Gravediggaz: The Fathers of Horrorcore (Documentary)
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- The Gravediggaz are one of the most iconic groups of the 90's, and I feel like they never get enough love from today's crop of hip hop heads. After listening to Prince Paul's podcast with Open Mike Eagle I was inspired to make a video about one of Paul's best contributions to hip-hop.
Make sure to check out the amazing producers who provided the soundscape for this one:
Riley Williams Music
/ @rileywilliamsmusic
S.O.L.E.
/ malik825
NahMyself
/ nahmyself
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Don’t forget Esham the unholy was doing horror core on the east coast in 89 he was doing live shows and everything. He’s the true father of the horror core. He inspired a lot of the horror core of today.
FACTS!
Shabazz's verse on Diary of a Madman made everyone rewrite their verses for the track again
Facts
Didn't know that. Why is that?
Why is that ? That verse is magical
I been examined ever since i was semen.. they took a sonogram and seen the image of a demon.. etc
It's one of the illest verses ever written
Rza rapped the best he ever rapped on the Gravediggaz albums.
For sure!
His best verses are on Wu Tang Forever.
I see that to a degree, wit the GDz he seem more 5% and wit Wut he Rza/ Bobby Digital he just don't make that sound he always make that Totototot!!! Whatever that thing he do😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@octagonseventynine1253nah that’s wrong. Listen to the Rza on tracks like Nowhere to Run and tell me any Wu Tang track where his flow sounds anywhere near as good. Rza’s flow is quite clumsy APART from his contributions on 6 feet deep where he sounds far more natural.
Rzareeeectahhh!
Too poetic is one of the most compelling mcs to listen to.
Mommy what's a grave digga? very short track, but it's amazing.
Dairy of a madman is one of my all time favorite songs
Great video man. 6 Feet Deep one of the greatest albums ever made.
Too poetics verse on "one life" with last emperor where he rapped about him dying from cancer is kne of the most gut wrenching and gripping verses I have ever heard.
Yeah bro, I just listened to it. It hits too hard
Dam I had tears in my eyes watching this. Finally my crew got shine. Poetic i was under and on deck to work with and then he past away all I can think is dam if I wasn't so lazy to travel when he told me to all the way to Queens. R. I. P Poetic major slept on. Salute whoever did this. I suppose fully. And my album Shistie Azz Devil Da Voorhees curse is a Major Salute to this era. POETIC 4 Life
I’m subscribing
Damn man Poetic is my inspiration I strive to flow like him
You should do one about Warcloud AKA The Holocaust, my favorite Wu-Tang affiliate by far crazy underrated.
That verse on “Silkworm” from the RZA as Bobby Digital is classic
Warcloud was ahead of his time!
Way too underrated
Your dead right bro bang bang warcloud guys fuckin sick sick flow,l like 2 listen 2 the other chamberz. Yea am here in London wu tang coming over with nas can't wait😎
his rhyme schemes are among the best ever. i was a HUGE fan and played them verses endlessly! it would be great to see more info on him
This was the greates hip hop album of the 90's!!
Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age is underrated
Seen em at Umass in 94,, Got a signed hat says... "To Ray from the Graveyard Crew, GrymReap '94 " dope concert
I was an 11 year old white kid at summer camp and had two cool black counselors that were prob 16 or 17 at the time. They let me listen to a song on their Walkman and it was the intro and constant elevation off 6 feet deep. I thought it was the coolest rap song I’ve ever heard which was wild for an 11 year old. Next day at camp they took me aside during kickball and slipped me a tape of the album that they copied onto another tape. Told me not to tell my parents. Listened to it everyday for months. Easily my favorite rap album of all time. Those counselors ruled. Great vid thanks for making it.
1 of my favorite hip hop groups after Wu-Tang Clan of course. Loved the dark lyrics, horror images, beats were beyond dope. 6 feet deep got me so amped up when I pressed play, it was like a shot of adrenaline. Gave me chills because i related to a lot of the material that was being said. Definitely original and no1 will ever come close. R.I.P. POETIC aka Grim Reaper. I still have Gravediggaz on Playlist when I'm driving around my old stomping grounds simply because it brings back so many crazy memories. My crew and I were a bugged out bunch so that album hit the spot perfectly. . . ☠️🪦⛓️😳
I remember when their debut dropped I was in the 11th grade The Rza inspired alot of cats to get those gold fangs but the greatest Rza verses was on "12 Jewels"
Diary of a Madman is one of my favorite tracks.
Diary of a Madman is my number one favorite track of all time.. 💯❤🔥🥰
The only album I can compare to their first is 36 Chambers. Both are ground breaking and amazing!
Great video and synopses! I was blessed to see the GraveDiggaz live for the first album in SF, circa 1994....and I can say that my mind was BLOWN and that the crowd was straight ruckus!! I wish I knew who, but I'm going to expose my ignorance here and say I can't recall which member, did a SICK freestyle/acapella talking about being cursed since inception and how his life was hell ever since, it was deeply moving and a profound experience to witness live!
Prince Paul's turntables kept skipping during the performance from the MC's jumping and moving so much onstage (DNA Lounge mid 90's!) which could've messed up any another less adept DJ; but Paul kept his composure (for the most part) and rocked the party inna fine stylee!!
These guys actually have a lot to do with my inspiration
Good short documentary man, 6 feet deep is my teenage years. Love that album.
The album wasn't originally titled "6 feet deep". I have a copy that I bought at the time, and it's called "Niggamortis".
Yes it has a extra track Pass The Shovel
It was released in the UK with that title originally as well😊
@@dassolosyndikat5113 amazing track, too. it's up on here. when the beat changes and Grym comes in, just kicks it up a notch. amazing track.
strangely it has production more similar to the 2nd album though, it's very funky.
Esham is the true one. Acid Rap and Horrorcore.
Esham was the Og of horrorcore! Debuting in 89’ almost 5 years before graveduggaz
Amazing Video! I read up on some of there history on wikipedia but this for sure was a better look at the history of the group and the beginnings of horror core, cant wait to check out that prince paul open mike eagle podcast!
Wow!! I was a huge fan of 6 feet deep and a huge fan of weapon world and never knew prince Paul and Gravediggaz had ant connections but just yesterday 6/16/23 just received my first ever Gravediggaz Long sleeve tee and can't wait to rock that shit!!
What a dope video . This has been one of my favorite rap albums for a long time . Always thought it was underrated . Hope you’re having a good year so far too ! Time for a relisten
I wish Too Poetic had a solo album like ODB, GZA and Raekwon's albums.
thanks for puttin this together. they are one of my fav groups ever.
Damn I wish this was longer
Bro I wish it was 20 minutes long!
Dope content! The memories are unraveling fasho! I Got the 6’ Deep cassette and a Flatlinerz cassette from a Halloween store in 94. Never really listened to East coast shit because I was so Bay Area bias but they were like 3 bucks each. Glad I picked those up though because those tapes were legendary!
Have this on cassette bought it when it dropped
Dope👊
Another great breakdown!
Salute to the sound architects The RZArector (RZA) and The Undertaker (Prince Paul).
R.I.P. Too Poetic aka Grym Reaper
Esham the Unholy & NATAS would be my choice for fathers of the genre. But I do love the Gavediggaz
Aye man… I’m pretty binging these docs at this point…. Great fucking job on all of these man. Nod to ur taste in music as well.
Ayyy thanks man!
GRAVEDIGGAZ Str8 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥... Hopefully one day we'll get a reunion album with just Undertaker producing...
Great video I love it I love this group since the 90s I was a little kid I found this cassette tape 6 ft deep it was a single I forgot what it was it was so long ago but yeah they my favorite group and they first two albums on my favorite albums
As a 13yr old 6 feet deep started my love for good music in all genres.
Amazing stuff again Def. Huge fan of the group and your take is perfectly on point as usual my friend.
I appreciate that DS!
These documentaries are great 🤙🏼
Thanks!
Great breakdown!!!
Thanks for the historical breakdown. Peace
At first, I thought this was about ‘The Diggers’. They make many music videos for underground rappers. But I am glad I did come across this video. I’m definitely going to check out Grave Diggas
The Diggers are dope too, some of the best doing it rn
Great reminder. Keep them coming !
Six feet deep was amazing...✌️🇳🇿
Well done 👍
Thank you 👍
Great vid! Subscribed!
Awesome, thank you!
Agreed. Great job.
Beginning to realize the random school teacher Alpha Phi Alpha hipster earthy dude from Project Blowed I used to know was more than any of us at the time ever understood. I keep hearing Open Mike Eagle’s name everywhere.
Thanks for making this 🔥 PEACE
Another great vid
Dope doc 👌 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Great channel! Great video. Learned some things I didn't know
Thanks and I’m glad to hear it!
I did an album review on this album and the single but I respect your tribute as well bro
Your videos never disappoints 🤟📛💯 Grave Diggers are under appreciated groups but I understand why ....The legacy of the main nine drowned out group like Wu Syndicate ....Killer Army .....Shyheem etc too many to name but u get the hint....but Grave Diggers was one of my favorite side Wu projects
epic info absolutley love thease dudes
Besides the geto boys & gangsta nip & the gravediggaz , there was another group who did the horrorcore thing , flatlinerz , anyone remember them?
Yes.
Esham was dropping horrocore in the 80's as well, had a group named Natas also, icp was doing it before gravediggaz as well they ain't even close to the first of true horror type of sound and not just a few tracks nah these cats went full on the whole cd like the 6ft deep
RIP Grym Reaper aka Poetic 🌹🙏🏻 Gravediggaz 6 Feet Deep 💧⚔️🔥👐🏻🔥🐝 Suuuuuu ✌🏻👑
Dats Koopsta robbers n da background n da beginning of da video LLkoop, LLboo, LLinfamous Mafia
Tony was one of a kind. 😢RIP Cous✨❤️
One of the top ten rap albums of all time 6 Feet Deep. And Rza is on that list twice..... Wait three times . This. 36 chambers and of course Liquid Swords.
These dudes are legends of the genre .. BUT . .. Can’t forget the FLATLINERZ .. !! Another phenomenal group
Facts!!!
So much potential with this group. If Prince Paul would have signed that contract by Jerry heller to ruthless records in 1992 they would have been under the mentorship of Eazy. They would have been Bone Thugs N Harmony or better yet Grave Thugs N Harmony. They would have had successful movie careers as well:
1. Poetic- Eric Draven (The Crow)
2. RZA- Morty (The Fear)
3. Frukwan- The Collector (Demon Knight)
4. Prince Paul- Richard (Tales From The Hood)
it’d be really cool if you did a video about Quelle Chris, he’s one of the most creative rappers, producers, and artists ever imo, and i don’t see him get talked about nearly enough, especially on this site
Good call!
@@DefGoldbloom thanks! one of the things i really appreciate abt your channel is shining light on artists no one else talks about on youtube
@@MiguelHerrera-nh9qw Awesome thanks for watching man!
As important as the Gravediggaz were, the reality is that Esham is the godfather of horrorcore.
True but he's underground af Gravediggaz took it to another album their album must be gold by now.
Esham did acid rap. "horrorcore" was coined by journalist Havelock Nelson to describe the Gravediggaz album
RIP Too Poetic. I think the last verse he ever recorded was on the last emperor's track One Life. It's heartbreaking
Frukwam, RIP to Too Poetic, RZA had just lost his Mother, and DJ Paul ❤
got the first LP, 1st press :D
Prince Paul hates that term Horrorcore even too this day lol
I love the chaos of the 1st and the elevation of the 2nd.
Amazing video. I didn’t know a lot of the background information about it. Thank you.
Shabazz the disciple 🔥🏆
hell yeah
I prefer the second album over the first if you make me choose. Great vid, thank you!
While Gravediggaz were influential in attempting to popularize and did succeed in influencing the niche subgenre of Horrorcore (paving the way for the likes of Eminem, Tyler the Creator and so on), who I'd peg as the actual "father" of Horrorcore was/is Esham, an MC from Detroit who began in the 80's with his first solo album coming in 1989. The Gravediggaz likely studied and were inspired by him, along with certain Geto Boys tracks, Kool Keith, Insane Clown Posse, etc.
If I recall correctly, it was Danny Brown or ICP themselves who gave credit to Esham in an interview as the primary progenitor of the genre, which then directed not only I but several others I've known and met in becoming more educated in Hip-Hop History.
Dope write up, thanks for this info!
It was Danny Brown and Violent J
Verses from hell....
I just listened to this
Gangsta NIP from Houston pre dates Esham. DJ Paul of 3 six mafia is on record saying NIP influenced 3 six very early.
ua-cam.com/video/TM1FD-vIzD8/v-deo.html
Esham was doing it in 1989. He had 3 solos and a group album by the time Gravediggaz dropped. But he called it Acid Rap.
the sub genre became born in 1989 when Esham dropped BOOMIN Words From Hell smh. Esham is the only God Father of horrorcore/acid rap
Facts the real king of Detroit
My first exposure to the Diggaz was "Gravediggaz - Dangerous Mindzz" from the Pick and Sickel album. It's the best Diggaz album to me, and something circle back to all the time was a classic like Sunz of Man's "Last Shall Be First"album, and Dead Prez's "Let's Get Free."
Dead Prez's "Let's Get Free" is my favourite hip hop album of all time.
DangerousMindz$$$
Agreed about RZA his tongue spit fire
FRUKWUN
PRINCE PAUL
STETSASONIC
Great doc, thanks for posting! I can’t seem to find the full podcast w/ Prince Paul. Anyone know where I can get that?
It’s called “What Had Happened Was”. It’s on Spotify and I assume Apple, it was season 1 so you just gotta scroll all the way the the bottom of the feed
Are you aware that they made an EP with Tricky ? Kinda hard to find since it's not on streaming but worth the hunt...very dark & out there !
That was a dope EP! I have to go back and listen again it’s been a while
Too poetic I believe had more substance in his lyrics than any rapper I have ever heard or ever will.
Esham and Insane poetry started what you call "horrorcore"
The 'father' of Horrorcore is Ganksta N-I-P...
Ganksta Nip and Esham are the godfathers but ok 😂😂😂
Love Gravediggaz but they’re not the fathers of horrorcore. Esham and Geto Boyz were putting out that kind of stuff in 1990
💣💣💣
The term started with the flat liners in 93
In the podcast What Had Happened Was, Prince Paul told the story about when Havelock Nelson coined it in the Gravediggaz sessions. Not saying Flat Liners didn’t have it first, that’s just where I got my info from
@@DefGoldbloom I should have clarified that that's where i heard the term first in 93. Who coined the term is another issue.
Gangsta Nip is the father of horrorcore
Wuz up boss much love from São Paulo... Brasil ...fire channel man ...the beats you use in the background was fire asf ...how i find thoses beats ...thanks man
I got links to the producers pages in the description for each video, they all are super dope check them out!
☠⚰D O P E⚰☠
Anytime "horrorcore" is mentioned you gotta bring up Esham in 1989 droppin "Boomin Words From Hell" the red cassette tape... literally the Godfather of Horrorcore / wicked shit.
Love the Koopsta Knicca instrumentals in the background too "The Devil's Playground" is a classic album
Do one on brotha lynch
It's always a debatable conversation of who actually started horrorcore . Russel Simmons coined the phrase but there were so many artist that we're doing it before ghetto boys , gangsta nip etc . Midwest artist were def doing it since the late 80s etc , brotha Lynch on the west coast was spitting dark shit since like the eighties etc . Ether way grave diggaz are def on the mount Rushmore so are ghetto Boys ,gangsta nip etc I'm just saying a lot more artist would fit on there to just grave diggaz etc were the first to become mainstream etc.
Beginning story never written: A group from Is Park Slope Brooklyn, Runs into members of the Wu t*** clan in firehouse studios the group was called the evil disciples🎯 Nut & a MadMad, Surcram The Man, And Mr Wish. Hood Ni**Gas that could spit and Truly invented Horror core. Rza, Deck and another member were there n went over thier studio time wich Mad Man especially wasnt having. Long story short almost beef turned into a Cyper🎯 Rza spit that born threw the falopian tubes rap. 1st time I heard it. Didnt know who the Wu was back then. Rza gave Mad Mad his # because he fell in love with the raps n concept🎯🧐
Mad being stubborn n brilliantly creative didnt know Rza never hit him up chose to go his route.💨💨💨💨 #TrueStory Birth of the Grave Diggers wether the Artist know it or not. RZA does😌
The Geto Boyz were doing Horrorcore back in the late 80s earlier 90s. Gravediggaz came after.
Yep! That was stated in the first line of this video about 15 seconds in
@@DefGoldbloom Cool. I would say shouldn't The Geto Boys and Gangsta N.I.P be acknowledged as the originators to fullest and not be briefly looked over to give credit to the Gravediggaz because the "horrorcore" wasn't labeled on that particular style of music ? I'm not trying to troll your channel nor take away from Gravediggaz, but the south has put their stamp on the hip-hop genre more then people like to admit once we get into the history. Do me favor . Look up Pigmeat Markhem's Here Comes The Judge on UA-cam and also the Jubilaires cover of The Preacher And The Bear and tell me those cadences aren't the same as Rapper's Delight. You put out dope content. It's no shade just a suggestion. Peace.
👐🏾
What Exactly are all these beats in the back I see the artists in the Description but I can never find the songs
I'm a fan of Gravediggaz, but for horror core top artist, I'll give that to Brotha Lynch Hung. He earned that.
Too poetic never gwts brought up be he was a truly incredible rapper.
Would love you to cover Brotha Lynch Hung - Season Of the Siccness.
Gravediggaz.