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