The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel

by Gravediggaz

Overview

Between Gravediggaz first album, 6 Feet Deep, and the second, The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel, RZA became the most influential producer in hip-hop, as his productions for the various Wu-Tang Clan side projects established his distinctive, skeletal style as rap's cutting edge. So, it's a little surprising that The Pick doesn't showcase RZA, even though there are several tangential Wu members on the disc. Instead, the production team of Poetic, True Master, Fourth Disciple, Goldfinghaz and Darkim mastermind the sound of the album, which is light-years away from the violent horrorcore of 6 Feet Deep. The Pick has a layered, textured surface, filled with inventive, unpredictable samples that create a hypnotic web. Appropriately, RZA, Prince Paul, Poetic and Frukwan have smarter rhymes this time around, exploring social problems instead of wallowing in comic book gore. At times, the album's momentum sags, but overall, The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel is a quantum leap forward for Gravediggaz. Unlike its predecessor, it's an album that reflects its creators' intelligence. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/14/1997
Label:	Gee Street
UPC:	0638813250123
Rank:	68105

Tracks

1. Intro
2. Dangerous Mindz
3. Da Bomb
4. Unexplained
5. Twelve Jewelz
6. Fairytalez
7. Never Gonna Come Back
8. Pit of Snakes
9. The Night the Earth Cried
10. Elimination Process
11. Repentance Day
12. Hidden Emotions
13. What's Goin' On
14. Deadliest Biz
15. Outro

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gravediggaz   Primary Artist
The Aleem Brothers   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Shabazz the Disciple   Primary Artist
Barry White   Primary Artist
Sunz of Man   Primary Artist
Blue Raspberry   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
9th Prince   Guest Artist
Killah Priest   Guest Artist
Omen   Guest Artist
Ian Berkeley   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Grym Reaper   Composer
D. Harris   Composer
B. White   Composer
Azh   Executive Producer
Christian Lantry   Photography
David Calderley   Design
The Wu Elements   Producer
Arlene Godfrey   Production Coordination
Clifford Smith   Composer
The Aleem Brothers   Performer
Shabazz the Disciple   Composer,Performer
Barry White   Composer,Performer
Scott Harding   Mixing
Robert Diggs   Composer
Prince Paul   Composer,Producer
Michael Fossenkemper   Assembly,Mastering
Fourth Disciple   Producer
Sunz of Man   Performer
Waymon Reed   Composer
Arnold Hamilton   Composer
Aleem   Performer
Gravediggaz   Producer
Goldfinghaz   Producer
Frukwan   Producer
True Master   Producer
Carlos Bess   Engineer
Poetic   Producer
RZA   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Tom Coyne   Assembly,Mastering
Gatekeeper   Composer
W.L. Reed   Composer
Aza   Producer,Executive Producer
Darkim   Producer
Paul Huston   Composer
D. Collins   Composer