billy woods has announced a new album, GOLLIWOG, due May 9 via woods’ own Backwoodz Studioz label. It 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 Human Error Club; and guest vocals from woods’ Armand Hammer partner ELUCID, as well as Cavalier, Bruiser Wolf, Despot, Al.Divino, and singer Yolanda Watson.
woods says, “When I was nine years old I wrote a story about an evil golliwog. My mother read it and told me it was overly derivative and needed some work. Here we are.”
The first single is “Misery,” which was produced by woods’ frequent collaborator Kenny Segal, and it’s a dark, experimental rap song that finds woods’ wordplay sounding as twisted as ever. Check it out below.
billy woods plays SXSW this week, including BrooklynVegan and Resound’s Lost Weekend day party at Mohawk on Saturday (3/15) from noon-6 PM. It’s free with RSVP.
He also announced a headlining tour, including a hometown NYC show at Knockdown Center on September 25. All dates are listed below.
Tracklist
1. Jumpscare (prod. Steel Tipped Dove)
2. STAR87 (prod. Conductor Williams)
3. Misery (prod. Kenny Segal)
4. BLK XMAS (feat. Bruiser Wolf, prod. Sadhugold)
5. Waterproof Mascara (prod. Preservation)
6. Counterclockwise (prod. The Alchemist)
7. Corinthians (feat. Despot, prod. El-P)
8. Pitchforks & Halos (prod. Kenny Segal)
9. All These Worlds Are Yours (feat. ELUCID, prod. DJ Haram & Shabaka Hutchings)
10. Maquiladoras (feat. Al.Divino, prod. Saint Abdullah)
11. A Doll Fulla Pins (feat. Yolanda Watson, prod. Jeff Markey)
12. Golgotha (prod. Messiah Musik)
13. Cold Sweat (prod. Ant)
14. BLK ZMBY (prod. Steel Tipped Dove)
15. Make No Mistake (prod. Messiah Musik)
16. Born Alone (prod. Kenny Segal)
17. Lead Paint Test (feat. ELUCID & Cavalier, prod. Willie Green)
18. Dislocated (feat. ELUCID, prod. HUMAN ERROR CLUB)
billy woods — 2025 Tour Dates
3/12 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/14 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/15 – Austin, TX @ SXSW (BrooklynVegan x Resound day party at Mohawk)
4/3 – Edinburgh, UK @ La Belle Angele
4/5 – The Hague, NL @ Rewire Festival
5/3 – Vienna, AT @ Donau Fest
5/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5
5/29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
5/31 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
6/1 – San Francisco, CA @ Neck Of The Woods
6/2 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
6/3 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
6/5 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
6/6 – Austin, TX @ The Ballroom
6/7 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
6/25 – Asheville, NC @ Eulogy
6/27 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
6/28 – Tampa, FL @ The Crowbar
6/29 – Nashville, TN @ Third Man
9/16 – Easthampton, MA @ Daily Op
9/17 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
9/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
9/19 – Washington DC @ Union Stage
9/25 – NYC, NY @ Knockdown Center
10/3 – Dublin, IE @ Opium
10/4 – Glasgow, UK @ St. Luke’s
10/6 – Leeds, UK @ Belgrave Music Hall
10/7 – Bristol, UK @ Strange Brew
10/8 – Cardiff, UK @ The Globe
10/9 – London, UK @ Scala
10/14 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
11/9 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
11/11 – Detroit, MI @ The Loving Touch
11/13 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
11/14 – Madison, WI @ High Noon
11/15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
11/17 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry