Billy Woods boasts one of the highest batting averages in the game. With solo records like Hiding Places and Maps, alongside his collaborative work with Elucid as Armand Hammer, he has delivered multiple undeniable classics. While his albums are far from light-hearted (these definitely aren’t party records), Golliwog stands out as his darkest offering yet.
This isn’t your standard horrorcore album. Unlike acts such as the Geto Boys, Gravediggaz, and Insane Clown Posse, who lean into slasher themes and shock tactics, Woods crafts something that’s more akin to A24 films than typical Blumhouse fare.
The album kicks off with “Jumpscare,” featuring the sound of a film reel spinning, followed by a haunting music box and the line: “Ragdoll playing dead. Rabid dog in the yard, car won’t start, it’s bees in your head.” It sets the stage for classic horror gimmicks, but by the end, it evolves into psychological torment. A chaotic blend of voices lays the groundwork for unsettling screeches, leading Woods to declare, “The English language is violence, I hotwired it. I got a hold of the master’s tools and got dialed in.”
Throughout the album, Woods collaborates with producers to generate tension rather than cheap thrills. In “Waterproof Mascara,” a woman’s sobs become a rhythmic motif. “Pitchforks & Halos,” produced by Kenny Segal, creates the soundscape of a serial killer’s perspective. Meanwhile, “All These Worlds are Yours,” crafted by DJ Haram, shares more with the early industrial vibes of Throbbing Gristle than other tracks, contrasting with “Golgotha,” which blends boombap drums with New Orleans funeral horns.
This dense, at times chaotic production pairs with lyrics that juxtapose real-world horrors of oppression and colonialism against scenes reminiscent of Bring Her Back, like, “Trapped a housefly in an upside-down pint glass and waited for it to die.” Woods smoothly shifts from boasting to warning on “Corinthians,” reflecting on the genocide in Gaza:
“If you never came back from the dead you can’t tell me shit
Twelve billion USD hovering over the Gaza Strip
You don’t wanna know what it cost to live
What it cost to hide behind eyelids
When your back turnt, secret cannibals lick they lips.”
The album showcases some of Woods’ sharpest lyricism, blending confrontation with philosophy, horror with deep emotion. Golliwog by Billy Woods is available on Bandcamp and most major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Qobuz, Deezer, YouTube Music, and Spotify.
