Between
Gravediggaz first album,
6 Feet Deep, and the second,
The Pick, the Sickle and 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
6 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 and the Shovel is a quantum leap forward for
Gravediggaz. Unlike its predecessor, it's an album that reflects its creators' intelligence.