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'{{short description|American rapper based in New York}}{{dablink|This article is about the rapper. For others with this name or a similar name, see [[William Woods (disambiguation)|William Woods]].}} {{pp-dispute|small=yes}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Billy Woods <!-- per [[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons/Noticeboard#Billy Woods]], [[:File:File:Billy Woods Cropped.png]] should not be used --> | image = | image_upright = | caption = | alias = | birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. | origin = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] * [[Underground hip hop]] * [[Alternative hip hop|Abstract hip hop]] }} | occupation = [[rapping|Rapper]] | years_active = 2002–present | label = Backwoodz Studioz | current_member_of = [[Armand Hammer (music group)|Armand Hammer]] | past_member_of = {{hlist|Super Chron Flight Brothers|The Reavers}} | website = {{Facebook|williambodega|Billy Woods}} }} '''Billy Woods''' (stylized as '''billy woods''') is an American rapper based in [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/features/billy-woods-interview|title=Nothing To Something: billy woods on overcoming writer's block|work=[[Impose (magazine)|Impose]]|first=Blake|last=Gillespie|date=April 20, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233325/http://www.imposemagazine.com/features/billy-woods-interview|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He is known for often obscuring his face in promotional media. He is also the founder of the record label Backwoodz Studioz.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/11/09/backwoodz-studioz-bandcamp-interview/|title=An Introduction to the Dystopian Hip-Hop of Backwoodz Studioz|work=[[Bandcamp Daily]]|first=Leonardo|last=Faierman|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233532/https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/11/09/backwoodz-studioz-bandcamp-interview/|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Woods has been a member of [[Armand Hammer (music group)|Armand Hammer]],<ref name=tinymixtapes>{{cite web|url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/billy-woods?page=show|title=billy woods "But one day it will be gone."|work=[[Tiny Mix Tapes]]|first=Samuel|last=Diamond|date=April 24, 2015|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230182745/https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/billy-woods?page=show|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Super Chron Flight Brothers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1513/title.super-chron-flight-brothers-cape-verde|title=Super Chron Flight Brothers - Cape Verde|work=[[HipHopDX]]|first=Andres|last=Tardio|date=August 30, 2010|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181243/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1513/title.super-chron-flight-brothers-cape-verde|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and The Reavers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/reavers-mn0000821355/biography|title=Reavers - Biography|work=[[AllMusic]]|first=Marisa|last=Brown|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181218/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/reavers-mn0000821355/biography|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Early life== Billy Woods was born in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name=villagevoice2017/> His mother was an English literature professor from [[Jamaica]].<ref name=tinymixtapes/> His father was a PhD Marxist writer, active in the [[Rhodesian Bush War|Zimbabwe War of Liberation]] and then member of the government in [[Zimbabwe]].<ref name=Nerdtorious>{{cite web|url=https://nerdtorious.com/2013/01/09/time-goes-by-interview-with-billy-woods/|title=Time Goes By: Interview with Billy Woods|work=Nerdtorious|first=Dean Van|last=Nguyen|date=January 9, 2013|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926100652/https://nerdtorious.com/2013/01/09/time-goes-by-interview-with-billy-woods/|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1980, the family moved to Zimbabwe.<ref name=passionweiss/> Following his father's death, they returned to the United States in 1989.<ref name=villagevoice2017/><ref name=passionweiss/> Woods briefly attended [[Howard University]] before getting involved in New York's hip hop scene.<ref name=villagevoice2017/> He started making music in the late 1990s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/r7w7ar/billy-woods-and-blockheads-collaborative-album-dour-candy-is-an-invigorating-hangover|title=Billy Woods and Blockhead's Collaborative Album, 'Dour Candy,' is an Invigorating Hangover|work=[[Noisey]]|first=Zachary|last=Lipez|date=June 28, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233304/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/r7w7ar/billy-woods-and-blockheads-collaborative-album-dour-candy-is-an-invigorating-hangover|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> writing his "first real rhyme" at a laundromat in [[Kennebunk, Maine]] in 1997.<ref name=passionweiss>{{cite web|url=https://www.passionweiss.com/2018/11/15/billy-woods-interview-2018/|title=Hope in a Hopeless Situation: An Interview With Billy Woods|work=Passion of the Weiss|first=Joel|last=Biswas|date=November 15, 2018|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925093645/https://www.passionweiss.com/2018/11/15/billy-woods-interview-2018/|archive-date=September 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Woods founded the Backwoodz Studioz label after the success of the independent releases ''[[The Cold Vein]]'' and ''[[Operation: Doomsday]]''.<ref name="RS-Interview" /> ==Career== Billy Woods founded the record label Backwoodz Studioz in 2003, and released his debut album, ''Camouflage'', through Backwoodz that same year.<ref name=villagevoice2017>{{cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/05/31/billy-woods-is-the-underground-rapper-checkov-would-listen-to/|title=Billy Woods Is The Underground Rapper Chekhov Would Listen To|work=[[The Village Voice]]|first=Phillip|last=Mlynar|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233339/https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/05/31/billy-woods-is-the-underground-rapper-checkov-would-listen-to/|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RS-Interview">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billy-woods-kenny-segal-new-album-interview-1234728051/ |first=Anthony |last=Malone |title=Underground Rap Hero Billy Woods on Coming Full Circle |publisher=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 3, 2023 |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> Throughout the 2000s, much of his work was alongside fellow rapper Priviledge in the group Super Chron Flight Brothers. Woods describes his work with Super Chron Flight brothers as emphasizing "the comedy and tragedy angle".<ref name=Nerdtorious /> By the early 2010s, Super Chron Flight Brothers had split up,<ref name=Nerdtorious /> and Backwoodz Studioz had been largely unable to make a profit.<ref name="RS-Interview" /> Woods subsequently decided to complete another solo album, 2012's ''History Will Absolve Me'';<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/billy_woods-history_will_absolve_me|title=Billy Woods: History Will Absolve Me|work=[[Exclaim!]]|first=Mark|last=Bozzer|date=April 10, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233534/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/billy_woods-history_will_absolve_me|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://potholesinmyblog.com/billy-woods-history-will-absolve-me/|title=Billy Woods – History Will Absolve Me|work=Potholes in My Blog|first=Francisco|last=McCurry|date=May 8, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181502/http://potholesinmyblog.com/billy-woods-history-will-absolve-me/|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Woods intended for it to be his final release before leaving the music industry.<ref name=Nerdtorious /><ref name="PF-Aethiopes">{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/billy-woods-preservation-aethiopes/ |first=Dean |last=Van Nguyen |title=billy woods: Aethiopes Album Review |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=April 11, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> ''History Will Absolve Me'' proved more successful than Woods anticipated, revitalizing Woods' career and attaining a reputation as a [[cult classic]] of underground hip hop.<ref name="PF-Aethiopes" /> In 2013, Woods released ''Dour Candy'', which was entirely produced by [[Blockhead (music producer)|Blockhead]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4146753-champion-sound-14--ka-starlito-billy-woods|title=Champion Sound #14: Ka, Starlito, Billy Woods|work=[[Drowned in Sound]]|first=Kyle|last=Ellison|date=August 21, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711021857/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4146753-champion-sound-14--ka-starlito-billy-woods|archive-date=July 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18405-billy-woods-dour-candy/|title=Billy Woods: Dour Candy|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|first=Nate|last=Patrin|date=August 14, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411162036/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18405-billy-woods-dour-candy/|archive-date=April 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, he released ''Known Unknowns''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/zm3yp5/billy-woods-is-at-the-forefront-of-raps-avant-garde|title=billy woods Is at the Forefront of Rap's Avant-Garde|work=[[Noisey]]|first=Paul|last=Thompson|date=October 6, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181337/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/zm3yp5/billy-woods-is-at-the-forefront-of-raps-avant-garde|archive-date=December 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It was included on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s "15 Great Albums You Probably Didn't Hear in 2017" list.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/15-great-albums-you-probably-didnt-hear-in-2017-123821/billy-woods-known-unknowns-125570/|title=15 Great Albums You Probably Didn't Hear in 2017: Billy Woods, 'Known Unknowns'|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Mosi|last=Reeves|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711021925/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/15-great-albums-you-probably-didnt-hear-in-2017-123821/billy-woods-known-unknowns-125570/|archive-date=July 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, he released a collaborative album with producer [[Kenny Segal]], titled ''[[Hiding Places]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2037665/billy-woods-kenny-segal-hiding-places/music/album-stream/|title=Stream billy woods & Kenny Segal's New Album Hiding Places|work=[[Stereogum]]|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407151254/https://www.stereogum.com/2037665/billy-woods-kenny-segal-hiding-places/music/album-stream/|archive-date=April 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as a solo album, ''Terror Management''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/11/778228299/9-rap-albums-as-dark-and-dystopian-as-2019|title=9 Afro Dystopian Rap Albums As Dark And Droll As 2019|work=[[NPR]]|first=Rodney|last=Carmichael|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320113533/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/11/778228299/9-rap-albums-as-dark-and-dystopian-as-2019|archive-date=March 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> 2020 brought ''Brass'', a collaborative album with [[Moor Mother]]. Woods released ''[[Aethiopes (album)|Aethiopes]]'' and ''Church'' in 2022. On 27 March 2023, Woods announced his second collaboration with the producer Kenny Segal titled ''[[Maps_(Billy_Woods_and_Kenny_Segal_album)|Maps]]''. The album was released on 5 May 2023. It was preceded by two singles, "Facetime", which was released on 12 April 2023 and featured the Baltimore singer [[Samuel T. Herring]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2218149/billy-woods-kenny-segal-announce-new-collaborative-album-maps/news/|title=billy woods & Kenny Segal Announce New Collaborative Album ''Maps''|work=[[Stereogum]]|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=27 March 2023}}</ref> and "Soft Landing", which was released 3 May 2023. ==Discography== {{See also|Armand Hammer (music group)#Discography|l1=Armand Hammer discography}} ===Studio albums=== * ''Camouflage'' (2003) * ''The Chalice'' (2004) * ''Terror Firma'' (2005) {{small|(The Reavers)}} * ''Emergency Powers: The World Tour'' (2007) {{small|(Super Chron Flight Brothers)}} * ''Indonesia'' (2009) {{small|(Super Chron Flight Brothers)}} * ''Cape Verde'' (2010) {{small|(Super Chron Flight Brothers)}} * ''History Will Absolve Me'' (2012) * ''Dour Candy'' (2013) * ''Today, I Wrote Nothing'' (2015) * ''Known Unknowns'' (2017) * ''[[Hiding Places]]'' (2019) {{small|(with [[Kenny Segal]])}} * ''Terror Management'' (2019) * ''Brass'' (2020) {{small|(with [[Moor Mother]])}}<ref name = "BRASS">{{Cite web|date=2020-12-11|title=BRASS from Moor Mother & billy woods|url=https://backwoodzstudioz.com/brass-from-moor-mother-and-billy-woods/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Backwoodz Studioz|language=en-US}}</ref> * ''[[Aethiopes (album)|Aethiopes]]'' (2022) {{small|(with Preservation)}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2022 |title=BILLY WOODS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE |url=https://mailchi.mp/backwoodzstudioz/billy-woods-hwam-aethiopes |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=Backwoodz Studioz}}</ref> * ''Church'' (2022) {{small|(with Messiah Musik)}} * ''[[Maps_(Billy_Woods_and_Kenny_Segal_album)|Maps]]'' (2023) {{small|(with Kenny Segal)}} ===Compilation albums=== * ''Cowardly Threats & Hideous Cruelty'' (2011) ===Mixtapes=== * ''New York Times'' (2006) {{small|(The Reavers)}} * ''Deleted Scenes'' (2009) {{small|(Super Chron Flight Brothers)}} ===Singles=== * "Slums / America / Dusted" (2005) {{small|(The Reavers)}} * "Shadows" (2006) {{small|(The Reavers)}} * "Dirtweed" (2007) {{small|(Super Chron Flight Brothers)}} * "Facetime" (2023) {{small|(with [[Kenny Segal]], feat. [[Samuel T. Herring]])}} ===Guest appearances=== * Invizzibl Men - "52 Lashings" from ''The Unveiling'' (2008) * [[Vordul Mega]] - "Opium Scripts", "Air Battery", "Keep Livin'" and "Imani" from ''[[Megagraphitti]]'' (2008) * Teleseen - "Chikurubi" and "Whiteworst" from ''Fear of the Forest'' (2009) * A.M. Breakups - "Forms" and "Chapter 2" from ''The Cant Resurrection'' (2011) * Cult Favorite - "Omega3" from ''For Madmen Only'' (2013) * [[L'Orange (record producer)|L'Orange]] - "The End" from ''The Orchid Days'' (2014) * L'Orange - "Stop Growing" from ''After the Flowers'' (2015) * Pawcut - "Vulture's Picnic" from ''Maverick'' (2015) * [[Elucid|ELUCID]] - "Who No Know Gon Know" and "Slumped" from ''Osage'' (2016) * ELUCID - "Bleachwater" and "Lest They Forget" from ''Save Yourself'' (2016) * [[Lushlife]] - "The Heart Is an Atomic Bomb" from ''My Idols Are Dead + My Enemies Are in Power'' (2017) * Uncommon Nasa - "Written at Night" from ''Written at Night'' (2017) * [[Mach-Hommy]] - "383 Myrtle" from ''Dumpmeister'' (2017) * Henry Canyons - "It Don't Mean a Thing" from ''Cool Side of the Pillow'' (2018) * Curly Castro - "Ital-You-Can-Eat" from ''Tosh'' (2018) * [[Blockhead (music producer)|Blockhead]] - "Slippery Slope" from ''Free Sweatpants'' (2019) * Teether & Stoneset - "Overthought" from ''Don't Come Back Here'' (2019) * L'Orange & [[Jeremiah Jae]] - "Clay Pigeons" from ''Complicate Your Life with Violence'' (2019) * Nicholas Craven - "Gyre" from ''Craven N 2'' (2019) * Shrapknel - "Estranged Fruit" from ''Shrapknel'' (2020) * [[Quelle Chris]] & Chris Keys - "Grease from the Elbows" from ''[[Innocent Country 2]]'' (2020) * Preservation - "Lemon Rinds" and "Snow Globe" from ''Eastern Medicine, Western Illness'' (2020) * FIELDED - "Justus" from ''Demisexual Lovelace'' (2020) * Small Bills - "Sometimes Care Looks Like Leave Me the Fuck Alone" from ''Don't Play it Straight'' (2020) * [[Your Old Droog]] - "Odessa" from ''Dump YOD: Krutoy Edition'' (2020) * [[Sage Elsesser|Navy Blue]] - "Poderoso" from ''Songs of Sage: Post Panic!'' (2020) * [[MC Paul Barman|YOUNGMAN]] & [[Celestaphone]] - "Human Rights" from ''[[A Year of Octobers]]'' (2021) * Curly Castro - "Killmonger Was Right" from ''Little Robert Hutton'' (2021) * Steel Tipped Dove - "Kingston", "Nft", "Buddy Ryan", and "Simple Machines" from ''Call Me When You're Outside'' (2021) * [[Your Old Droog]] & [[Lil Ugly Mane]] - "Meteor Man" from ''Space Bar'' (2021) * PremRock - "Bardo" from ''Load Bearing Crow's Feet'' (2022) * ELUCID - "Sardonyx", "Nostrand", "Mangosteen", and "Jumanji" from ''I Told Bessie'' (2022) * Myles Bullen - "Ordinary Magic" from "Mourning Travels" (2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2021/11/15/your-old-droog-meteor-man-lil-ugly-mane-and-billy-woods|title=Your Old Droog announces new album, shares "Meteor Man" featuring Lil Ugly Mane and billy woods|website=The FADER|date=15 November 2021}}</ref> * [[Algiers (band)|Algiers]] - "Bite Back" (2022) * Jeff Markey - "Floaters" from ''Sports and Leisure'' (2022) * Skech185 & Jeff Markey - "Western Automatic Music, Pt. 2" from ''He Left Nothing for the Swim Back'' (2023) * [[The Alchemist (musician)|The Alchemist]] - "RIP Tracy" from ''[[Flying High (EP)|Flying High]]'' (2023) * [[Noname (rapper)|Noname]] - "gospel?" from ''[[Sundial (album)|Sundial]]'' (2023) * [[Aesop Rock]] - "Living Curfew" from ''[[Integrated Tech Solutions]]'' (2023) * [[Blockhead (music producer)|Blockhead]] - "AAU Tournaments" and "Now That's What I Call A Posse Cut Vol. 56." from ''[[The Aux]]'' (2023) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://backwoodzstudioz.com BackwoodzStudioz.com] * {{Discogs artist|Billy Woods|Billy Woods}} {{Armand Hammer}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Billy}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent]] [[Category:American people of Zimbabwean descent]] [[Category:American male rappers]] [[Category:Rappers from New York City]] [[Category:Underground rappers]] [[Category:Indie rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]'