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.
The Undercard
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two steps at a time apartment E9
Whaddup whaddup they're cooking dinner
Garlic onion ginger duck in the back room
Settle up
The new shit wild, got me ready to bust a nut
Pardon eat like I'm starving small
Talk the clock ticks
Don't get up see myself out
Breath in the doubt sip fear from chalice
Pushed a Ton with no Malice
Turned the corner like Kennedy in Dallas
Emptied out Phnom Penh
Sat alone in the palace
Illiterate so they put his name in ballads
Words spinning in my head
Verses unraveling into threads
But that re-up stay stuck to the glass
Like a big neon sign screaming TAKE THE CASH
Hit the venue nondescript
They don't know the half pounds all around
When I get to the back stage
Pacing animal in a cage
Somewhere between let me at 'em
And let's get this over with
Declined the spliff they took it as a diss
Like I waved away picks
But never one to bite my tongue
Professor Griff put my bag by the steps
Hit the stage and crushed the
Place like that's it!
And never once did I take an eye off my shit
House of Game b-Legit
Fixed rate mortgage three percent
These lyrics from Billy Woods's song "The Undercard" paint a vivid picture of a bustling and hectic lifestyle, filled with various encounters and experiences. The first paragraph describes a walk-up apartment on the sixth floor, where someone is cooking a meal with ingredients like garlic, onion, ginger, and duck. The singer settles the bill for the food and remarks on the intensity and excitement of their current situation, stating that it has them feeling ready to burst with anticipation. They eat hungrily, as if they have been starving, while simultaneously aware of the passing time and the need to leave for a gig, though they downplay its significance. They say their goodbyes and exit the apartment, savoring the uncertainty and fear that fuels their drive.
In the second paragraph, the lyrics allude to historical events like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. They draw parallels to this momentous event by turning a metaphorical corner, perhaps implying a significant turning point in their own life. The mention of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, being emptied out suggests the weight of the singer's experiences and the solitude they may feel, even in their pinnacle of success. They reflect on their status as illiterate, and yet their name is celebrated and immortalized in ballads, highlighting the power and impact of their words that spin in their head, continuously unraveling into threads of thought.
The third paragraph shifts the focus to the singer's experience at a venue, where they arrive discreetly and unnoticed. Despite their nondescript entrance, the lyrics mention "half pounds all around," suggesting a presence of drugs or an illicit atmosphere. As they reach the backstage area, they are consumed by nerves and a restless energy, comparing themselves to an animal in a cage, torn between a desire to give their all on stage and a longing to be done with the performance. They decline a joint offered to them, which is interpreted as a slight by others, mistaking their refusal as a rejection. However, not one to hold back their opinions, the singer ensures their belongings are secure, referencing Professor Griff, and proceeds to captivate the audience with a powerful performance that leaves a lasting impact.
The final paragraph takes an unexpected turn, shifting to the topic of a fixed-rate mortgage with a three percent interest rate, referencing the house of Game b-Legit. This surprising mention adds an element of contrast and complexity to the overall narrative. It may hint at the duality of the singer's life, one filled with the hustle and excitement of their artistic endeavors and the other grounded in more conventional and stable aspects of life, such as homeownership and financial responsibility. This juxtaposition underscores the multifaceted nature of their existence, as they navigate between different worlds and experiences.
Overall, these lyrics provide a glimpse into the singer's gritty and fast-paced lifestyle, reflecting on their influences, the weight of their words, the challenges they face, and the contrasting elements that shape their identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Sixth floor walk-up work off the gut
Living in a humble apartment and striving to improve oneself
Two steps at a time apartment E9
Eagerly climbing the stairs to reach one's apartment quickly
Whaddup whaddup they're cooking dinner
Friendly greetings while preparing a delicious meal
Garlic onion ginger duck in the back room
Aromatic ingredients being used to cook a flavorful dish
Settle up
Resolving financial matters and paying debts
The new shit wild, got me ready to bust a nut
Excitement and anticipation towards something innovative and groundbreaking
Pardon eat like I'm starving small
Apologize for eating with great enthusiasm and appetite
Talk the clock ticks
Conversations passing the time
I gotta split gotta gig nah it's nothing big
Leaving abruptly for a performance, though it may not be a major event
Don't get up see myself out
Leaving without causing inconvenience or needing assistance
Breath in the doubt sip fear from chalice
Feeling uncertain or anxious, indulging in negative emotions
Pushed a Ton with no Malice
Achieving success through hard work and determination, devoid of ill intentions
Turned the corner like Kennedy in Dallas
Making a significant change or shift, reminiscent of a historical event
Emptied out Phnom Penh
Fully experiencing a city or a situation, leaving nothing behind
Sat alone in the palace
Finding solace or isolation in a place of luxury or power
Illiterate so they put his name in ballads
Lacking formal education, leading to his name being celebrated in songs
Words spinning in my head
Thoughts and ideas swirling continuously in my mind
Verses unraveling into threads
Lyrics coming together and unfolding, forming the fabric of a song
But that re-up stay stuck to the glass
The drugs replenishment remaining attached to the mirror, signifying temptation or addiction
Like a big neon sign screaming TAKE THE CASH
An intense urge or temptation to acquire wealth or material possessions
Hit the venue nondescript
Arriving at a location without attracting attention or being conspicuous
They don't know the half pounds all around
Unaware of the presence of large quantities of drugs in the vicinity
When I get to the back stage
Upon reaching the backstage area
Pacing animal in a cage
Restlessly and anxiously waiting for the upcoming performance
Somewhere between let me at 'em
Feeling a strong desire to confront and engage with the audience
And let's get this over with
Eager to finish and move on from the performance
Declined the spliff they took it as a diss
Politely refusing to smoke cannabis, which others perceived as an insult or rejection
Like I waved away picks
Similar to dismissing opportunities or offers without consideration
But never one to bite my tongue
Unwilling to stay silent or hold back one's opinions
Professor Griff put my bag by the steps
A reference to Professor Griff, who safeguarded his belongings near the entrance
Hit the stage and crushed the
Delivering a powerful and captivating performance
Place like that's it!
Making a profound impact on the audience and venue as if it were the final act
And never once did I take an eye off my shit
Maintaining constant focus and guarding one's personal belongings
House of Game b-Legit
Referencing the musical artist b-Legit and his affiliation with the House of Game
Fixed rate mortgage three percent
Having a stable and low-interest mortgage agreement
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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