What makes The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel by Gravediggaz notable?

The album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200, reflecting its commercial success, and was notable for its innovative approach to horror themes in hip-hop. Critics praised the project for its lyrical depth and production quality, helping to cement Gravediggaz's legacy within the genre. Released in 1997, The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel was Gravediggaz's third studio album and came after a brief hiatus following their 1994 release, The Psychopath. This album further solidified their reputation as pioneers of the horrorcore genre, building on the momentum from their previous work while showcasing a more mature sound.

How many songs are on The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel?

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel has 15 tracks, running approximately 59 minutes.

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel

Gravediggaz · 1997

59 min · 15 tracks · horrorcore

A chilling blend of horror-themed narratives and dark, atmospheric beats that push the boundaries of hip-hop storytelling.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Dangerous Mindz — This track encapsulates the group's signature blend of horror imagery and introspective lyrics, setting a haunting tone for the album.
→
Fairytalez — With its storytelling structure, this song stands out by weaving dark fairy tale motifs into a critique of societal issues, displaying lyrical ingenuity.
→
Repentance Day — This track features a powerful exploration of guilt and redemption, showcasing the group's ability to tackle complex emotional themes against a gripping backdrop.
→
Elimination Process — The aggressive delivery and intricate wordplay highlight the group's lyrical prowess, making it a standout representation of their horrorcore style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album blends horror narratives with atmospheric beats, showcasing strong production and varied vocal styles.

What we noticed

The album opens with a brief intro that sets a dark tone, followed by tracks that consistently feature layered, atmospheric production.
Several tracks utilize haunting samples and eerie soundscapes, enhancing the horror themes present in the lyrics.
The vocal delivery alternates between aggressive and introspective styles, with multiple members contributing to create a varied dynamic throughout.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Intro 1:16
2 Dangerous Mindz 4:54
3 Da Bomb 4:10
4 Unexplained 2:58
5 Twelve Jewelz 2:51
6 Fairytalez 4:46
7 Never Gonna Come Back 3:48
8 Pit of Snakes 4:19
9 The Night the Earth Cried 4:32
10 Elimination Process 5:37
11 Repentance Day 5:18
12 Hidden Emotions 6:17
13 What's Goin' On 4:32
14 Deadliest Biz 3:03
15 Outro 1:16

What to play next

Listen next

Nightmare in A-Minor

2002

Go back to

6 Feet Deep

1994

Full Gravediggaz discography Artists like Gravediggaz

horrorcore

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata