Customer Reviews

Nightmare in a Minor

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Gravediggaz started on Niggamortis/6 Feet Deep (of course the 6 Feet Deep EP preceded the LP). Then came The Hell EP featuring Tricky. Gravediggaz then rose back up to their sequel LP, "The Pick, the Sickle, and the Shovel" which even though it was not considered as original as the debut of 6 Feet Deep/Niggamortis, it still received its rave reviews and (to my view) Gravediggaz still stood ground. Prince Paul was around, however he was only credited in one track.

Lastly, it comes down to this: Nightmare in A-Minor. However, no RZArector is here at all. And Prince Paul, aka Dr. Strange/Da Undertaker only was featured in the Intro (Mike Check) of the album introducing himself, Frukwan (da Gatekeeper), Too Poetic (AKA Grym Reaper, Tony Titanium), and the newest member of the Gravediggaz: DJ Diamond J (who remixed a version The Night the Earth Cried from the Import/Japan version + 12" single of "The Pick, the Sickle, and the Shovel" and whom was member of hip-hop group Caveman.) Some like to say that Gravediggaz here was only left to 2 members. Officially, though, it was still 4 (Diamond J replacing RZA). Most credit in this LP goes to Frukwan and Poetic along with the featured artists of Wu-Tang/Wu-Affiliates (including some artists from Killarmy, Sunz of Man, etc.), though, seeing as Frukwan and Poetic even produced most of the tracks as well.

Like Niggamortis/6 Feet Deep, Nightmare In A-Minor, also has another version(s) of it's own. The one you see in Amazon's images is the 2002 Empire/BMG re-release. Originally, though, Nightmare in A-Minor was released in 2001 through Echo International Records. The con about the 2002 version is that there's 2 tracks from the original version that were deleted (Current Eventz and Betta Wake Up), 3 tracks supposedly had different beats on the re-release (Running Game, Bloodshed, and Wanna Break), and several tracks were rearranged and renamed. I even found another different cover similar in looks to the Echo version I own (the other having a brownish background).

Now, the most important part: the music itself. This album was more concentrated on the rhymes and verses than the production itself, being alittle weaker since "The Pick, the Sickle, and the Shovel" had both ends of rhymes and beats. But, a couple of the tracks had really tight instrumentals competitive to the earlier Gravediggaz albums. As I see it, Poetic doesn't go as descriptive but Too Poetic is always going to be poetic (re-listening to Burn Baby Burn, word). Frukwan does still have flow and I personally take it hard judging his production skills and his mic skills since they're both above average but simpler beats. Some people have called this the 'darkest' album of the Gravediggaz but if we talkin 'dark' as in horror/horrorcore style, then it's not exactly. Niggamortis/6 Feet Deep still holds the title as the darkest. "Nightmare in A-Minor" is darker than "The Pick, the Sickle, and the Shovel" but still held some mediocre tracks nonetheless. Check it.

This is my track list from my album version:
1. Intro - "Mike Check" (feat. Prince Paul) 0:37
2. False Thingz Must Perish (feat. Prodigal Sunn of Sunz of Man; produced by Poetic) (9/10) 4:21
3. Burn Baby Burn (prod. by True Master) (7/10)
4. Killin' Fields (prod. by Diamond Track & Poetic) (9/10) 3:49
5. Zig Zag Chamber (prod. by Frukwan) (9/10) 4:13
6. Guard Ya Shrine (prod. by Poetic) (7/10) 2:16
7. End of Da World (prod. by Poetic) (8/10) 3:21
8. Today's Mathematics (prod. by Poetic) (8/10) 4:35
9. Current Eventz (prod. by Frukwan) (7/10) 3:56
Deleted track from 2001 version.
10. Last Man Standing (skit, prod. by L.G.) 2:20
11. Running Game (prod. by Frukwan) (8/10) 3:58
Supposedly was another track that had a different beat. I couldn't see a difference from the few seconds I heard in the 2002 version.
12. Bloodshed (prod. by Poetic) (10/10) 4:46
Beat is changed in re-release; the 2001 version is MUCH better than 2002.
13. Wanna Break (prod. by Frukwan) (9/10) 4:14
Beat is changed in re-release, there's less channels and a different harmony. They're both just as good but I personally like the 2002 version more, it's hype and simple.
14. Man Only Fears (feat. Shogun Assasson; prod. by True Master) (7/10) 3:57
15. East Coast - West Coast (skit) 0:22
16. Rest in Da East (prod. by Frukwan) (8/10) 4:19
17. God Vs. Devil (prod. by Frukwan) (7/10) 2:17
18. Better Wake Up (prod. by Poetic) (10/10) 4:57
Deleted track from 2001 version. (Terrible mistake by Empire/BMG; the sample of this beat was from the same of Lauryn Hill's Doo-Wop/That Thing)
19. Nightmare in A-Minor (feat. 4th Disciple & Beretta 9, prod. by True Master) (8/10) 4:32
20. Universal Shout-Outs (prod. by Poetic) 2:50
21. Da Crazies 0:52

So after this, is that it? No more Gravediggaz? There's supposedly two unreleased CD's sold on eBay frequently: Scenes from the Graveyard and 36 Chambers of Death along with a couple of Gravediggaz tour CD's that you can find, even though they're all probably bootleg or unofficial. As for Gravediggaz' 6 Feet Under, that's supposedly a bootleg of Frukwan's "Life", right? You can go back getting the 12" vinyls and singles that were released between the LP's also, including The Hell EP, Double Suicide Pack and the Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide EP (two tracks that aren't in any of the LP's: Freak the Sorceress and Resurrection of Freud). Sadly, after that - that's it. But Gravediggaz will always be known as the one of the deep originators of horrorcore, alongside Esham, Flatlinerz, Ganksta N.I.P., Insane Poetry, Brotha Lynch Hung, Triple 6 Mafia, Geto Boys, your Psycho + Logical Records, Psychopathic Records etc. etc. etc.

R.I.P. Too Poetic

I only recently got into the diggaz. Feeling tired and a bit jaded about some of the new Hip-Hop coming out I began buying records from 95-98. And I stumbled across a copy of the " Pick the sickle the axe and the shovel." and was hooked on the Diggaz sound then to my surprise I found out they had a new record coming out and I picked it up the first day and I was not disappointed. Minus Rza(the Rzarector" and Prince Paul this record holds its own among the other diggaz records. It definately has a good underground sound to it. The lyrics are tight and though provoking and the beats are dark and help create a lush soundscape that can truly be appreciated while listening to in the dark when you can hear all the little intricacies of the beatsand the samples. I especially enjoy the looming samples of pianos and strings . Get this record you wont be dissapointed I mean all the tracks are hot my favorite is "end of Da world"and you will probably want to get the rest of their catalogue. Peace

This album is just another great one to add to the legacy of this horrorcore group, defenitely worth picking up. I loved their first, and their second conscious album. It is a shame that Gry had to die and this is the end of the group as we know it, even though Rza and Prince Paul were absent. The beats are still tight and the lryics are very concisous for the deaf dumb and blind people of today. Like the song says, False things must perish, go cop this joint.

ok who out there remembers the beginning of the gravediggaz? 94 and the start of a new genre called horrorcore. dark and sininster beats provided rza and prince paul with some of the best lyricists that fell out of any wu side project. birthed from the wu, rza appeared on the followup lp the pick the sickle and the shovel, but this time more socially conscious lyrics and intellegent beats. now the diggaz weren't just horrorcore. now unfortunately after the death of anthony berkely (grym reaper/poetic) comes nighmare in a minor. this is a superb work that still holds true to the values that made the gravediggaz what they are now. check out the sinister burn baby burn in which reaper tells about his fight with the cancer that eventually took his life and his determination to not let it win. he was diagnosed in 99 with only three months to live, but he lived until july of 91, finishing his project and speaking out about colon cancer in young americans as well as to the value of insurance. pick this album up. it is incredible and better than almost anything that has been released recently.

PEACE...This Gravediggaz album is a rebirth, SIX FEET DEEP started the whole horror-core genre of Hip-Hop, while the 2nd album, was kinda analog in a sense where it didn't really involve any Gravediggin'...lol, but nah, this album here is return to the essence(Literally for Poetic though, Rest in Peace God)... This album goes back to the grimey cemetary beats and such, even though it lacks Prince Paul and RZA's involvement, it would be a classic if that factor was included. Even without them on the beats, this album is better than any of the releases so far this year. They should have kept "better wake up" on the final release though. Also...look out for the Gravediggaz to reform with Warcloud(Holocaust) of the Black Knights, RZA, Frukwan, and maybe some other wu-fam...I LEAVE THE SAME WAY AS I CAME, in PEACE

This is a sleeper for true heads, the Rza was the only missing link, other than that this was the best one yet!!!!!!!!!!

I just picked this one up recently -- about a couple of weeks ago, and am I glad that I did! This album is a return to their roots -- 6 ft deep style, and despite the fact that it aint produced by either prince paul, or rza, it's just as good as, if not better than the other 2 albums. SHows how talented they really are. Straight up horrorcore, hillarious lyrics, and just tight production all around. This is the last chapter of the gravediggaz saaga, so people go pick it up. It's one of those albums that'll grow on you, till you can't live w/o it. Got any question? Just call 1-800-SUICIDE.

First there were 4 (Prince Paul, RZA, Frukwon, Poetic) on their 1994 debut "6 Feet Deep". Then, on 1997's "The Pick, The Sickel And The Shovel", there were 3 (Prince Paul was absent). Now, on this album, 2001's "Nightmares In A-Minor" there were only 2 left (RZA is gone due to his duty to Wu-Tang Productions) leaving only Frukwan and Poetic. While recording this album, Poetic was fighting his battles with an illness until he lost the battle he bravely fought since 1999 (at that time, doctors feared he would only live for a few more months). Shortly after this album Poetic The Grymreaper lost his life (R.I.P.), leaving Frukwan as the sole Gravedigga. For the album itself, I think its pretty good but the hardest tracks are the three produced by Tru Master ("Burn Baby Burn", "Man Only Fears" featuring Shogun of KillArmy, and "Nightmare In a-Minor" featuring 4th Disciple and Baretta of KillArmy), "False Things Must Perish" featuring Prodigal Sunn of Sunz Of Man, "Killin Fields", and "Guard Ya Shrine". I have been hearing rumors that a new Gravediggaz line-up is set to include Shabazz The Disciple and a few others. If not, this may possibly be the last Gravediggaz album.

Grab your pick and shovel. the road to the grave is deeper than you thought ...the absense of the Grymreaper...is greatly missed.. Nightmare in -A- Minor is the hypest album of the year .... I love the Album and all i read was good reveiws ... for Poetic and Frukwan gives me strenght to take on my out look in life...for i seen for my self how "False things must Perish" Frukwan is the last man standing ... and i`m depending on him to hold it down for the realness of Hip Hop........I know he can do it ........can`t wait to hear his solo album..........stay strong ........!!!!

got the album, only listened to it couple of times, drives me crazy, the quality is poor, they should of kept 6 feet deep style. only one ok'ish song on the whole album!. nothing dark. 2/10