Brooklyn rapper Billy Woods writes a simultaneous ode and lament to touring on “FaceTime,” taken off the collaborative studio album ‘Maps’ with producer Kenny Segal.

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“Facetime” – billy woods & Kenny Segal ft. Samuel T. Herring

Billy Woods teamed up in April with Kenny Segal for a 2nd time to provide Maps, one of many early highlights of 2023’s already fruitful hip-hop crop. It’s an album in regards to the fixed, droning chore of being on the highway, one thing all skilled musicians will perceive. Touring is without delay exhilarating and draining, it’s having hundreds of individuals within the palm of your hand one evening, then watching greyed tarmac rumble beneath you for 12 hours the following day. “FaceTime,” the primary single from Maps, strikes on the coronary heart of this irreconcilable duality.

Billy Woods is one among his era’s most interesting storytellers, an effervescent expertise lighting up the underground hip-hop scene. Many know him from the semi-legendary work he’s finished with ELUCID as a part of rap energy duo Armand Hammer, however his solo work is extra focussed and arguably cuts with a keener blade. In any case, there’s numerous Billy’s phrases on the market – Maps is the tenth full-length challenge he’s labored on in 5 years. No marvel he’s all the time touring!

Lived a pair lives, go forward and slide,
hope I take a pair with me
Made a pair {dollars}, it obtained tough shortly
What you count on?
Play silly video games you flyin’ easyJet
Bratislava to Utrecht

On “FaceTime,” Woods’ writing is without delay restrained and luxuriant, saying a lot within the silence between verses, and within the ambiguous interpretation of a single phrase. His observations float across the room with each vibrancy and lethargy. That is the final word expression of the album’s core dichotomy, layering ambivalence upon ambivalence to specific Woods’ break up opinion of the evening that’s unfurling forward of him.

The primary verse is soaking moist within the album’s thematic. Woods addresses his accomplice – Who he’s arguing with long-distance over Whatsapp, SMS and Zoom calls. As quickly as his telephone buzzes, he is aware of what’s coming, “One thing felt off earlier than I even left/So once I noticed the missed calls, I knew what was subsequent/Didn’t should open the texts.” It’s a well-trodden path for him, and now as soon as once more he has to cope with points on this indifferent, semi-present state. Woods decides to take it for what it’s, and turns his consideration to the quick surroundings, “The sundown within the desert, purple glow/Redness within the West, I sip Mexico’s greatest gradual/Mezcal Negroni, sittin’ atop the corral smokin’/Watching unbroken wild ponies run wild at sunset.” Taking these transient moments of private happiness is the key to staying sane whereas on tour. That argument can wait.

Silly prizes, couple’s remedy on Zoom
It’s a practice wreck
My evil eye keep off hex although
FaceTime declined,
I’m attempting to reside within the second like dying row

“FaceTime” is a joint effort, and Kenny Segal’s beat is irresistible. It holds itself to the unstated tenets of the underground scene; It’s uncomplicated and repetitive. The pleasure on this beat is discovered within the corners, on the sides, within the house between snare hits. Similar to many nice songs on this style, the music is immediately hypnotic, and the ambient hiss blows textural mud throughout the music. The type of sounds you’d have smoothed out on prime 40 radio are all of the extra outstanding within the combine. It’s simplistic to a fault, and that’s the place the stability is struck. With these disparate parts all combined collectively, Woods and Segal obtain concord.

The fellows do enable themselves a hook, nevertheless – The refrain is carried out by Samuel T. Herring, and lifts the anxiousness for a second between verses. It’s as thought-about as it’s soulful, a treasured second of calm earlier than Woods’ poetry kicks again in for the 2nd spherical. This time, it’s the afterparty, and he’s not too bothered about becoming a member of the gang. Woods offers a imaginative and prescient of what can solely be understood as a grand outdated time – “The room smelled like Marrakesh/Dubstep drift within the window, I sit on the desk/It’s a celebration exterior, some half, some overdressed/They was goin’ off throughout Playboi Carti set” – However it’s clear he’s already weary of such issues.

The vibe is animal pelts
Chunky rings, clunky footwear, numerous ink
Dudes who order everyone’s drink

Woods goes on to explain a lonely evening within the firm of many individuals, smoking on his personal whereas the bass shakes the partitions. It’s a contemplative vibe.

Possibly he’d take pleasure in himself if he knocked on the door and requested to hang around, nevertheless it’s not what he wants proper now. He ends his contribution on FaceTime with a couple of phrases for his erstwhile accomplice, the main target of his life even so distant, “Actually I’m simply ready for my telephone to ping/I’m thinkin’ ’bout you once I’m speculated to be thinkin’ ’bout different issues/I don’t fall asleep, I tread water ’til I sink.”

Because the delicately skinny alto sax solo declares the top of the music, it’s clear that there’s going to be no denouement this time. Similar to the remainder of Maps, “FaceTime” drags itself to dying with a sigh, and accepts life on the highway for what it’s – monotonous, thrilling, punishing. This can be a world that may give you highs you by no means thought attainable, however may drop you down a ravine at any given second. You get used to the glittery melodies, the nice mid-tempo beat, after which it’s gone. On to the following metropolis, the following venue, the following magnolia resort room wall.

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“Facetime” – billy woods & Kenny Segal ft. Samuel T. Herring

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