The group was formed in 1992, bringing together Prince Paul (The Undertaker), Frukwan (The Gatekeeper), Poetic (The Grym Reaper) and RZA (The RZArector). It came about largely due to the efforts of Prince Paul. Frukwan and Prince Paul were previously together in the group Stetsasonic. According to Frukwan, the group's name means "digging graves of the mentally dead, and it stood for resurrecting the mentally dead from their state of unawareness and ignorance." The group's lyrics mix black humor (regarding topics such as suicide, death, killing, psychopathy, hell, etc.), criticism regarding the music industry, cartoonish violence reminiscent of the Geto Boys, and esoteric references to the Nation of Gods and Earths. The group pioneered the horrorcore genre.
The group's first album was originally to be titled Niggamortis; however, this potentially risqué title was changed to 6 Feet Deep for the American market (European versions of the album retained the original title, and also included the bonus track "Pass the Shovel"); it was released on August 9, 1994. The four members adopted Gravedigga alter egos for their work with the group: RZA became The RZArector, Poetic became The Grym Reaper, Prince Paul became The Undertaker, and Frukwan became The Gatekeeper. In 1995, the three rapping members (without Prince Paul) released a collaborative EP titled "The_Hell_E.P." with UK trip hop artist Tricky.
The second full-length Gravediggaz album The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel was less humorous, dealing more with social and political issues; it also used calmer and more conventional production. Prince Paul played a considerably smaller role in the making of this album, with many of the production duties now taken care of by RZA and his Wu-Tang affiliates (including True Master and 4th Disciple).
A bootleg Gravediggaz album surfaced in 1998, called Scenes From The Graveyard. It featured seven unreleased tracks plus some remixes from the first two albums.
Gravediggaz recruited DJ Diamond J. Poetic died of colon cancer in July 2001. Frukwan stated in an interview not long after Poetic's death that a new album using leftover Poetic material would be released. Nightmare in A-Minor, the third official album for Gravediggaz, came out in 2001; it featured two of the original members, Poetic and Frukwan. This album was their darkest work yet, including many references to Poetic's struggle with cancer, as well as apocalyptic themes to do with the teachings of the Five Percent Nation. Although RZA did not take part in the album, some Wu-Tang Clan affiliates such as 4th Disciple, True Master and Beretta 9 were involved. The album was mostly produced by Poetic and Frukwan. A different version of the album (minus the song "Better Wake Up") was released in 2002, for which some of the tracks created by Poetic were replaced or altered.
In 2003 Frukwan released his debut solo album, Life. The fourth Gravediggaz album 6 Feet Under was released in 2004 by Cleopatra Records and featured songs from Nightmare in A-Minor and Life. According to Frukwan, he had nothing to do with the release and claimed that song titles were changed without permission, making it an unauthorized release.
In 2010, Gravediggaz recorded a new song, "2 More Cups of Blood". In 2011, it was announced that the group had been recording new tracks involving Shabazz The Disciple & Killah Priest.
In 2018, Gatekeeper released "1 Cup of Blood" under the Gravediggaz name.
Here Comes the Gravediggaz
Gravediggaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta keep saying it
Say Gravediggaz, Gravediggaz
come on say it with me, come on
Gravediggaz, come on
Gravy, yeah, uh huh
[Grymreaper]
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
and you can't fuck with me and my men - so check it out
Chorus: Ryzarector
Yah, Here come the Gravediggaz -- repeat 3X
(Pray for your mommy)
Verse One: Grymreaper
Boom bit competition ain't shit
Fakin the funk like silicon tits
Left on a level of a skill
or jack the imposer like the Buffalo Bills
They come close but can't win
or do a damn thang, huh
I'm merciless like Maine
As I get the wreck off
I navigate a course like Czechov
Soft MCs you better step off
Will a villain ever learn
I'm killin like a mad germ
I burn MCs like a bad perm
Do not turn
'Cause I got you on my infrared
Once I dead
I pop 'em like a pimple's head
I get up and get down like I was gravity
Cause pains like cavity
Thick like a salary
Flow with little or no skills I kill 'em
My shoes are illa makin a mountain out of a molehill
Chill
Or your ass'll be tooken fast
Crossed in the style like Alice in the lookin glass
You want to see the Grym get raw
Ay-yo I bust your whole shits in your
Verse Two:
My style's gravy, rough and real
Raise up the rugged on my Gravedigga shield
That's how I deal with the fake frauds
I flow hard
Yo hearthrobs'll get robbed
I come with the wicked one stompin tons
I mud other crap as I wreck your town
Cock my bore to hell
as we dwell
to a ludicrous lunar eclipse
no to exit
I radiate gamma rays at random
I slam 'em
Yo, quick fast like the phantom
Guard my gate
with a passed down cape
You want to escape
And now ain't no one safe
Check it
as I hit you with a boom from the trigga
Chorus
Verse Three: Rzarector
I learned to burn rap germs like antiseptics
Dem while eats, I piece a music living epic
Words like proverbs
Blended braided so on like a storm or song of king David
Potentially vital, only as the bible
Camel eyes used to worship the false idols
New form of literature, dance to the fiddler
Don't mean to riddle you God
I'm not The Riddler
On super the moon, no, wait for high noon
I'm the other space Doom I be entombed
I don't squawk like a hawk or stalk like a stork
But walk in New York, stay away from pork
Rhymes are by passion
Don't need the hassle
Swingin everything cause I'm king of the castle
Niggas gettin boggled, it scream and squabble
Gravediggaz got the paperback novel
So line by line you should read
Take heed
Or you'll bleed and bleed and bleed and bleed
Chorus: repeat 2X
Pray for your mommy -- 4X
Chorus to fade
The song "Here Comes the Gravediggaz" by Gravediggaz is a powerful introduction to the hip-hop supergroup's unique style. The song's intro immediately sets the tone, asking listeners to repeat the group's name and get ready for what's to come. Grymreaper's verse emphasizes the group's power and superiority, warning against trying to compete with the Gravediggaz. Throughout the song, the group's style emphasizes their rough, real, and sometimes violent approach to hip-hop.
The chorus, delivered by Ryzarector, emphasizes the group's ominous and intimidating presence. With the repeated phrase "Here come the Gravediggaz" and the command to "Pray for your mommy," the group establishes themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Grymreaper's verse builds on this theme, emphasizing his ability to "kill" other MCs and dominate competitions. Rzarector's verse offers more complex wordplay and references to religion and literature, further cementing the Gravediggaz's unique style.
Overall, "Here Comes the Gravediggaz" is a powerful and distinctive introduction to the group's style. With its dark, ominous lyrics and intense beats, the song establishes the Gravediggaz as a group to watch in the world of hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta keep saying it
Keep repeating the name Gravediggaz
Say Gravediggaz, Gravediggaz
Say the name Gravediggaz repeatedly
come on say it with me, come on
Encouragement to say the name Gravediggaz
Gravediggaz, come on
Repeat the name Gravediggaz
You don't pull on Superman's cape
Do not mess with powerful forces
You don't spit into the wind
Do not challenge fate
You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
Do not reveal secrets or identities
and you can't fuck with me and my men - so check it out
Do not underestimate us or try to compete
Yah, Here come the Gravediggaz -- repeat 3X
The Gravediggaz are coming
Boom bit competition ain't shit
No competition can compare
Fakin the funk like silicon tits
Pretending to be something you're not
Left on a level of a skill
Left behind in terms of skill
or jack the imposer like the Buffalo Bills
Copying someone else's style or strategy
They come close but can't win
Almost succeeding but ultimately failing
or do a damn thang, huh
Not accomplishing anything
I'm merciless like Maine
Unforgiving and ruthless
As I get the wreck off
Causing destruction
I navigate a course like Czechov
Crafting a plan with precision
Soft MCs you better step off
Inexperienced rappers should back off
Will a villain ever learn
Questioning whether villains can be taught
I'm killin like a mad germ
Causing chaos and destruction
I burn MCs like a bad perm
Defeating rappers with ease
Do not turn
Do not run away
'Cause I got you on my infrared
Tracking someone with precision
Once I dead
Once I take someone down
I pop 'em like a pimple's head
Killing quickly and easily
I get up and get down like I was gravity
Fluctuating between highs and lows
Cause pains like cavity
Causing pain and destruction
Thick like a salary
Worth a lot, influential
Flow with little or no skills I kill 'em
Success without much effort
My shoes are illa makin a mountain out of a molehill
Exaggerating a minor issue
Chill
Relax
Or your ass'll be tooken fast
The consequence of not chilling is being defeated quickly
Crossed in the style like Alice in the lookin glass
Confused and uncertain like Alice in a mirror
You want to see the Grym get raw
Interested in seeing Grymreaper at his fiercest
Ay-yo I bust your whole shits in your
A threat to defeat someone completely
My style's gravy, rough and real
Authentic and intense style
Raise up the rugged on my Gravedigga shield
Drawing strength from being a Gravedigga
That's how I deal with the fake frauds
Approach to dealing with fake people
I flow hard
Intense flow
Yo hearthrobs'll get robbed
Stealing hearts
I come with the wicked one stompin tons
Bringing a sinister presence
I mud other crap as I wreck your town
Degrading and defeating other rappers as he takes over
Cock my bore to hell
Preparing for battle
as we dwell
As we go deeper
to a ludicrous lunar eclipse
To an outrageous and dramatic event
no to exit
No escape
I radiate gamma rays at random
Having a powerful and erratic presence
I slam 'em
Defeating other rappers quickly
Yo, quick fast like the phantom
Quickly, like a ghost
Guard my gate
Protecting himself
with a passed down cape
Taking on a legacy
And now ain't no one safe
Promising to defeat anyone who crosses him
Check it
Pay attention
as I hit you with a boom from the trigga
A powerful attack
I learned to burn rap germs like antiseptics
A focused approach to defeating other rappers
Dem while eats, I piece a music living epic
Crafting epic music
Words like proverbs
Influential and wise words
Blended braided so on like a storm or song of king David
A powerful and layered approach to music
Potentially vital, only as the bible
Incredibly important and influential
Camel eyes used to worship the false idols
People used to worship false gods
New form of literature, dance to the fiddler
Innovative and creative approach to music
Don't mean to riddle you God
Not trying to confuse, question, or offend religion
I'm not The Riddler
I'm not trying to be tricky or confusing
On super the moon, no, wait for high noon
A unique time to act
I'm the other space Doom I be entombed
Powerful and intense presence, with a nod to the comic book character Doom
I don't squawk like a hawk or stalk like a stork
Doesn't act like common animals
But walk in New York, stay away from pork
Living in New York, keeping a specific diet
Rhymes are by passion
Driven by passion to write lyrics
Don't need the hassle
Not interested in drama
Swingin everything cause I'm king of the castle
Confident and in control
Niggas gettin boggled, it scream and squabble
Others getting confused and upset
Gravediggaz got the paperback novel
The Gravediggaz have the power and influence
So line by line you should read
Pay attention to every word
Take heed
Listen closely
Or you'll bleed and bleed and bleed and bleed
If you don't pay attention, you'll be defeated
Pray for your mommy -- 4X
A warning or threat to protect oneself and one's family
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY IAN BERKELEY, ARNOLD E. HAMILTON, PAUL E. HUSTON, PEDRO SIME, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind