i guess you're really ready for the graveyard tour

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just through insomniac boredom i was browsing the links from nylpm and started reading dan's blog to find out that two weeks ago too poetic of the gravediggaz died of colon cancer, which he had apparently been suffering from for almost two years now. this is the first time i can recall a musical artist that i really loved (and wasn't expecting to die) has passed away in my lifetime. by some act of sheer fate the gravediggaz were mentioned on ile last night by kevin enas and i took that as an opportunity to re-listen to 6 feet deep (known in europe as 'niggamortis') and remind myself of why i loved it so much. the whole thing is a brilliant dark funny silly wonderful masterpiece, but my favorite moment, without question, is too poetic's verse on '1-800-SUICIDE'. when i first heard it so long ago i was knocked back by the complexity and black humor, startled by how the delivery could actually move me. i used to listen to the song up to the end his verse and then go back to the beginning of the track so i could hear it again without waiting. of course this also helped that part be quickly memorized and i would often quote it to others, much to varying levels of reaction. poetic has other shining moments on the album (hell, he hoards them, 'here comes the gravediggaz' is a hilarious showcase) but that one part, maybe forty-five seconds in all, is a lasting impactful moment for me. like rza says at the end of the track, there's no need to cry ('cause we all die), but if anyone wants to share their thoughts on this, post something. i wish i could be as eloquent as mark s on perry como thread but this is basically just me being taken aback and thinking about things. too poetic, r.i.p.

(the lyrics of 1-800-SUICIDE can be read here

― ethan, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i still don't feel better (i think i'm going to stay up all night) and my above post looks awkward and corny and dumb but i feel like i need to talk some more. too poetic was the odd man out in gravediggaz, not coming from a pre-established big group like everyone else (fruitkwan being from stetsasonic, paul and rza, duh) and therefore not having a good soundbite for the review pages, but he was in fact best mc in the group. in fact, he's one of the greatest mcs i've ever heard, his wit and storytelling skill amplified by that glorious melodic voice. the obit i read said he was working on new gravediggaz material up to his death which makes me think of the ferris bueller quote in the middle of 1-800-SUICIDE: 'i've said it before and iI'll say it again, life moves pretty fast. if you don't stop and look around every once in a while you could miss it'. i hope poetic got everything out this life that he wanted.

― ethan, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I also don't have much more to add. I was listening to the second Gravediggaz album the other day (_The Pick, The Axe, And The Shovel_) and marvelling at how good it is (even though _Six Feet Deep_ dwarfs it, largely because of tracks like "1-800-Suicide"). I teared up a little when I read the news, mostly because it was so unexpected.

― Dan Perry, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)