Dies to Removal

So I'm trying to get going on a semi budget Erebos list. It will be my first mono colored edh deck. I'd like to keep the cards under $5 a pop if at all possible. I suppose it would just be a black goodstuff-ish deck. I'm not looking to be all in on devotion or anything. Anyone have some ideas or cards that I definitely should be playing?

Are you aiming for a more control oriented version or a more beat down centric build?

Even though control would probably be better I'd probably lean more beatdown/card advantage.

You'd probably want some ways to recover the life you'll be losing to draw cards. Whip of Erebos, Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Exsanguinate spring to mind as well as Blood Artist/Falkenrath Noble.
Other than that, there are some sweet mana boosting cards that are optimal for mono black in the form of Cabal Coffers, Magus of the Coffers (in combo with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth if you plan on running lots of non-basics, but it might be a bit expensive) and Nirkana Revenant/Caged Sun/Extraplanar Lens.

If you're further into the process, post some cards you like/plan to include so that we
can get a better feel about the direction you want to go in

crypt ghast is another fine mana doubler and mana sink in one (two great tastes that taste great together).