Experience Billy Woods’ chilling horrorcore gem tailored for A24 fans.

Billy Woods boasts one of the highest batting averages in the game. With standout solo projects like Hiding Places and Maps, alongside his collaborations with Elucid as Armand Hammer, he has a collection of undeniable classics. While his albums are far from light-hearted (definitely not party anthems), Golliwog stands out as his darkest work yet.

This isn’t your average horrorcore album. Unlike acts such as Geto Boys, Gravediggaz, and Insane Clown Posse, who lean into slasher aesthetics and shock value, Woods delivers something more akin to an A24 film than a Blumhouse production.

The opening track, “Jumpscare,” sets the tone with the sound of a film reel starting up, followed by an eerie music box and the line: “Ragdoll playing dead. Rabid dog in the yard, car won’t start, it’s bees in your head.” It initially plays into typical horror tropes, but soon evolves into psychological torment. A chaotic mix of voices creates a backdrop for unidentifiable screeches, leading Woods to declare a powerful statement:
> “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 his producers to build tension rather than relying on cheap thrills. In “Waterproof Mascara,” a woman’s sobs become a rhythmic motif. “Pitchforks & Halos,” produced by Kenny Segal, evokes the sound of a serial killer’s POV. Meanwhile, “All These Worlds are Yours,” crafted by DJ Haram, channels early industrial vibes reminiscent of Throbbing Gristle, contrasting with tracks like “Golgotha,” which blends boom bap drums with New Orleans funeral horns.

The dense, sometimes chaotic production pairs with lyrics that juxtapose real-world horrors of oppression and colonialism with vivid imagery, such as: “Trapped a housefly in an upside-down pint glass and waited for it to die.” In “Corinthians,” Woods seamlessly shifts from boasting to a stark warning about 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

Golliwog showcases some of Woods’ sharpest lyricism, balancing confrontation with philosophy and horror with deep emotion. The album is available on Bandcamp and most major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Qobuz, Deezer, YouTube Music, and Spotify.