It took me 10 years, nearly two dozen albums, and maybe a live show or two to fully understand the alchemy of billy woods and ELUCID’s rap duo Armand Hammer. Having been introduced to both individual emcees via 2013’s Race Music it was hard to untangle woods’ adherence to literary tradition (see: 2015’s Southern-gothic Today, I Wrote Nothing) from ELUCID’s approach to rap increasingly being more inspired by political essays and conceptual art. His most recent solo tour in support of last year’s Revelator solo LP even felt more like those inspirations than a rap show.
Their album-length collaborations with The Alchemist only complicate things, with a third figure bringing his own baggage to the proceedings. Yet 2021’s Haram hardly stood out from Armand Hammer’s previous discography, which ELUCID told us was because Alc insisted on “moving into [their] world” in lieu of presenting “classic Alchemist beats.” This year’s Mercy only strengthened these ties, with the producer sounding just as natural a fit on the record as the supporting cast of guest emcees who’ve long been in Armand Hammer’s orbit such as Pink Siifu and Quelle Chris. Earl Sweatshirt even makes another appearance in a sort of spinoff from his own recent courtroom-drama rap LP with The Alchemist, Voir Dire.
Given that woods and ELUCID’s bond has also tightened over the past decade or so, we asked the duo to share some of their individual influences on Mercy outside of the realm of music, with woods naturally citing classic literature and ELUCID gravitating toward political philosophy. Additionally the pair discuss rap-as-Polaroid snapshots, being turned onto the writing of Hanif Abdurraqib, taking in the hometown surroundings of MF DOOM, and more.
BILLY WOODS
Photography
I have a longstanding interest in, and appreciation for, photography. I feel like I approached some of the writing on this album like I was taking Polaroids—snapshots that I developed quickly, where the imperfections and limitations of the medium are part of what makes it dope.
Hemingway
I’m not even a big Hemingway fan. Didn’t really read his work until I was a bit older than most, and while I respect his writing, much of it doesn’t particularly move me. That said, when his writing hits, it’s so clean; the economy of words, that ability to be both detailed and succinct. Masculinity as a verb, replete with all its inherent confusions and delusions, even if Ernest can’t see them.
Women
It’s Ironic to follow that with this, but I feel like Mercy has a lot of influence from women; from the artist who asked the question that led to my verse on “Dogeared,” to spending time in my childhood home with my aging mom (“Super Nintendo”), to talking to a Pakistani friend about our experiences growing up in a developing country, to watching my daughter belt out power ballads in the living room. Oh, and photographer Casey Reit, who kinda put me onto Hanif Abdurraqib, and gave me one of his books that I think was also an influence on my writing on Mercy. Even something like meeting my old friend’s now-adult children, which kinda informed and inspired how I jumped things off on “Calypso Gene.”
ELUCID
Long Beach, NY
I’ve made it a habit of riding out to Long Beach, New York before I go on tour. It’s become a favorite place to return to over the past few years. MF DOOM is from Long Beach. I lived there during the pandemic and became such a beach crawler guy. These days I go back for the salty air and a type of quiet reflection that being near an ocean brings.
Alive Herbals
Alive Herbals on Nostrand Avenue in Bed-Stuy is my favorite spice shop. I get lost in the many varieties of neatly stocked Ziplocked bags of fresh herbs and dry spices and teas and other natural/specialty products. Because of their curious and somewhat obscure (to me!) offering, I feel like I leave with a little bit more knowledge than I entered with. It’s a jewel of a market that’s inspired many a weeknight dinner preparation for my family.
The Word Is Change bookstore
Also in Bed-Stuy, The Word Is Change bookstore has a very good and wide selection of literature in many areas that interest me. My most recent purchases were a sci-fi novel by N.K. Jemisin and a nonfiction book by Dr. Joy James when she visited the store for a talk called “The Captive Maternal.”
