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.
Stormy Weather
Billy Woods Lyrics
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Hard times, it was the best of times
The worst of times, three Phillies out a dime
Milk crate acapella rhymes
Tee shirts over long johns
Ear met siren songs
Seems like it's been mad long
Times of feeling mad strong
"Billy, watch what you think
Finish that drink
Get the optics pink, life is written in ink
It dries before you blink"
That's my inner shrink
What's done is done but son she was the one!
Analogue tapes, dubbing crates
Wet crack and bagging eighths
Great escapes, Shareefy Musafeeky
Freaky deaky, re-up weekly, speak easy
Woods creaky, isolator sleepy, ask Meechy
They can't beat me, can't join neither
Jobbin street true believers
Tax cheater and wife beaters
Conscientious objectors with heaters
I got a date with June Cleaver
And I bet she know the procedure
Remember those days like my first J
Brown weed and warm Tanqueray
Thinking we the neighborhood Snoop and Dre
Wasn't no 'dro and Mo' co
We was high as a mo'fo' though
Me and Ken used to cut white people's grass
Split the cash and page Garry for some grass
Fat ass nickel bags
Fucking with country trap
Niggas smoking unk fast, forties before class
I wasn't supposed to be the only one rapping
Meridian polishing gems
Dead-lift weight back when
Backspin, but shit happens
Niggas ain't fail to plan, they got shot
They got locked
The hundred ways to end up in a box
A bad bag of brown
A one too many trips out of town
A what goes around comes back
With the four pound
Bet that I'ma hold it down
It's been raining on us
Much love 301 to 914
And everything in between
Thanks alot Shareefy you know
What I'm saying? But
We know you smoked that weed though
Don't front stormy weather
Backwoodz Studios holler at us
Obligatory cliche #1
In "Stormy Weather" by Billy Woods, the lyrics paint a picture of rough times and the struggle to find solace and strength amidst adversity. The opening lines suggest a sense of writer's block and seeking refuge in alcohol, indicating a difficult creative process. The mention of hard times being both the best and worst implies the complexity of life, where even in moments of struggle, there can be moments of growth and resilience.
The following lines delve into themes of nostalgia and reflection, referencing past experiences and relationships. The mention of three Phillies out a dime and the acapella rhymes on milk crates evoke a sense of a bygone era, perhaps a time of simplicity and creativity. The use of tee shirts over long johns and the connection to sirens songs suggests a gritty urban environment and a sense of longing for escape.
As the song progresses, it touches on various topics and experiences, including drugs, shady deals, and relationships. The references to analogue tapes, dubbing, and bagging eighths speak to a specific era in hip-hop and underground music culture. The mention of Shareefy Musafeeky and their frequent re-ups hints at a friendship or camaraderie built around survival and illicit activities.
The song further highlights the realities and complexities of life, touching on themes of social disparities, conscious objection, and violence. The mention of tax cheaters, wife beaters, and conscientious objectors with heaters shines a light on the contradictions and injustices present within society. The reference to a date with June Cleaver, a symbol of a traditional and idealized American family, contrasts sharply against the grittier experiences and encounters mentioned throughout the song.
Overall, "Stormy Weather" provides a layered glimpse into the struggles and realities of life, touching on themes of nostalgia, urban survival, and the search for resilience in challenging times.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind