Billy Woods – Today, I Wrote Nothing (2xLP, 10th Anniversary, Coke Bottle Clear vinyl))

When Billy Woods released "Today, I Wrote Nothing" in 2015, it was an unexpected departure from a rapper who was just starting to make waves in the indie rap scene. After spending the earlier part of his career in the wilderness, Woods had managed to crawl out of obscurity with the minor success of "History Will Absolve Me" (2012).

Dour Candy, the 2013 collaboration with underground legend Blockhead, earned him recognition that only grew with Armand Hammer's debut Race Music. Woods then disappeared from the scene for two years before returning with Today, I Wrote Nothing, an album markedly different from what had come before. Where Dour Candy was concise and focused, TIWN was a sprawling 24-track opus. Where History Will Absolve Me was characterized by hard-hitting beats, anthemic songs and a few high-profile features, TIWN consisted of short vignettes, calm, eclectic production and the only guests were his Backwoodz labelmates. Only one video was released, the claustrophobic "Flatlands," shot on a very low budget in a Brooklyn housing project.

Critics didn't really know what to make of the record, and in many cases neither did the fans. As is so often the case with Woods' albums, perspectives changed over the years. Listeners recognized the sad, quiet beauty of "Today, I Wrote Nothing"; a road trip album that is simultaneously a meditation on the journeys of life and the hiding places of death. The album's power lies in its intimacy, in its insistence on holding your hand through the darkness. Today, TIWN stands as one of the more unique and vibrant records in Woods' catalog.

The dynamic Woods has created with TIWN in comparison to "History Will Absolve Me" and "Dour Candy" is one that is characteristic of his work: constant experimentation, a refusal to be pigeonholed, and an unwavering search for the emotional core of his subject matter. For us at Backwoodz, it is a particular pleasure to reissue this album for its tenth anniversary, as we remember how long it took us to sell the original run of 500 copies. To everyone who bought one and helped us keep the lights on, this is for you too, we couldn't have done it otherwise.

The album was produced by renowned artists Blockhead, Steel Tipped Dove, Aesop Rock, Busdriver and Willie Green. - The artwork features images by renowned hip-hop photographer Alexander Richter.