6 Feet Deep

“6 Feet Deep,” also known as “Niggamortis” in some regions, is the debut album by the American hip hop supergroup Gravediggaz. Formed by former Tommy Boy Records artists Prince Paul, RZA, Frukwan, and Poetic, the group employed horror-themed imagery and lyrics combined with black comedy and satire to express their frustrations with the hip hop industry. Released on 9 August 1994 by Gee Street Records, the album played a significant role in popularising the horrorcore subgenre.

The formation of Gravediggaz occurred during a challenging period for each member, all of whom had previous affiliations with Tommy Boy Records and less favourable experiences with the label. Prince Paul had also contributed drums to RZA’s early single “Ooh We Love You Rakeem.” Attempts by RZA to join Doo Dew Man Records, Paul’s vanity label, were unsuccessful, and the label’s sole album was put on hold by Def Jam. Additionally, Paul and Frukwan had recently left Stetsasonic, and while Paul had received acclaim for his work on De La Soul’s debut album, “3 Feet High and Rising,” the follow-up “De La Soul is Dead” was less well-received. Paul was in a “dark and depressed” mood, which influenced the instrumentals he was creating. He invited RZA, Frukwan, and Poetic to listen to these new instrumentals, leading to the formation of Gravediggaz. They recorded the demo “The House That Hatred Built,” and although it was initially passed over by Def Jam and Jive Records, it eventually attracted the attention of Gee Street Records, which offered a more favourable contract.

The group’s first track recorded under Gee Street was “Constant Elevation.” Poetic reworked his intro verse, setting the tone for the album’s vocal sessions. While RZA initially intended “Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide” as a solo track, additional verses from Frukwan and Poetic were included.

Gravediggaz was pioneering in the horrorcore subgenre, which David Bennun of The Quietus described as a novel approach to addressing black life at street level. The group’s use of death, burial, and The Grim Reaper as central themes provided a unique perspective on America’s urban issues. The album’s lyrical content is connected to the hardcore rap of acts like Geto Boys and Cypress Hill, as well as the horror comics of EC Comics. John-Michael Bond noted that the album’s central theme is hate, used metaphorically to critique the state of early 90s rap, contrasting with the serious violence of contemporary gangsta rap. The album’s original title, “Niggamortis,” reflects its blending of horror themes with dark humour.

Prince Paul was primarily responsible for the album’s production, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of horror films. Key samples include the piano loop in “Constant Elevation” from Allen Toussaint’s “Louie,” and “Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide” which samples Eugene McDaniel’s “Jagger’s Dagger.” Other tracks feature samples from psychedelic rock and funk. “Diary of a Madman” used a shelved Wu-Tang Clan demo and sampled Johnny Mathis, while “1-800 Suicide” sampled Booker T. & the M.G.’s “Sunny.”

“6 Feet Deep” was released on 9 August 1994, and was titled “Niggamortis” in regions outside the United States. The album was noted for its unique approach, with Entertainment Weekly praising its “strangely irresistible” beats, and NME lauding its documentation of “the low life.” In 2009, Fangoria recognised it as an iconic horrorcore album.