The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel

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The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
Picksickleshovel.jpg
Studio album by
Gravediggaz
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1997
StudioAmeraycan Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Firehouse Studios, NY
Paul's Coffee Shop
Unique Recording, NY
Wu Mansion, NJ
GenreHip hop
Length60:24
LabelGee Street/V2/BMG Records
63881-32501
ProducerRZA (also exec.)
Neil Robertson (exec.)
4th Disciple
True Master
Poetic
Darkim Be Allah
Frukwan
Prince Paul
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
AllMusic4/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau(neither)[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB[5]
Pitchfork 6.5/10[2]
Rolling Stone3/5 stars[4]

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel is the second studio album by hip hop supergroup Gravediggaz.[6][7] Released on September 16, 1997, 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]

In contrast to the group's debut album, Prince Paul had less involvement in the production of this album.[8] 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."[9]

Track listing[]

Track listing information is taken from the official liner notes.[10]

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"
  • R. Diggs
  • D. Miller
  • Darkim
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

References[]

  1. ^ Allmusic link
  2. ^ "Gravediggaz: The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel: Pitchfork Review". December 25, 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-12-25.
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Gravediggaz". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ "Rolling Stone link". Archived from the original on June 26, 2007.
  5. ^ "Album Review: 'The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel' and 'Psychoanalysis'". EW.com.
  6. ^ "Gravediggaz | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Staff, SF Weekly (December 3, 1997). "Reviews". SF Weekly.
  8. ^ "GRAVEDIGGAZ The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel GEE STREET GEE 1000562". The Independent. September 12, 1997.
  9. ^ "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. December 30, 1997 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel (booklet). Gravediggaz. Gee Street/V2/BMG Records. 1997. 63881-32501.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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