billy woods - GOLLIWOG (2LP)

GOLLIWOG is billy woods’ first album in two years, preceded by 2023’s Maps, his second collaboration with producer Kenny Segal. That nimble travelogue has little in common with woods’ newest work, despite the fact that Segal shows up a couple times in the credits.

GOLLIWOG is a haunting collection that weaves horror, humor, surrealism and Afropessimism into a cinematic tapestry, aided and abetted by a murderer’s row of producers. African zombies, time traveling trap cars, malevolent ragdolls and a dying Frantz Fanon are just a few of the revelers in woods’ danse macabre. GOLLIWOG features production from The Alchemist, Kenny Segal, EL-P, Conductor Williams, Preservation, Messiah Musik, Sadhugold, Ant (Atmosphere), Shabaka Hutchings, Steel Tipped Dove, DJ Haram, Willie Green, Jeff Markey, Saint Abdullah, and LA-based experimental jazz trio Human Error Club. Meanwhile, woods is joined on the mic by Backwoodz labelmates ELUCID and Cavalier, along with rappers Bruiser Wolf, Despot, Al.Divino, and singer-songwriter Yolanda Watson.

GOLLIWOG is another triumph in the woods oeuvre, as layered and compelling as anything he has ever done. A black carnival pitched in a muddy field overnight, empty rides whirring and clattering in the dark

1. Jumpscare Produced by Steel Tipped Dove 

2. STAR87 Produced by Conductor Williams

3. Misery Produced by Kenny Segal

4. BLK XMAS feat. Bruiser Wolf Produced by Sadhugold

5. Waterproof Mascara Produced by Preservation

6. Counterclockwise Produced by The Alchemist

7. Corinthians feat. Despot Produced by EL-P

8. Pitchforks & Halos Produced by Kenny Segal

9. All These Worlds Are Yours feat. ELUCID Produced by Shabaka Hutchings & DJ Haram

10. Maquiladoras feat. al.divino Produced by Saint Abdullah

11. A Doll Fulla Pins feat. Yolanda Watson Produced by Jeff Markey

12. Golgotha Produced by Messiah Musik

13. Cold Sweat Produced by Ant

14. BLK ZMBY Produced by Steel Tipped Dove

15. Make No Mistake Produced by Messiah Musik

16. Born Alone Produced by Kenny Segal

17. Lead Paint Test feat. ELUCID & Cavalier Produced by Willie Green

18. Dislocated feat. ELUCID Produced by Human Error Club