Gravediggaz

Between the Gravediggaz's first album, Six Feet Deep, and the second, The Pick, the Sickle & 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 Six 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 & the Shovel is a quantum leap forward for the Gravediggaz -- unlike its predecessor, it's an album that reflects its creators' intelligence. [The Pick, the Sickle & the Shovel was also released in a "clean" edition, containing no profanities or vulgarities.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide