Billy Woods - Golliwog

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 featuring Bruiser Wolf
Produced by Sadhugold
Additional instrumentation by Natalia Vacheisvili

5. Waterproof Mascara
Produced by Preservation

6. Counterclockwise
Produced by The Alchemist

7. Corinthians featuring Despot
Produced by EL-P

8. Pitchforks & Halos
Produced by Kenny Segal

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

10. Maquiladoras featuring al.divino
Produced by saint abdullah & Eomac
Additional vocals by Anniesa Antar
Saxophone by Mette Rasmussen

11. A Doll Fulla Pins featuring Yolanda Watson
Produced by Jeff Markey
Co-produced by Messiah Musik
Saxophone by Mette Rasmussen

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 featuring ELUCID & Cavalier
Produced by Willie Green
Cuts by DJ Mo Niklz

18. Dislocated featuring ELUCID
Produced by Human Error Club