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.
Label
Rhythmsayers
Genre
Hip Hop / RNB 2LP
Jumpscare Produced by Steel Tipped Dove
STAR87 Produced by Conductor Williams
Misery Produced by Kenny Segal
BLK XMAS feat. Bruiser Wolf Produced by Sadhugold
Waterproof Mascara Produced by Preservation
Counterclockwise Produced by The Alchemist
Corinthians feat. Despot Produced by EL-P
Pitchforks & Halos Produced by Kenny Segal
All These Worlds Are Yours feat. ELUCID Produced by Shabaka Hutchings & DJ Haram
Maquiladoras feat. al.divino Produced by Saint Abdullah
A Doll Fulla Pins feat. Yolanda Watson Produced by Jeff Markey
Golgotha Produced by Messiah Musik
Cold Sweat Produced by Ant
BLK ZMBY Produced by Steel Tipped Dove
Make No Mistake Produced by Messiah Musik
Born Alone Produced by Kenny Segal
Lead Paint Test feat. ELUCID & Cavalier Produced by Willie Green
Dislocated feat. ELUCID Produced by Human Error Club

SOUTHBOUND