BILLY WOODS AND KENNY SEGAL

Maps (Backwoodz Studioz)

The success of every rapper depends upon a decent producer and crate digger. Maps, the second hookup between New York rapper Billy Woods and Los Angeles producer Kenny Segal, is no exception. Segal weaves a smoky, after-hours soundtrack of mellow piano jazz, guitar meanderings, brushed cymbals, scuffy beats, the crackle of vinyl, offbeat sound FX and the occasional slo-mo synth pulse into thick clouds, for Woods to float his rhymes across.

Maps is a story of roads taken and untaken and living the dream, yet dreaming of another life. The whole is a somnambulant journey, from the sofa to the sidewalk: the seamy side of life to the stars and stagelights. Guest Aesop Rock is a good foil on the accessible Waiting Room while FaceTime is Woods pining with the loneliness of a long-distance lover, enhanced by the chorus of Future Islands’ Samuel Herring. Danny Brown shares a prophecy on the unhinged Year Zero and Soundcheck, with Quelle Chris, sounds like the fear and elation of performance wrapped up in one. Woods and Segal have nothing to fear and it all planned out. 

words CHRIS SEAL