the hardcore hip hop and gangsta rap of the early 1990s. Released on August 9, 1994, by Gee Street Records, the album helped usher in horrorcore.

Gee Street Records was a British hip hop record label started by Jon Baker, Stereo MC's and DJ Richie Rich in 1985. The label's name came from its original location, a converted warehouse on Gee Street in London.

Derrick Harris, better known by his stage name True Master, is an American hip-hop record producer and rapper, known for his affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan.

Terrance Hamlin, better known as 9th Prince, is an American rapper and one of the founding members of rap group Killarmy. He was initially responsible for bringing the various members together, under the guidance of his brother. He released his solo debut album Granddaddy Flow in 2003. He is the younger brother of RZA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Ian Berkeley</span> American rapper (1964–2001)

Anthony Ian Berkeley better known as Too Poetic, was an American rapper and producer. He was also a founding member of the hip-hop group Gravediggaz, for which he used the alias Grym Reaper. He also used the alias Tony Titanium.

Brothers Grym was a New York hip-hop group formed by Too Poetic and his two younger brothers, lyricists Brainstorm and R&B hip-hop producer E#.

<i>The W</i> 2000 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

The W is the third studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It was released on November 21, 2000, by Loud Records. After their 1997 album Wu-Tang Forever, several of the group's members released solo projects before The W, which has a more rugged, less polished sound than that of most Wu-Tang related albums from that era. The album also features guest appearances from Isaac Hayes, Redman, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and Junior Reid. It is the group's last album to feature Ol' Dirty Bastard before his death in 2004, as he was absent from their next album, Iron Flag (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RZA discography</span>

The discography of Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA consists of four studio albums, two compilation albums, one instrumental album, four extended plays and five singles.

Shabazz the Disciple, also known as Scientific Shabazz, born David Collins, is a rapper from the Red Hook Houses of Red Hook, Brooklyn. He is an original member of the Sunz of Man and Da Last Future.

<i>Psychoanalysis: What Is It?</i> 1996 studio album by Prince Paul

Psychoanalysis: What Is It? is the debut studio album by American hip hop producer Prince Paul. Originally released by Wordsound Recordings in 1996, it was re-released by Tommy Boy Records in 1997 with a slightly different track listing and a different cover.

Gravediggaz is an American hip hop group from New York notable for pioneering the horrorcore lyrical style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wu-Tang Clan anthology</span>

The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City–based hip-hop musical group, consisting of ten American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. This list chronologically displays the albums of each group member including collaboration and side group albums. This list does not include compilation albums, mixtapes, or extended plays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RZA</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1969)

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA, is an American rapper, record producer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having produced most albums for the group and its respective members. He is a cousin of two other original Wu-Tang Clan members: GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard. He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital, along with executive producing credits for side projects. After forming the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA was a founding member of the horrorcore group Gravediggaz, since 1992, where he went by the name The RZArector.

<i>Bobby Digital in Stereo</i> 1998 studio album by RZA

Bobby Digital in Stereo is the debut studio album by American rapper and producer RZA. It was released on November 24, 1998, and was certified Gold on February 5, 1999, by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is an experimental album that is based on a story featuring him rhyming as a hedonistic, fun-loving alter-ego named Bobby Digital and showcasing a unique keyboard-driven sound that RZA called digital orchestra, receiving mostly positive, though somewhat mixed, reviews.

<i>Wu-Tang Forever</i> 1997 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Forever is the second studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997, by Loud and RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects from various members of the group, and serves as the follow-up to their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . Forever features several guest appearances from Wu-Tang affiliates Cappadonna, Streetlife, 4th Disciple, True Master, and Tekitha. The original run of compact discs featured an enhanced CD which allowed users to walk around the "Wu Mansion" and access additional content.

<i>Ironman</i> (Ghostface Killah album) 1996 studio album by Ghostface Killah

Ironman is the debut studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on October 29, 1996, by Epic Records. It was produced by fellow Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. The album's music draws prominently on blaxploitation films and soul samples. More so than on other solo debuts from the group's members, Ironman contains references to the Nation of Gods and Earths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havelock Nelson (writer)</span> American journalist

Havelock Nelson (born May 6, 1964) is an American music journalist and the co-author of the 1992 book Bring the Noise: A Guide to Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture. Nelson was Billboard magazine's first rap editor where he singled out KMD's sophomore album Black Bastards contending that its artwork and title were offensive. This eventually led to Elektra records shelving the project. Nelson has written stories and reviews for Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone magazine and has been a contributor to the Huffington Post.

References

  1. "The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel - Gravediggaz | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  2. Bandini (August 10, 2014). "Gravediggaz Heads Ask In A Mix… Who's Nicer: RZA Or Prince Paul? (Audio)". Ambrosia for Heads. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  3. Allmusic link
  4. "Robert Christgau: CG: Gravediggaz". www.robertchristgau.com.
  5. "Album Review: 'The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel' and 'Psychoanalysis'". EW.com.
  6. "Gravediggaz: The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel: Pitchfork Review". December 25, 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-12-25.
  7. "Rolling Stone link". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 26, 2007.
  8. "Gravediggaz | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  9. Staff, SF Weekly (December 3, 1997). "Reviews". SF Weekly.
  10. "The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel - Gravediggaz | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  11. "GRAVEDIGGAZ The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel GEE STREET GEE 1000562" . The Independent. September 12, 1997. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18.
  12. "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. December 30, 1997 via Google Books.
  13. The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel (booklet). Gravediggaz. Gee Street/V2/BMG Records. 1997. 63881-32501.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)