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.
Red Dust
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not the money, it's the rush
It's not the weed, that's a crutch
It's not greed, that's not enough
It's not the heat, it's the dust
It's not the drugs, it's the cut
It's not the act, it's the touch
It's how she arch her back when she-
Knock the plane out the sky
Spark the genocide
Let's see who gives who a place to hide
You might be surprised (You might not)
By the way, it'd be wise to retrieve that black box
If you live, sometimes it's best just to circle the block
I was in the ceilin' when they swept the buildin'
I kept my head down when the cops came for the children
I rode the train er'y day past that fuckin' prison
I broke bread with killas and rapists
I got money with niggas you should not leave with a child for two fuckin' seconds
They don't tell you that in they raps
Don't tell me that's the past
I live in the past jack
It ain't even that different
Niggas rhyme fast about bitches
Niggas supposedly abstract
White boys take what they want and just flip it, flip it
Shrug before he licked the revolver, shoulda listened
Now these are shenanigans, you have all witnessed the system
Crocodile slid it in, almost graceful how he swim
I'm a savage, volcano rim, just toss him in
It's not the heat, it's the dust
It's not the money, it's the rush
It's not the weed, that's a crutch
It's not greed, that's not enough (It's not enough)
It's not the heat, it's the dust (It's not enough, man, that's the problem)
You on the list
Planet ain't big enough, we can't coexist
Say my prayers e'ry night you'll be in the mix
I can't wait, dream about it like sex
Etch you off the writ
Help you remember what you tryna forget
I want us to be alone in your home
I wanna suck the marrow out ya bones
I wanna show you what I learned from the worst people I ever known
I wanna follow you like the Jakes
I wanna swallow you, show you the hate inside, it's a lake
So cold, so deep
I see you, you never saw me
Transferred to the sea
So close, I can see a nick from shavin'
Your neck so exposed
Your throat would open like a hose
Eyes wide open, I would watch you go
Seeing you in hell, all I think about when they say woods
That's all she wrote
I know the list long
I put you at the fuckin' top though
The first verse of "Red Dust" by Billy Woods and Kenny Segal is a poetic reflection on the idea that things are not always what they seem. The lyrics are a series of contrasts that suggest that the real problem is often hidden beneath the surface. The heat is not the problem; it's the dust. Money is not the issue; it's the rush. Weed is not the real crutch; it's something else entirely. The lyrics suggest that the biggest challenges we face are often hidden and not easily seen.
The second verse takes a darker turn, with Woods rapping about the violent reality of life. The imagery is intense and graphic, with references to genocide and murder. The verse also touches on social injustice and police brutality, with Woods talking about being in a building when the police came for children and riding past a prison every day on the train. His experiences have led him to become jaded and disillusioned, with little faith in the power of rap to effect change. Ultimately, the verse is a bleak commentary on the state of society and the human condition.
Overall, "Red Dust" is a complex and thought-provoking song that requires multiple listens to fully appreciate. The lyrics are dense and layered, with multiple meanings and interpretations. This song is not just about music or entertainment; it's a social commentary on the world we live in.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not the heat, it's the dust
The discomfort is not really caused by the heat, but the layer of dust that comes with it
It's not the money, it's the rush
The thrill of the chase and the adventure is more valuable than the wealth that is being pursued
It's not the weed, that's a crutch
Marijuana cannot be solely relied on to solve one's problems
It's not greed, that's not enough
Greediness never really satisfies anyone
It's not the drugs, it's the cut
The impurities in the drugs are more harmful than the drugs itself
It's not the act, it's the touch
The sensation of touch is more significant than the act of doing something
It's how she arch her back when she-
The way she moves is powerful and captivating
Knock the plane out the sky
To bring something down from the height of success
Spark the genocide
To trigger mass killing
Let's see who gives who a place to hide
In difficult situations, let's see who comes to each other's aid
You might be surprised (You might not)
The outcome is uncertain and unpredictable
By the way, it'd be wise to retrieve that black box
It's crucial to get the crucial evidence and information
If you live, sometimes it's best just to circle the block
There are times when it's safer to wait and observe rather than immediately taking action
I was in the ceilin' when they swept the buildin'
I was hidden in the ceiling when they searched the building
I kept my head down when the cops came for the children
I avoided confrontation when the police came to take children
I rode the train er'y day past that fuckin' prison
I commuted on a train every day near a prison
I broke bread with killas and rapists
I shared food with murderers and rapists
I got money with niggas you should not leave with a child for two fuckin' seconds
I earned money with people who were untrustworthy and dangerous
They don't tell you that in they raps
Rappers don't always share the harsh realities of their lives
Don't tell me that's the past
Things that happened in the past still matter and affect the present
I live in the past jack
I am still haunted by past events
It ain't even that different
Things haven't really changed that much
Niggas rhyme fast about bitches
Rappers often rap speedily about women
Niggas supposedly abstract
Rappers pretend to be different and unique, but they are not
White boys take what they want and just flip it, flip it
White people appropriate Black culture and make a profit
Shrug before he licked the revolver, shoulda listened
He disregarded the consequences even after someone warned him
Now these are shenanigans, you have all witnessed the system
These are deceptive and dishonest activities that everyone has seen in the system
Crocodile slid it in, almost graceful how he swim
Crooked people sneak into things elegantly and expertly
I'm a savage, volcano rim, just toss him in
I am a brute, like the edge of a volcano, just throw him in
You on the list
You are being watched and targeted
Planet ain't big enough, we can't coexist
There isn't enough space for everyone to live together and coexist peacefully
Say my prayers e'ry night you'll be in the mix
I pray every night that you will be involved in my life
I can't wait, dream about it like sex
I am eagerly anticipating and fantasizing about it
Etch you off the writ
Erase your name from the list
Help you remember what you tryna forget
Remind you about things you want to ignore
I want us to be alone in your home
I desire intimacy with you in your own space
I wanna suck the marrow out ya bones
I want to extract and consume everything valuable about you
I wanna show you what I learned from the worst people I ever known
I want to teach you valuable lessons I've learned from terrible people
I wanna follow you like the Jakes
I want to shadow and observe you like law enforcement
I wanna swallow you, show you the hate inside, it's a lake
I want to consume you and reveal my intense anger, which is like a deep body of water
So cold, so deep
This feeling is very icy, and very intense
I see you, you never saw me
I am aware of you, but you are not aware of me
Transferred to the sea
Moved and lost in the vast ocean of people and life
So close, I can see a nick from shavin'
I am very close, and can see even the smallest details
Your neck so exposed
Your neck is vulnerable and unprotected
Your throat would open like a hose
If I attacked your throat, it would gush out like a water hose
Eyes wide open, I would watch you go
I would watch you die with my eyes wide open
Seeing you in hell, all I think about when they say woods
I only think of you suffering in hell when I hear someone mention Billy Woods
That's all she wrote
That's the final conclusion or decision
I know the list long
I am aware that the list of people being watched is lengthy
I put you at the fuckin' top though
But I have put you at the very top of that list
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Woods, Kenny Segal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind