GOLLIWOG

By the time Dislocated’s restless drums drop out he has also demonstrated a level of originality comparable to Madvillainy or Vaudeville Villain – a true artist.

woods’s golliwog is the rare symbol that truly awakens from the dead on what seems like his twentieth stellar full-length, given breath by the cursed voodoo that permeates the entirety of the album.

"Waterproof Mascara" is surely one of the most harrowing rap tracks in recent memory. .... Full of horror and self-described Afro-pessimism, GOLLIWOG is frequently grim. And yet, it's not a difficult listen, since woods is simply too clever of a writer for him not to tickle my sense of humour.

Woods’ song begins with a view from a beach, watching as zombies staggering into the sea, except these bodies are actually just people, pushed from their home countries by corrupt governments and post-colonial extraction. “Universities empty, the troublemakers is drowned or drivin' Uber overseas”. Moments like these prove Woods to be one of rap’s best ever storytellers and, what’s even more remarkable, is that among this Golliwog remains a distinctly New York rap record too.

With Golliwog, Woods has crafted a body of work that’s both sonically immense—thanks to a production team of underground heavy-hitters, from the Alchemist to Atmosphere’s Ant—and lyrically precise and unsparing.

‘GOLLIWOG’ is an abrasive, demanding album. woods’ afro-pessimist vision of a world fundamentally hostile to every facet of black existence (family, history, spirituality) is a hell of a lot to chew on. However, it’s also a beautifully singular vision, one that’s delivered with thrilling intelligence and visceral, gripping force.

Irreversible, unavoidable self-destruction at the foot of power is a tale as old as human captivity, but rarely is it captured so poignantly, or as comprehensively, as on GOLLIWOG.

GOLLIWOG masterfully uses that spooky proximity for self-reflection and thrills. Like the late MF DOOM, who he interpolates twice here, woods is perfectly intelligible despite his layered lyrics and elusive public profile.

A significant experiment for woods. Lyrically, he’s as eloquent as ever, moving from abstract images to direct statements, from confessional rants to journalistic quips, from the troughs of despair to the apexes of mania. His use of multiple producers pays off, as well, helping to sustain a liminal space.

Never less than compelling, it confirms im as one of hip hop's most compelling stylists. [Aug 2025, p.105]

It’s not an easy listen, but it’s a stunning achievement. Gazing into the abyss is never fun, but it’s necessary if we hope to understand what lives there. Billy woods knows, and he’s not afraid to tell us.

An uncompromising set that will swallow hardy listeners up into its shadowy world. [Jul 2025, p.85]

The production credits read like a fever dream: The Alchemist, Kenny Segal, EL-P, Conductor Williams, Preservation, Messiah Musik, Sadhugold, Ant, Shabaka Hutchings, Steel Tipped Dove, DJ Haram, Willie Green, Jeff Markey, Saint Abdullah, and Human Error Club. And yet, the sound holds together. Disorienting, yes. But deliberate. Woods is the constant: his voice measured, ghostly, sometimes smirking.

It’s heavier, if only slightly, than Woods’ usual output. He still finds time for moments of beauty amid the bleakness.

Even more so than woods' other albums, GOLLIWOG is a challenging work dealing with grim yet truthful subject matter, but it's fascinating and enjoyable due to the rapper's brilliant writing and focused delivery, as well as innovative production from his collaborators.