Search - Gravediggaz :: The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel

Uh, you need to buy this, say, YESTERDAY...

09/16/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's been pretty much established exactly how incredibly talented everyone even remotely associated with the Wu-Tang Clan is, and yet it bears repeating again with the release of this CD - the RZA is GOD!No joke, not even on pure-bred Wu-Tang Clan albums have you heard as incredibly intricate yet smooth lyrical flows as you will here. Poetic, the Grym Reaper, mostly abandons the sing-song style he employed on the first album to concentrate on selling his flow using no gimmicks besides a seemingly-bottomless vocabulary (my favorite verse: "an archangel imprisoned my soul into a prism / using techniques of molecular collision and cell division"...not exactly standard hip-hop fare nowadays). Frukwon the Gate Keeper simply has a great flow, which really didn't change at all from the first album.But the superstar on here is definitely the RZA. His solo track "Twelve Jewelz" is perhaps a bit too short, but still one of my canidates for "Best Rap Song Ever"...I can't listen to it enough. His unbelivably deep lyrics have firmly convinced me, no matter what his political leanings might be, to vote for him as Ruler of All Existence, if that election ever takes place. He is definitely worthy. Imagine a rapper almost putting Killah Priest to shame...yeah, he comes that close to having the perfect flow.Oh yeah, and the production by the RZA, and Prince Paul, is top-notch. I enjoyed it so much more than the barely above-average work on Wu-Tang Forever. Bottom-line, get this right now."

Hit Powerfully, But Fell On Deaf Ears

The_Truth | England, UK | 06/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've always been a massive fan of the Wu Tang Clan and their affliated artists. They've left their mark on hip hop like a scar - it's never going away. One of the things I love about the Wu are the groups that have formed along the journey and the way they always drop powerful installments - eg. Gravediggaz and "The Pick, The Sickle & The Shovel". It's been refreshing in 2004 to take a trip back to '97 and hear a group that was rapping their thoughts. Unfortunately, the thoughts have become lost over the years.The poetic flow and the deepness of the lyrics shines on this album. This is a major plus, but the biggest plus is the beats. In the words of Masta Killa after dropping his debut "No Said Date" - "RZA has always had bangin' beats". RZA is one of my favourite all time producers and I love every second of this album because of it. Prince Paul's prescence behind the boards is hardly there, which is a surprise having heard his amazing work on their debut. Besides this, he's barely their in the rhymes. This is a big dissopointment, but Poetic and Fruhwan more than make up for it, as they rap about exsistence, life in the ghetto and about the loved one they've lost in their lives.Something I look for in the music I buy is the hooks, and these are captivating but not commercial. They also drop bombs on each and every track, with their lyrical superiority shining through on the dark "Never Gonna Come Back", "The Night The Earth Cried" & on the bloodsoaked RZA solo "Twelve Jewelz". They prophesize and question the morality of the world, but at the same time spark thoughts about how violence is affecting everyone and how the ghetto's affected them.This is one of the most serious and thought provoking albums I've ever heard, and each time I play "The Pick, The Sickle & The Shovel" I always find myself obsorbed in their amazing talent. In my opinion, this is one of the most incredible, mature and powerful albums in rap history.RZA has taken some of the subjects he played on with the Wu and bought them through with the Gravediggaz. I love everything about the album and it's remained a classic favourite throughout the years.For any Wu tang Clan fan, this is a must. For everyone whoes a rap fan, this is a must. For a very brief period, the Gravediggaz were hitting powerfully, but unfortunately the rap circle just wasn't hearing or feeling it."

Give it more than one listen...

A. Cole | 01/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I heard The Pick, the Sickle, and the Shovel I did not enjoy it as much as 6 Feet Deep. Thankfully the sick flows on Da Bomb made me keep plugging it back in, and after awhile I realized there was so much more to the album. It's not the same style as their first album by any means and if you're expecting that then you're only setting yourself up to be disapointed. On the other hand, if you are willing to listen to it from a fresh point of view you will find this is one of the most underrated hip hop albums ever."