Golliwog [LP], Billy Woods, Vinyl

GOLLIWOG is Billy Woods' first album in two years, preceded by 2023'sMaps, his second collaboration with producer Kenny Segal. That nimbletravelogue has little in common with woods' newest work, despite the factthat Segal shows up a couple times in the credits. GOLLIWOG is a hauntingcollection that weaves horror, humor, surrealism and Afropessimism intoa cinematic tapestry, aided and abetted by a murderer's row of producers. African zombies, time traveling trap cars, malevolent ragdolls and a dyingFrantz Fanon are just a few of the revelers in woods' danse macabre. GOLLIWOG features production from The Alchemist, Kenny Segal, ELP, Conductor Williams, Preservation, Messiah Musik, Sadhugold, Ant(Atmosphere), Shabaka Hutchings, Steel Tipped Dove, DJ Haram, WillieGreen, Jeff Markey, Saint Abdullah, and LA-based experimental jazz trioHuman Error Club. Meanwhile, woods is joined on the mic by Backwoodzlabelmates 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 andcompelling as anything he has ever done. A black carnival pitched in amuddy field overnight, empty rides whirring and clattering in the dark