On Sunday, July 15, 2001, 1:45pm EST at Cedar Sinai Hospital in California, Anthony Berkeley aka Poetic of The Gravediggaz succumbed to his two year battle with metastatic colon cancer. Poetic had been fighting for his life for the past two years, ever since he collapsed in the studio in 1999 from stomach pains and became diagnosed with the dreaded disease, cancer. At the time he was give 3 months to live. A non-profit organization called The Life Goes On Foundation (LifeFoundation@aol.com) was established in his honor to help raise money for his medical bills and bring further awareness to his cause and the cause of others stricken with debilitating illnesses

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GUESS WHO'S BACK FROM THE GRAVE? (DIGGAZ THAT IS!)

One might say that the true subject of the horror genre is the struggle for recognition of all that our civilization represses and oppresses Robin Wood, American Nightmare

Branded with the tag horror core in 1995 after dropping their album 6 Feet Deep (Niggamortis), Gravediggaz turned the industry on its collective heads in 1997 with the release of The Pick, The Sickle and the Shovel (Gee Street) which showcased the horror of oppression and the hard core realities of life. Now their eagerly anticipated third album Nightmare in A-Minor is slated for release on Titanium/Sunstar Records and distributed by Echo International. Showcasing original members Frukwan (The Gatekeeper) and Poetic (The Grym Reaper) writing and performing most of the material on this collective of eerie, spine-crawling tracks and morbidly delicious rhymes, we are given a true taste of their horrific capabilities.

The Gravediggaz struggle for recognition of the everyday horror of life, of the black plight in America and worldwide. Andrew Emery, Hip Hop Connection

Due to other obligations, RZA was unable to embark on this current journey, but that obviously has no effect on the versatility that shines through on the singles Rest in Da East b/w Nightmare in A-Minor and on the album. Gravediggaz show an acute awareness of what is going on in the world at large as well as their own worlds, and art imitates deadly reality as Poetic raps on Burn Baby Burn about his dealings with the cancer that has taken over his life but not his mind.

Poetics lyrics stream forth from a mind faced with terrible realities. In April 1999 he was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer and was given 4 months to live. His anger, rage and determination clearly shows, that he has no problems rhyming about his disease, it's effects, or anything else that pisses him off.

Frukwan shows no mercy as he spits lyrics as hard as a Bruce Lee roundhouse. His well-earned reputation as Adam on the eve of destruction began in 1984 as one of the original members of Stetsasonic, and through his years with Gravediggaz, a combination that brings the best out of his production and wordplay.

Unlike the sloppy copies, the Gravediggaz was never about F*ckin gimmicks J-Tai, Urb Magazine

Nightmare in A-Minor showcases an eclectic mixture of rhymesayers and producers, bringing on the talents of Prince Paul, Prodigal Sunn of Sunz of Man, True Master, L.G., Shogun , 4th Disciple and Beretta 9. We deal with digging in the mental thoughts says Frukwan, we dig for knowledge. With a seriousness of thought Poetic agrees, With our music, we dig and uncover certain things that may not always be pleasant, but we don't stop and wonder if our music will be accepted or rejected. It's what we want to leave behind. It's our contribution. Like song 18 on the album says ya Better Wake Up, Gravediggaz is here and you might just get buried alive!

For More information contact: Meridian Entertainment 201.521.9742 (fax) 201.521.9745 email: planetmeridian@aol.com

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