The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel

Released on September 16, 1997, 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]}

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
Studio album by Gravediggaz
Released	September 16, 1997
Studio	Ameraycan Studios, North Hollywood, CA Firehouse Studios, NY Paul's Coffee Shop Unique Recording, NY Wu Mansion, NJ
Genre	Horrorcore
Length	59:38
Label	Gee Street/V2/BMG Records 63881-32501
Producer	RZA (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
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau
Entertainment Weekly	B
Pitchfork	6.5/10
Rolling Stone

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

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

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 information is taken from the official liner notes.

Notes

• "Fairytalez" features background vocals by Kelis Rogers.
• "What's Goin' On" features background vocals by Blue Raspberry.

Samples

• "Unexplained" contains a sample of "Wild Flower" by New Birth.
• "Fairytalez" contains a sample of "Themes From Montreal Olympics" by The Salsoul Orchestra.
• "Never Gonna Come Back" contains a sample of "Love Serenade" by Barry White.