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.
Pre-Emptive Strikes
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skim & milk hella, with cod and mozarella
Touch money like bank tellers
Don't need me to tell ye
You see Barbarella all bella-bella's
Spinnin' an umbrella
I'm hatin' too, fella
Cooptie, mad coochie, world beat groupie
Bitch set a date and lay you out like roofies
It's rarely bulldozers more of me
Whether gutter or a bougie wrapped in Gucci
Flashin Moochie, this ain't the movies
Bad news, like no bullets in the uzi
Fruit juice, he got canines woozy
Erased face is Kabuki
Pale faces might scoop me
Knock, knock - Who's there
Pop, pop - Shoulda been prepared
Buzzsaw verses cut your hair
Over your head, just warnin' shots
Get out my spot
Saber-tooth in the booth, don't call truce
Lookin' like you gon' raise the roof
Gin, no juice, indictments, no proof
Martini, no vermouth, halfway
House niggas is no use
Pussy MC's lead to douche
Smoke you faster than a louche
Put your whole group on forty-deuce to recoup
Reposess the Coupe
Ba ba Betty Boop back on the stoop
Yeah, Billy the Troop
You've said it, down to the boots
Uncouth Baba Ganoush
Keepin' it early nineties like Bubble Goose
Sky pages and Ta ta McCooch
Accapella where we smoke reefers
The lyrics in Billy Woods's song "Pre-Emptive Strikes" depict a vivid and gritty portrayal of a challenging environment. The opening line, "Accapella when we got crops in the cella'" sets the scene of a confined space, possibly a basement, where illegal activities like growing marijuana take place. The mention of skim milk and various types of cheese like cod and mozzarella suggests a practical and frugal lifestyle, perhaps due to financial constraints or a lower socioeconomic position.
The next few lines, "Touch money like bank tellers, don't need me to tell ye," imply a sense of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. The reference to Barbarella, a character known for her beauty and seductiveness, along with the wordplay on "bella-bella's" and "umbrella," suggests a fascination with attractive women and a desire for their attention or admiration. The line "I'm hatin' too, fella" suggests a sense of jealousy or resentment towards others who are successful or attractive.
Moving forward, the song touches on various themes such as promiscuity ("Hittin'"), violence ("lay you out like roofies"), and the harsh realities of life ("Bad news, like no bullets in the uzi"). The lyrics also critique societal structures and norms, particularly in lines like "Halfway house niggas is no use" and "Pussy MC's lead to douche." The use of wordplay and cultural references, like the mention of Kabuki (a traditional Japanese theater), add layers of depth and complexity to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Accapella when we got crops in the cella'
Singing without any musical accompaniment while we have marijuana plants growing in the basement
Skim & milk hella, with cod and mozarella
Having a lot of drugs and money, like skim milk and cheese, but also fish and Italian cheese
Touch money like bank tellers
Handling money effortlessly, just like bank tellers do
Don't need me to tell ye
I don't need to explain it to you
You see Barbarella all bella-bella's
You see beautiful girls like Barbarella
Spinnin' an umbrella
Having a good time, like spinning a colorful umbrella
I'm hatin' too, fella
I'm also filled with hatred, my friend
Cooptie, mad coochie, world beat groupie
Obsessed with sex and attracted to people from different cultures who make music
Hittin'
Engaging in sexual activities
Bitch set a date and lay you out like roofies
A woman arranges a meeting with you, but she plans to drug you and render you unconscious
It's rarely bulldozers more of me
I'm not one to use excessive force, I prefer a more refined approach
Whether gutter or a bougie wrapped in Gucci
Regardless of being from a poor background or an upper-class elitist, I still dress in expensive Gucci clothing
Flashin Moochie, this ain't the movies
Showing off and acting like a character from a movie, but in reality, life is not like the movies
Bad news, like no bullets in the uzi
I bring bad news, like having an uzi but no ammunition to back it up
Fruit juice, he got canines woozy
Drinking fruit juice makes his dogs feel dizzy
Erased face is Kabuki
Having a face that is disguised or concealed, like a Kabuki theater performer
Pale faces might scoop me
White people may try to exploit or take advantage of me
Knock, knock - Who's there
Someone is knocking at the door, asking who it is
Pop, pop - Shoulda been prepared
Gunshots, indicating that the person should have been ready and armed
Buzzsaw verses cut your hair
My powerful and intense lyrics will leave you figuratively shaved or humiliated
Over your head, just warnin' shots
My bars and messages may go over your head, but they are meant as a warning
Get out my spot
Leave my territory or space
Saber-tooth in the booth, don't call truce
I am a dangerous and fierce rapper in the recording booth, don't expect me to make peace
Lookin' like you gon' raise the roof
You appear as if you are going to cause a commotion or create excitement
Gin, no juice, indictments, no proof
Drinking gin without any mixer, and being accused of crimes without any evidence
Martini, no vermouth, halfway
Drinking a martini without vermouth, symbolizing an incomplete or unsatisfactory situation
House niggas is no use
Black people who conform or are subservient to white society are not valuable or helpful
Pussy MC's lead to douche
Incompetent rappers end up being treated poorly or ignored
Smoke you faster than a louche
Defeat or outperform you quickly, just like a louche drink mixture turns milky quickly
Put your whole group on forty-deuce to recoup
Force your entire crew to engage in risky or illegal activities to recover losses
Reposess the Coupe
Take back the luxury car that has been seized due to unpaid debts
Ba ba Betty Boop back on the stoop
A woman who resembles Betty Boop returns to her usual spot or hangout
Yeah, Billy the Troop
Yes, I am Billy the Troop, a known figure or leader
You've said it, down to the boots
You have expressed something fully, from head to toe
Uncouth Baba Ganoush
Being rude or lacking manners, like the Middle Eastern dish Baba Ganoush
Keepin' it early nineties like Bubble Goose
Maintaining a style from the early 1990s, like the iconic Bubble Goose jackets
Sky pages and Ta ta McCooch
Using a pager and referring to a certain person or situation as Ta Ta McCooch
Accapella where we smoke reefers
Singing without any musical accompaniment while we enjoy smoking marijuana cigarettes
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind