6 Feet Deep
Encyclopedia
6 Feet Deep is the debut album of the horrorcore
supergroup
Gravediggaz
. It was released August 9, 1994, by Gee Street Records
. The album was re-issued in 1997.
crowd. However, the record was called by its original title overseas. The Europe
an version also included the bonus song "Pass the Shovel".
The last question on "360 Questions" is a reference to Tommy Boy Records, to which each band member had been signed at one point.
Grym Reaper's first couple of lines from “Here Comes the Gravediggaz” (You don't pull on Superman's cape/You don't spit into the wind/You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger) are from the song "Don't Mess with Big Jim," originally by Jim Croce
.
Killah Priest
and Shabazz the Disciple
made their first released appearances on "Graveyard Chamber" and the single "Diary of a Madman
". This led to RZA signing them both to his Wu-Tang Records together with their group Sunz of Man
. Dreddy Kruger made his recording debut on "Graveyard Chamber" as well.
Three charting singles were released from the album. "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
" and "1-800 Suicide
" found minor success on the rap charts, while "Diary of a Madman
" became the group's only single to make it to the Billboard Hot 100
, making it to 82.
Rolling Stone
(10/6/94, p. 90) – 3.5 Stars – "[Gravediggaz] evoke the atmosphere of horror movies and ominous effects, they've also been street tested, boasting hard beats and verbal skills."
Entertainment Weekly
(8/19/94, p. 62) – "The album doesn't take itself very seriously, but the flustered beats, washed in minor chords, are strangely irresistible--partly because it is all so silly". – Rating: B
Q magazine (11/94, p. 129) – 3 Stars – "The foursome use death, burial and The Grim Reaper as central themes for a chilling mid-tempo stomp through America's urban problems."
The Source
(9/94, pp. 91–92) – 3.5 Stars – "No, this isn't the climax of the latest Stephen King flick or Jason, part 17. It's an image created by the Gravediggaz, one of a number of new groups combining rap with horror-movie macabre to create a genre unofficially known as `horror-core'".
NME
(12/24/94, p. 22) – Ranked #22 in NME's list of the `Top 50 Albums Of 1994.'
NME
(Magazine) (9/10/94, p.46) – 8 – Excellent – "Gravediggaz feverishly document the low life – graveyard low."
In 2009, Fangoria
named it as a horrorcore
album.
Note: The source of the producers is the sleeve jacket of the album.
Horrorcore
Horrorcore is a subgenre of hip hop music based in horror-themed lyrical content and imagery. While the style is rarely popular, some performers have sold well in the mainstream scene.-Origins:...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Gravediggaz
Gravediggaz
Gravediggaz is an American hip hop group from New York City, well known for its dark sense of humor and abrasive, menacing soundscapes. The group was formed in 1994 and was effectively a supergroup, bringing together Prince Paul , Frukwan , Too Poetic and RZA...
. It was released August 9, 1994, by Gee Street Records
Gee Street Records
Gee Street Records was a British hip hop record label started by Jon Baker in 1985. The label's name came from its original location, a converted warehouse on Gee Street in London....
. The album was re-issued in 1997.
Album information
The original title of the album was Niggamortis, but it was changed to have a better reaction with the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
crowd. However, the record was called by its original title overseas. The Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an version also included the bonus song "Pass the Shovel".
The last question on "360 Questions" is a reference to Tommy Boy Records, to which each band member had been signed at one point.
Grym Reaper's first couple of lines from “Here Comes the Gravediggaz” (You don't pull on Superman's cape/You don't spit into the wind/You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger) are from the song "Don't Mess with Big Jim," originally by Jim Croce
Jim Croce
James Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
.
Killah Priest
Killah Priest
Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest, Iron Sheik from the Middle East, or Masada, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant & Brownsville neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious...
and Shabazz the Disciple
Shabazz the Disciple
Shabazz the Disciple or Scientific Shabazz, is a rapper from the Red Hook Houses of Red Hook, Brooklyn. He is an original member of the Sunz of Man and Da Last Future.- Biography :...
made their first released appearances on "Graveyard Chamber" and the single "Diary of a Madman
Diary of a Madman (Gravediggaz song)
"Diary of a Madman" was the lead single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. The song was produced by members RZA and Prince Paul along with RNS and featured verses from Killah Priest and Scientific Shabazz...
". This led to RZA signing them both to his Wu-Tang Records together with their group Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man
Sunz of Man is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, Shabazz the Disciple and Killah Priest. The group's first incarnation also included 7th Ambassador and Supreme...
. Dreddy Kruger made his recording debut on "Graveyard Chamber" as well.
Three charting singles were released from the album. "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
"Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" was the second single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. Produced by the group's producer, Prince Paul , "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" was a minor hit on the Rap charts, where it peaked at 32...
" and "1-800 Suicide
1-800 Suicide
"1-800 Suicide" was the third and final single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. Produced by Prince Paul , "1-800 Suicide" was the Gravediggaz final charting single, making it to 46 on the Hot Rap Singles...
" found minor success on the rap charts, while "Diary of a Madman
Diary of a Madman (Gravediggaz song)
"Diary of a Madman" was the lead single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. The song was produced by members RZA and Prince Paul along with RNS and featured verses from Killah Priest and Scientific Shabazz...
" became the group's only single to make it to the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, making it to 82.
Reception
The album was well received and is considered one of the most influential horrorcore albums ever; it's also notable as a unique collaboration between two of the most influential producers on the East Coast at the time, Prince Paul and the RZA.Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
(10/6/94, p. 90) – 3.5 Stars – "[Gravediggaz] evoke the atmosphere of horror movies and ominous effects, they've also been street tested, boasting hard beats and verbal skills."
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
(8/19/94, p. 62) – "The album doesn't take itself very seriously, but the flustered beats, washed in minor chords, are strangely irresistible--partly because it is all so silly". – Rating: B
Q magazine (11/94, p. 129) – 3 Stars – "The foursome use death, burial and The Grim Reaper as central themes for a chilling mid-tempo stomp through America's urban problems."
The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
(9/94, pp. 91–92) – 3.5 Stars – "No, this isn't the climax of the latest Stephen King flick or Jason, part 17. It's an image created by the Gravediggaz, one of a number of new groups combining rap with horror-movie macabre to create a genre unofficially known as `horror-core'".
NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
(12/24/94, p. 22) – Ranked #22 in NME's list of the `Top 50 Albums Of 1994.'
NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
(Magazine) (9/10/94, p.46) – 8 – Excellent – "Gravediggaz feverishly document the low life – graveyard low."
In 2009, Fangoria
Fangoria
Fangoria is an American magazine devoted to horror and exploitation films, which has a number of associated brands:* Fangoria Comics* Fangoria Films* Fangoria RadioFangoria may also refer to:* Fangoria , a Spanish electro pop band...
named it as a horrorcore
Horrorcore
Horrorcore is a subgenre of hip hop music based in horror-themed lyrical content and imagery. While the style is rarely popular, some performers have sold well in the mainstream scene.-Origins:...
album.
Track listing
| # | Title | Time | Producer(s) | Performers | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Just When You Thought it Was Over (Intro)" | 0:10 | Prince Paul | - |
|
| 2 | "Constant Elevation" | 2:30 | Prince Paul |
Frukwan Frukwan Sun-Star Allah-Bey is a Moorish American hip hop musician. He is best known as The Gatekeeper from the hip hop group Gravediggaz and was a member of the pioneering hip hop band Stetsasonic.- Early life :... RZA Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost... |
Allen Toussaint Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern... (from the 1971 album "Toussaint") |
| 3 | "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" was the second single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. Produced by the group's producer, Prince Paul , "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" was a minor hit on the Rap charts, where it peaked at 32... " |
3:55 | Prince Paul |
|
Southside Movement The Southside Movement was an American soul and funk musical group from Chicago, Illinois. Composed of vocalist Melvin Moore, guitarist Bobby Pointer, keyboardist Morris Beeks, bassist Ronald Simmons, drummer Willie Hayes, alto saxophonist Milton Johnson, trumpeter Stephen Hawkins, and trombonist... (from the 1975 album "Moving South") Mike Bloomfield Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70... , Al Kooper Al Kooper Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to... and Stephen Stills Stephen Stills Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time... (from the 1968 album "Super Session") Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets... |
| 4 | "Defective Trip (Trippin')" | 5:04 | Prince Paul |
|
Plug Tunin' "Plug Tunin" is a 1988 single by the influential hip hop trio De La Soul released as the second single from their album 3 Feet High and Rising.... " by De La Soul De La Soul De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres... (from the 1989 album "3 Feet High & Rising") |
| 5 | "2 Cups of Blood" | 1:24 | Prince Paul |
|
Lafayette Afro Rock Band Lafayette Afro Rock Band was a French funk rock band formed in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York in 1970. Though almost unknown in their native United States, they are now universally celebrated as one of the standout funk bands of the 1970s and admired for their use of break beats.Upon their... (from the 1974 album "Voodounon") |
| 6 | "Blood Brothers" | 4:47 | Frukwan |
|
|
| 7 | "360 Questions" | 0:33 | Prince Paul | - | |
| 8 | "1-800 Suicide 1-800 Suicide "1-800 Suicide" was the third and final single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. Produced by Prince Paul , "1-800 Suicide" was the Gravediggaz final charting single, making it to 46 on the Hot Rap Singles... " |
4:18 | Prince Paul |
|
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller , who decides to skip school and spend the day in downtown Chicago... KRS-One Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper... |
| 9 | "Pass The Shovel" (Included on the Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... an version only) |
3:36 | Prince Paul |
|
Bob James (musician) Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date... (from the 1975 album "Two") |
| 10 | "Diary of a Madman Diary of a Madman (Gravediggaz song) "Diary of a Madman" was the lead single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. The song was produced by members RZA and Prince Paul along with RNS and featured verses from Killah Priest and Scientific Shabazz... " |
4:34 | RNS, RZA & Prince Paul |
Shabazz the Disciple Shabazz the Disciple or Scientific Shabazz, is a rapper from the Red Hook Houses of Red Hook, Brooklyn. He is an original member of the Sunz of Man and Da Last Future.- Biography :... Killah Priest Walter Reed, better known as Killah Priest, Iron Sheik from the Middle East, or Masada, is an American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant & Brownsville neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. He is known for intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious... |
Johnny Mathis John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts... |
| 11 | "Mommy, What's a Gravedigga?" | 1:44 | Prince Paul |
|
Cypress Hill Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide... (from the 1991 album "Cypress Hill") Patrice Rushen Patrice Rushen is a Grammy Award-winning African American R&B and jazz vocalist, composer and pianist.-Biography:... (from the 1979 album "Pizzazz") Skull Snaps Skull Snaps was a funk group that released one eponymous album on the small GSF label in 1973 before disappearing. It was, in fact, the group originally known as the Diplomats, which released numerous singles between 1963 and 1970 with some success.... (from the 1973 album "Skull Snaps") |
| 12 | "Bang Your Head" | 3:24 | Prince Paul |
|
|
| 13 | "Here Comes the Gravediggaz" | 3:44 | Mr. Sime |
|
Jim Croce James Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles... (from the 1972 album "You Don't Mess Around With Jim") |
| 14 | "Graveyard Chamber" | 4:57 | RZA RZA Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost... |
|
|
| 15 | "Death Trap" | 2:57 | Prince Paul |
Masta Ace Duval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"... (uncredited) |
|
| 16 | "6 Feet Deep" | 4:36 | RZA |
|
|
| 17 | "Rest in Peace (Outro)" | 2:01 | Prince Paul |
|
No Vaseline "No Vaseline" was a highly controversial song by Ice Cube from his second album, Death Certificate. The song was produced by Ice Cube and Sir Jinx... " by Ice Cube Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,... |
Note: The source of the producers is the sleeve jacket of the album.
Album Chart Positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1994 | 6 Feet Deep | #36 | #6 |
Singles Chart Positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1994 | "Diary of a Madman Diary of a Madman (Gravediggaz song) "Diary of a Madman" was the lead single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. The song was produced by members RZA and Prince Paul along with RNS and featured verses from Killah Priest and Scientific Shabazz... " |
#82 | #57 | #8 | #11 |
| "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" was the second single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. Produced by the group's producer, Prince Paul , "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" was a minor hit on the Rap charts, where it peaked at 32... " |
- | - | #32 | #27 | |
| 1995 | "1-800 Suicide 1-800 Suicide "1-800 Suicide" was the third and final single released from the Gravediggaz' debut album, 6 Feet Deep. Produced by Prince Paul , "1-800 Suicide" was the Gravediggaz final charting single, making it to 46 on the Hot Rap Singles... " |
- | - | #46 | #29 |