September 30, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. EDT
From left, Elucid and billy woods of rap duo Armand Hammer, photographed in Manhattan on Sept. 20. (Eric Hart Jr.)
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During a morning stroll around his Brooklyn neighborhood, billy woods, one half of the rap duo Armand Hammer, stumbled across peculiar signs nailed to lamp posts and abandoned walls advertising diabetic test strips for sale. Later, he discovered that these signs were targeted towards the uninsured and those who couldn’t afford them at full price. This experience opened his eyes to the underground economies that exist in New York, supporting life and survival. It revealed to him the layers upon layers of life that coexist in the city, and the hidden doorways it holds.
Armand Hammer, known for their compelling storytelling about the false promises of the American Dream, has now released their sixth studio album, “We Buy Diabetic Test Strips,” which showcases why they are one of the most dynamic underground rap groups in the country. Their music resonates with communities that have been forgotten by the mainstream, documenting how Americans navigate an economic system shattered by the pandemic and highlighting their heroic resilience.
The duo’s lyrics combine the heartbreak of poverty and the despair of racism, creating music that is both intense and strangely romantic. With lines like “rising and grinding, couldn’t help/wasn’t seen, wasn’t felt/an honest day is overrated” from their 2018 anti-capitalist anthem “No Days Off,” or Elucid’s poetic line, “Spirit swells like faces under the baton strike,” from the fiercely pro-Black deep cut “Bob Barker,” Armand Hammer captures the gritty reality of life in the face of gentrification, commercialization, and relentless capitalism.
Backed by raw and atmospheric music, Armand Hammer’s honest depiction of life under oppressive systems positions them alongside influential figures like the late ’90s underground hip-hop label Definitive Jux, tabloid columnist Jimmy Breslin, Spike Lee during the Giuliani era, and even John Steinbeck.
billy woods, who never shows his face in pictures, is an outspoken rapper with a wealth of political knowledge inherited from his Jamaican literature scholar mother and Zimbabwean revolutionary father. Born in Washington D.C., he spent his childhood in Zimbabwe before returning to the United States, an experience that shaped his sense of displacement, the impact of colonialism, and his connection to music. After living on the fringes of the alt rap community, he embarked on a solo career in America.
Elucid, hailing from Jamaica, Queens, is the son of a churchgoing singer and musician. He began perfecting his intricate lyrics and captivating delivery in the 2000s, honing his skills in a Crown Heights brownstone.
The collaboration between woods and Elucid began with woods reaching out to Elucid for a guest verse on his solo album after they appeared together on a compilation in 2011. They were introduced by a mutual friend, Backwoodz Studioz artist Uncommon Nasa. Since then, they have released four acclaimed albums together, including 2021’s “Haram” with legendary producer the Alchemist. Their latest album, “We Buy Diabetic Test Strips,” was co-produced by DJ Haram and JPEGMafia, and returns to their signature chaotic and direct style.
With tracks like “Niggardly,” which evokes the sound of sharpening knives, and lyrics that tackle topics ranging from eating while “starving his enemies” to critiquing “White women with pepper spray interpolating Beyoncé” on “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” Armand Hammer’s music is hard-hitting and thought-provoking.
Both woods and Elucid also have successful solo careers, with woods receiving critical acclaim for his 2023 record “Maps,” which delves into themes of colonialism, marijuana, and the challenges of touring. However, they continue to collaborate as Armand Hammer and push each other to new heights. Their partnership has made them stronger artists, each with their own unique talents.
Reflecting on their journey, woods and Elucid recognize the progress they have made. They started during a time when rap acts struggled to book shows and doors were often closed to them. Now, their label Backwoodz Studioz has grown from a one-person operation to a team of eighteen, attracting talented artists like Skech185, Akai Solo, and Fatboi Sharif. Distributing their album through renowned independent label Fat Possum Records, known for signing indie rock singer Soccer Mommy, Armand Hammer is ready to embark on a worldwide tour.
Despite their success, woods remains mysterious, never showing his face in public photos and carefully choosing his words. He isn’t interested in fame or recognition. Instead, he wants people to pay attention to his art. For woods, the art speaks for itself, and he remains dedicated to his principles.
“I don’t particularly need to be recognized in the streets,” he explains. “People who do want that should explain themselves, not me.”
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