‘Golliwog’ is a bruising and impactful body of work that takes after the best horror films, trudging through the forest no matter how creepy it may get. The central theme on Billy Woods’ eighth solo album is discomfort — the New York rapper is an expert in weaving lyrical tapestries and here, the threads are all blacks, greys, browns and reds. It’s an ugly, uncompromising affair, a festering wound that becomes more and more intriguing for those with the stomach for it.
Woods’ pen is as sharp as ever as he carves out vignettes to make your skin crawl. “Twelve billion USD hovering over the Gaza Strip / You don’t wanna know how much it cost to live / when it cost to hide behind eyelids,” he intones on Corinthians, and throughout he masterfully attacks the emotions of the audience.
Waterproof Mascara’s instrumental consists of a woman sobbing while another ghostly apparition vocalises in the background.
“Watched my mother cry from the top of the stairs / Scared when it came through the walls, I covered my ears / Half-hoping you-know-who would die, then he did (surprise) / Careful what you wish for, might just get that shit,” Woods raps.
Even more impressive is Woods’ interaction with a raft of producers, including The Alchemist (Counterclockwise), Conductor WIlliams (STAR87) and frequent collaborator Kenny Segal (Misery; Pitchforks & Halos; Born Alone). He has kept things cohesive by exclusively selecting only the grimiest beats in their collections. The majority are minimalist and bare bones, while the more involved selections utilise needling, off-key strings and keys to continue the horrifying thread.
‘Golliwog’ will not be for everyone, but it is further proof of Woods’ mastery of his craft, cementing him among the top tier of under-appreciated MCs. There aren’t many better storytellers on the scene right now and there’s certainly nobody as consistent.
Billy Woods Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri October 03 2025 - DUBLIN Opium
Sat October 04 2025 - GLASGOW Saint Luke's
Mon October 06 2025 - LEEDS Belgrave Music Hall
Wed October 08 2025 - CARDIFF Globe
Thu October 09 2025 - LONDON Scala
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