After a reschedule, a pop-up event, and months of anticipation, New York-based rapper Billy Woods returned to Dallas to perform at Club Dada. I am happy to report that the event lived up to the anticipation.
Billy Woods performed songs from his new LP GOLLIWOG. A goll*wog is a doll that represents an anti-Black caricature on the cover of the album. This image serves as a central symbol throughout the album. In a politically charged era, Billy Woods paints a dark yet realistic portrait of the issues we, as a people, continue to face—and are long overdue to overcome through his music. From nuanced topics like past and ongoing wars to various presidents, African colonialism, and the looming threat of climate change, Woods presents the truth: we do live in a brave new world. He doesn’t shy away from exposing the challenges we face collectively.
Billy Woods reminds me a lot of the late MF DOOM in the sense that he does not show his face in photos. Like DOOM, I realized that his music is as much a character in the set as the person performing it. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was indeed wearing a mask—we could’ve been watching someone cosplaying as Billy Woods right in front of us.
The lighting at the event was dark, and in line with the album’s themes, you couldn’t see much beyond the stage, where his studio setup played in the background. You can tell that Billy Woods truly enjoys making and performing his music. I’m sure that, as an artist, he feels a deep connection to the fans who relate to and passionately enjoy what he creates.
Furthermore, New York-based rapper PremRock opened the event with songs from his new album Did You Enjoy Your Time Here. PremRock’s music shares many similarities with Billy Woods’—heavy themes layered over deep, hard-hitting production. I felt lucky enough to have a crisp handshake with him at the bar.
Dissecting each track on GOLLIWOG reveals its own set of nuances, but the one that hit home for me was “Born Alone,” with its haunting chorus: “Live alone, die alone, no matter what your plan is.”, a reference to the song “Razers” from MF Doom’s alias King Geedorah’s album “Take Me to your leader”. I couldn’t help but reflect on the existential weight of the song. That feeling lingered throughout the show—thanks to the dark, evocative visuals paired with dense, impactful lyrics. The theme of existentialism was woven consistently throughout the performance.
Billy Woods’ music is unique—gritty, cerebral, and unapologetically raw. For fans of grungy, hard-hitting lyricism and powerful production, it’s gold. He also gave us a bit of fan service, performing tracks from his acclaimed older albums, such as Maps and Hiding Places. It’s no surprise he was able to fill a venue on a Wednesday night, even after the initial June show had been rescheduled.
After the show, we got the chance to meet Billy and browse the vinyls and merch he had on sale. The conversation between him and my friends was vibrant, lively, and real. From discussing our shared roots in East African culture to his upcoming collaborations with Elucid and The Alchemist, Billy came across as incredibly grounded—someone genuinely willing to spend time with fans who appreciate his work. It made me excited to see what comes next for Prem Rock and Billy Woods. I couldn’t help but leave feeling like Billy Woods gave Dallas fans exactly what they came for: a show that truly delivered.
