6 Feet Deep
6 Feet Deep (alternately titled Niggamortis) is the debut album of the horrorcore supergroup Gravediggaz. It was released on August 9, 1994 by Gee Street Records. The album was re-issued in 1997. 6 Feet Deep received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its ominous production and lyrics, and is considered an influential album in the horrorcore subgenre. The album peaked at number 36 on the Billboard 200 and spawned three singles: "Diary of a Madman", "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" and "1-800 Suicide".
| 6 Feet Deep | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 9, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1991-1993[1]. | |||
| Genre | Horrorcore | |||
| Length | 52:17 (North America) 55:53 (Europe) | |||
| Label | Gee Street/Island/PolyGram Records 524 016 | |||
| Producer | Prince Paul, Frukwan, RZA, RNS, Mr. Sime | |||
| Gravediggaz chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 6 Feet Deep | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[3] |
| NME | 4/5[3] |
| RapReviews | 9.5/10[4] |
| Robert Christgau |  |
| Rolling Stone |  |
Album information
The original title of the album was Niggamortis, but it was changed to have a better reaction with the American crowd. However, the record was called by its original title overseas. The European version also included the bonus song "Pass the Shovel".[6]
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 Grave Diggaz” (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 "You Don't Mess Around with Jim (song)," 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.
Reception
The album was well received and is considered to be one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time. It is 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 (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.[7]"
In 2009, Fangoria named it as an iconic horrorcore album.[8]
Track listing
| # | Title | Time | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Just When You Thought It Was Over (Intro) | 0:10 | Undertaker |
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| 2 | Constant Elevation | 2:30 | Undertaker |
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| 3 | "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" | 3:55 | Undertaker |
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| 4 | "Defective Trip (Trippin')" | 5:04 | Undertaker |
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| 5 | "Two Cups of Blood" | 1:24 | Undertaker |
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| 6 | "Blood Brothers" | 4:47 | Gatekeeper |
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| 7 | "360 Questions" | 0:33 | Undertaker | |
| 8 | "1-800 Suicide" | 4:18 | Undertaker |
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| 9 | "Diary of a Madman" | 4:34 | RNS, RZArector & Undertaker |
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| 10 | "Mommy, What's a Gravedigga?" | 1:44 | Undertaker |
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| 11 | "Bang Your Head" | 3:24 | Undertaker |
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| 12 | "Here Comes the Gravediggaz" | 3:44 | Mr. Sime |
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| 13 | "Graveyard Chamber" | 4:57 | The RZArector |
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| 14 | "Death Trap" | 2:57 | Undertaker |
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| 15 | "6 Feet Deep" | 4:36 | RZArector |
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| 16 | "Rest In Peace (Outro)" | 2:01 | Undertaker |
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Note: The source of the producers is the sleeve jacket of the album.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year | Album | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1994 | 6 Feet Deep | #36[9] | #6[9] |
Singles
| Year | Album | Peak position | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1994 | "Diary of a Mad Man" | #82[10] | #57[10] | #8[10] | #11[10] |
| "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide" | - | - | #32[10] | #27[10] | |
| 1995 | "1-800 Suicide" | - | - | #46[10] | #29[10] |
References
- "Prince Paul Reveals Gravediggaz Recordings Predate Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)".| Retrieved 2020-08-10
- Swihart, Stanton (2011). "6 Feet Deep – Gravediggaz | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- CD Universe
- Bond, John-Michael (2011). "Gravediggaz :: 6 Feet Deep :: Gee Street/Island/PolyGram Records". RapReviews. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- Christgau, Robert (2011). "Robert Christgau: CG: Gravediggaz". robertchristgau.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- "Gravediggaz – Niggamortis". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
- Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep CD Album
- Molgaard, Matt (August 12, 2009). "Rapped and Tagged: Horrorcore's Iconic Albums". Fangoria. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- "Album charts and awards for 6 Feet Deep". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- "Singles charts and awards for 6 Feet Deep". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-03-28.