Gravediggaz

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineGravediggazs violent mixture of hardcore gangsta rap and heavy metal was labeled horrorcore by some in the press. The whole incident is somewhat ironic, considering the heritage of the group. The mastermind of the group, the Undertaker, is better known as Stetsasonics Prince Paul (born Paul Huston), who has produced De La Soul among other alternative hip-hop groups. The other members include the Rzarector (RZA of Wu-Tang Clan), the Grym Reaper (Poetic), and the Gatekeeper (Frukwan; born Arnold Hamilton). Gravediggazs 1994 debut album, Six Feet Deep, was a minor hit, breaking the Top 40 of the pop album charts and containing the single Diary of a Madman. The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel followed in 1997, and a year later the group returned with Scenes From the Graveyard. In July 2001, just one month before the release of their next album, group member Poetic passed away due to complications from colon cancer, but keeping with his wishes, the band continued on.