Billy Woods and Kenny Segal's debut collaboration Hiding Places dropped back in 2019 to massive critical acclaim featuring stand-out tracks like "Spongebob" and "Spider Hole". Clearly, this was a meeting of the minds and a beautiful collaboration. Fast forward to 2023 and the two have announced that once again they will be getting their creative juices flowing in the form of another album. On May 5th we will be receiving Maps. The second album from these two once-in-a-generation artists.
For those who are not aware Billy Woods is an underground rapper somewhat aligned with the current abstract hip-hop scene known for being one-half of the genre-defining duo Armand Hammer. Kenny Segal is an LA-based producer who is a master of breathing life into dusty old samples.
The duo have just released the first taste of the new record in the form of new single, "Facetime" ft Samuel T. Herring (The frontman of synth pop group Future Islands). Samuel also goes under the indie rap alias Hemlock Ernst for which Kenny has produced the album Back at the house.
The new song features twinkling keys, subtle woodwinds and peaceful jazz instrumentation. Woods' signature conscious lyricism goes fantastically over this beat feeling at once meditative and hard hitting. His flow and pen game is without a doubt some of the best out right now. Samuels vocals provide for some nice breathing room around Bill's dense wordplay.
Along with this track, we got news of other features that will be on the album and I think we are in for a treat...
Dannys Brown, ELUCID (The other half of Armand Hammer), Quelle Chris, Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet and Comet is Coming), Aesop Rock, Benjamin Brooker and ShrapKnel. In this list we have some of the best MCs working today and potentially the greatest modern Jazz musician.
Sure to be an amazing record and I can't wait to hear it.
Check out the new track here.
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