His mother was an English literature professor from Jamaica. His father was a Ph.D. Marxist writer, active in the Zimbabwe War of Liberation and then a member of the government in Zimbabwe. In 1980, the family moved to Zimbabwe. After the death of Woods' father, they returned to the United States in 1989. Woods briefly attended Howard University before getting involved in New York City's hip-hop scene. He started making music in the late 1990s. He wrote his "first real rhyme" at a laundromat in Kennebunk, Maine in 1997.
Billy Woods released his debut solo album, Camouflage, on his record label Backwoodz Studioz in 2003. In 2012, he released History Will Absolve Me. In 2013, he released Dour Candy, which was entirely produced by Blockhead. In 2017, he released Known Unknowns. It was included on Rolling Stone's "15 Great Albums You Probably Didn't Hear in 2017" list. In 2019, he released a collaborative album with producer Kenny Segal, titled Hiding Places, and a solo album, Terror Management. 2020 brought Brass, a collaborative album with Moor Mother. Woods released Aethiopes and Church in 2022. On May 5th 2023 Woods released Maps , second collaborative album with producer Kenny Segal.
Manteca
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Couldn't faze him
Handlers remotely watching the Operation
On Doomsday
Puday
DEA will bust through the wall on some Kool-Aid
Grown man strength
Celibate but her panties leopard print
I'll never go back to Georgia
Tragedy tomorrow Comedy tonight
Forum parking lot booking a flight
Baggage claim
Heavy lifting prescription hit like lead pipe
Incredible Hulk in glass jar
Personality cult smash y'alls
Whites was astonished he spit that expertly polished
Westernized trees Africanized bees
Police got the whole hood on their knees
Traffic stop
First thing they said was you sent 'em to me
Brass band plays as the hounds take they portion
In the first few lines of the song, Billy Woods describes a person who is fearless, as they walk through an area that is zone for hazardous use. The person is so sure of themselves that they treat it like a suicide mission, but it doesn't faze them. They are being monitored by people who are helping them execute a mission, which they call operation Doomsday. However, there is still a chance of being caught by the DEA who could bust through the wall at any moment. The person has strength that comes with adulthood, but have abstained from sexual intimacy. However, even though they are celibate, they are aware of sexual desire as seen in the line "her panties leopard print". Woods then delves into his own avoidance of owning a wallet, due to his distrust of the police, related to the killing of Amadou Diallo. He ends the verse by saying he can never go back to Georgia, which could mean he is moving on from past experiences or simply avoiding something.
As the song progresses, Woods shifts gears to describe a scene of tragedy and comedy that seems to imminently happen. He stands in the parking lot of what seems like a place where people make decisions that will change their lives, hoping to get on a plane. Then he goes on to talk about baggage claims, indicating that he has or is intending to travel, and the weight of carrying it all on his own. His references to the Incredible Hulk and a personality cult signify a sense of aggression and showcase the extremes in people, even in those who may be seen as leaders. Woods highlights the African-American experience in America with his comments on Westernized trees and Africanized bees, which merge two different worlds. He also talks about the police's hold on urban areas, with the entire "hood" being brought to its knees. Finally, the mention of hounds taking their "portion" is a sign of police corruption and brutality, where they take what they want instead of being there to serve the community.
Line by Line Meaning
Came through the spot zoning like it's a suicide attack
He arrived aggressively in an area designated for a specific purpose, desperate to succeed.
Couldn't faze him
He was unfazed by any obstacles or challenges that came his way.
Handlers remotely watching the Operation
People in charge were keeping an eye on the situation from afar.
On Doomsday
The events were unfolding in a time of great fear and uncertainty.
Puday
Unknown part of the context, possibly a reference to a person or place.
DEA will bust through the wall on some Kool-Aid
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) would break down a wall with force, fueled by the belief in their own abilities.
Grown man strength
He possessed the strength and resilience of an adult male.
Celibate but her panties leopard print
Although she claimed to be abstinent, her clothing suggested she was sexually alluring.
I can't call it, "Amadou Diallo", why I don't carry a wallet
He couldn't explain why he didn't carry a wallet, but the tragic case of Amadou Diallo was somehow a factor.
I'll never go back to Georgia
He vowed to never return to the place where he suffered and experienced pain.
Tragedy tomorrow Comedy tonight
The future seemed bleak, but he chose to find humor in the present moment.
Forum parking lot booking a flight
He was reserving a flight from the parking lot of a public space often used for discussion and debate.
Baggage claim
He was picking up his luggage at the airport terminal.
Heavy lifting prescription hit like lead pipe
The prescription medication he was taking had severe, harmful side effects.
Incredible Hulk in glass jar
Like the rage-filled superhero trapped in a container, he felt constrained and suffocated.
Personality cult smash y'alls
He was rejecting the idea of blindly following a charismatic leader or ideology.
Whites was astonished he spit that expertly polished
The white people around him were surprised that he could speak with such articulate and refined language.
Westernized trees Africanized bees
The natural world was being influenced by outside forces and cultures.
Police got the whole hood on their knees
The police had the entire neighborhood in submission and fear.
Traffic stop
He was pulled over by the police while driving.
First thing they said was you sent 'em to me
The police immediately accused him of being involved in criminal activity and informing on others.
Brass band plays as the hounds take they portion
While the wealthy and powerful enjoy great rewards, the rest of society is left to suffer and struggle.
Writer(s): Blockhead (j. Simon) For Toneslapmusic (sesac), F. Porter For The Happiest Africans (sesac)
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.