We needed to go on other journeys, artistic and otherwise, to come back and do something fresh,” says woods.

On the mic, woods is no less of a conundrum, possessed of versatile flows and an ability to not only tackle topics other artists wouldn’t dream of, but also to bring unique perspectives to the familiar ones. Produced in full by Kenny Segal, Maps features Danny Brown, ELUCID (Armand Hammer), Shabaka Hutchins, Sam Herring (Future Islands), Quelle Chris, Aesop Rock, Benjamin Booker, and ShrapKnel. Other songs address anxiety and stage pressure, with the Gil Scott Heron-like "Soundcheck" mentioning forgetting lyrics during every show. Less focused on political and historical subjects than woods' 2022 albums, Maps is a sort of travelogue, with lyrics mainly written and recorded on the road. Segal moves effortlessly through styles but everything is underpinned with deep basslines and mean drums laid down like railroad tracks.Every record is shipped in original factory-applied shrink wrap and has never been touched by human hands.

Maps is a story of the road, or roads, taken and untaken; of living the dream and dreaming of another life.Whether it's for your DJ crates, your grails shelf, or just good music to listen to, let The Taste Makers help you find what you're looking for. But billy woods’ new album, recorded with beat maker Kenny Segal, is the NYC underground rap icon’s most accessible record to date, following his decolonial »Aethiopes« (2022) and the autobiographical meanderings of »Church« (2022).