The rap duo Armand Hammer. (Photo by Alexander Richter)
Every Armand Hammer song is a rabbit hole. The New York rap duo likes to take a concept and burrow deep into its implications, turning a simple premise into a labyrinthine cave system. That’s the case with “Chicharrones,” the droll centerpiece to
Haram, ELUCID and billy woods’s fifth joint album. The song is nominally about snitches and the police. But that’s just the surtext. As woods and guest Quelle Chris excoriate stool pigeons and cop-lovers, the aperture widens to address power fantasies. “Negroes say they hate the cops / But the minute something’s off, wanna use force / I just work here, I’m not the boss,” woods raps.
Northern Star
Dangerous duo of rappers ELUCID and billy woods known as Armand Hammer, link with one of rap’s most dynamic producers, The Alchemist, on “Haram.” Released March 26, Armand Hammer and The Alchemist further solidify the brilliance of the underground rap scene through dark and dreary lyricism and production.
“Haram” is a perfect example of why listeners should never commit to a verdict on an album after one or two listens. At first, “Haram” is a very relaxing rap project with outstanding production. It’s easy to assume this project might only lend itself to the listener’s only want, a soft and deep rap project, but “Haram” is so much more than that.