I Told Bessie

ELUCID, billy woods’ partner in avant-rap duo Armand Hammer, has released several solo albums as well. This one is dedicated to his paternal grandmother, who died in 2017 but was a crucial supporter of his burgeoning career, and even let him live with her. That’s not to suggest that this is an album of tear-stained memories; it’s harsh and fatalistic, with woozy beats that seem to speed up and slow down as if the loop lacks the energy to make it to the end of the bar. ELUCID’s lyrics are dense in a late ’90s style, and delivered in a low, growling monotone; you have to listen over and over to capture all the nuances, like reading academic prose. woods shows up on four tracks, including “Sardonyx,” which also features Pink Siifu and Quelle Chris.