When billy woods releasedToday, I Wrote Nothingten years ago, it was an unexpected departure from a rapper who was just starting to make waves in the indie rap scene. After spending the earlier part of his career in the wilderness, woods had managed to crawl out of obscurity with the minor success of 2012sHistory Will Absolve Me. Dour Candy, 2013s collaboration with underground legend Blockhead drew accolades, which only increased with Armand Hammers debut Race Music.
Then, woods dropped out of sight for two years before returning withToday, I Wrote Nothing, a record that deviated significantly from what had come before. WhereDour Candyhad been concise and focused,Today, I Wrote Nothingwas a sprawling 24 tracks. Where History Will Absolve Me was anchored by hard-hitting beats, anthemic songs, and a couple high powered features,Today, I Wrote Nothingwas comprised of short vignettes, quietly eclectic production, and the only guests were his Backwoodz label-mates. Only one video was released; the claustrophobic Flatlands, shot on a shoestring budget in a Brooklyn housing project. Reviewers didnt know quite what to make of the record, and in many cases, neither did fans.
As is often the case for woods albums, many perspectives shifted as the years passed. Listeners came to see the sad, quiet beauty ofToday, I Wrote Nothing; a road trip album that doubles as a meditation on lifes journeys and deaths hiding places. The albums power is in its intimacy, its insistence on holding your hand through the darkness. Now,Today, I Wrote Nothingis considered one of the more unique and vital records in woods catalogue. The dynamic woods created withToday, I Wrote Nothingvis-a-vis History Will Absolve Me and Dour Candy is one that would come to define his ouerve; constant experimentation, a refusal to be pigeonholed, and an unwavering search for the emotional heart of his subject.
Unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee
