12 The Compass Wednesday, October26.1994
Entertainment
Yikes! Gravediggaz’ new rap album:
this sure ain’t for the faint at heart
By Lolethia Underdue
Just in time for Halloween comesa new
album for all you fans of hardcore rap.
While murder and death are chilling sub
jects for many people, the Gravediggaz
glorify these themes in their debut album
6 Feet Deep.
The Gravediggaz are a splinter group
orignating from the extremely poputo
Wu-Tang Clan, another rap group just
coming off flieir own successful debut
album. The Rza, a member of Wu-Tang
,startedand produced the Gravediggaz
while he and Wu-Tang were trying to get
established.
Their debut album is co-produced by
Prince Paul, who has successfully pro
duced groups like De la Soul and
Stetasonic.
The Diggaz use a combination of clas
sic hip hop beats and eerie bass lines to
showcase their grimy styles on the mic.
The first release, "Diary Of A Madman,"
introduces the themes that app>ear
throughout the album. This song opens
with the Gravediggaz in court pleading
insanity for duirges of murder. They
each describe their mental state and the
gory acts they committed. Samplesofold
' !y , '
Murder and mayhem are served up in the Gravediggaz’ new alxjm— just in time for
IHaloween.
horror movie sound tracks add to the
eerie effect.
The follow-up to 'TDiaryof aMadman"
is "Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide,"
another song about murder and may
hem. Thetrackalsohasvocalsperform^
byKurious. In thistrack,theGravediggaz,
go into details discussing the fate of those
who oppose them.
"Constant Elevation's" hard hitting
beat and dynamic flow give the listener a
different angle on the Diggaz style. It's a
short showcase of a few of the members
in freestyle mode.
'Just When You Thought It Was Over"
and "Rest in Peace are short and spooky,
with guest vocals from Biz Markie, Craig
G, and King Ice.
"Defective Trip"(Trippin) is definitely
one of the better songs on the album. The
Players to present
First Breeze of Summer
lyrical flow is rapid and well-done. This
track contains vocals from Biz Markie
and MC Serch.
"Blood Brothers" is another one of the
Diggaz pieces with a nice flow. Thissong
discusses the group's unity and brother
hood through an affinity for death and
destruction.
"1-800-Suicide," as the title suggests,
also deals with death. The song flows on
in true Gravedigga style, with material
performed by KRS-1 and Just Ice.
For those who do not like heavy metal
samples in rap songs"Bang Your Head"
is a frack you should probably avoid. The
chorus, "bang your head," is shouted
over an air-guitarbackground.Itis rather
loud and not pleasing to the ear.
"Deathtrap," however, is a phat track
with good rhythmic flow and guest vo
cals from Masta Ace. Don Newkirk is on
the keyboards.
The album's themes—death, murder
and mayhem—are certainly not new to
rap music. However, the Gravediggaz
are spearheading this t)^ of rap into
urban radio where it has rwt received
much airplay.
This album should definitely be
checked out by all hardcore rap fans.
Photo byJmd* Jordan
The University Players, ECSU's drama
troupe, will present The First Breeze of
Summer as its first major production of
the year. PerformaiKe dates are Nov. 2A
4 and 6 at 8:00 p.m in the Little Theater,
located in the G.R. Little Library on cam
pus.
Written by Leslie Lee, The First Breeze of
Summer was origir\aIly produced by the
Negro Ensemble Company on Broad
way. The play tells the striking story of a
middledaiss Black family inasmallNorth-
eastem dty as they gather one hot June
weekend to celebrate the birthday of
Gremmar, the grandmother.
"Sheisrememberingheryouth, so there
are a lot of flashblack scenes, in which we
see her as a yoxing girl with the men who
havelefther," saidShavmSmith, director
•of theplay. "She is trying to deal with her
losses, arvd, at the same time attempting
to pass on the wisdom she has gained
from those losses to her grandson."
The Players' production oi First Breeze
will future a large cast of veteran actors
and talented new faces to the Little The
ater stage, according to Smith.
Dorothy O. Wills will portray
Gremmar; Chester Dunton will appear
as her son Milton Edward, and Robin T.
Greshman plays Edna, her daughter.
"AH three actors have impressed local
audiences with previous performarKes,"
said Smith.
Wills appeared as Maimie in the
Scholarcade Production of Lanston
Hughes' StwipiyHairocnty, Chester Dunton
has had major roles in numerous Players'
production, most notably as that of Troy
Maxon in August Wilson's Fences.
Robin Greshman has also appeared in
numerous productions, mostly recently
as Olive Madison in The Odd Couple.
For additional information concerning
the play contact the University Players'
office in thelittleTheateror call335-3436.
Daryl Turner (left) and Belicia Hines portray Sam Green and Lucretia in The Players’
upcorring production of 77)e/?/sf8reezd of Summer. The play, directed l>y Shawn Smlh,
wil be performed Nov. 2,3,4 and 6 in the University’s Little Theater.