Armand Hammer (group)
American hip hop duo
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Armand Hammer is an American hip hop duo from New York City consisting of Billy Woods and Elucid. Since forming around 2013 the two have released a mixtape, an EP, two compilations and seven studio albums, among them Paraffin (2018), Shrines (2020), We Buy Diabetic Test Strips (2023) as well as two collaborative albums with record producer the Alchemist, Haram (2021) and Mercy (2025), all of which have garnered them a cult following as well as critical success.[1]
Armand Hammer | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, New York, US |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
| Website | armandhammer |
Armand Hammer has released all their projects through Woods' label Backwoodz Studioz which he founded in 2002 and has run ever since together with Anton Schlesinger.[2] Their music oftentimes revolves around political and psychosocial themes.[3]
Background
Woods and Elucid met after being introduced to each other by New York rapper Uncommon Nasa. "It was some kinship from the start" said Elucid about that moment in an interview over ten years later.[2] Early collaborations of the two included two feature verses by Elucid on Woods' History Will Absolve Me (2012). At first Woods was apprehensive about forming a collaborative project due to past negative experiences, but eventually he suggested they give it a try.[2]
The group is named after American industrialist, oil tycoon and art collector Armand Hammer.[4]
Career
In September 2013, Armand Hammer released their debut mixtape, Half Measures.[5] The mixtape was produced by Backwoodz engineer Steel Tipped Dove, as well as Blockhead, Uncommon Nasa, and Small Pro, among others.[6] On October 22 2013, the duo released their first studio album, Race Music, which was produced by Steel Tipped Dove, Marmaduke, Willie Green, and Blue Sky Black Death.[7] Stephen Weil of Tiny Mix Tapes called it "a potent record about life, art, sex, drugs, politics, and violence."[8]
In 2014, the duo released their debut EP Furtive Movements.[9] Produced mostly by Messiah Musik and Elucid and entirely recorded at the latter's home, Furtive Movements was initially planned as a remix album of Race Music, but that concept was thrown out in favor of an independent and fully realized follow-up.[3] The Village Voice included both Race Music and Furtive Movements on their yearly "10 Best New York City Rap Albums" lists.[10][11]
In 2017, the duo released their second studio album, Rome,[12] followed by Paraffin in 2018.[13] Paraffin featured on multiple end of the year lists.[14][15][16][17]
In June 2020, the duo released their fourth studio album, Shrines.[18] The record featured guest appearances from Pink Siifu, Keiyaa, Earl Sweatshirt, R.A.P. Ferreira, Fielded, AKAI SOLO, Curly Castro and Moor Mother. "We got all of those people involved because we saw the light in all of those cats," Elucid said of the younger featured acts.[19] The song "Charms" was highlighted in a GQ interview the following year for being a happier, "brighter sounding moment", something they would continue into their next album with multiple songs on Haram even being called "summer songs".[20]
The duo's first collaborative studio album with record producer the Alchemist, Haram, was released in 2021.[21] The record saw many of the collaborators from Shrines return.[20]
In 2023, the duo released their sixth studio album, We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, featuring production from JPEGMAFIA, El-P, Kenny Segal, Messiah Musik, Child Actor, PUDGE, and DJ Haram, among others.
After releasing the single "Super Nintendo" on October 14, the group released their second collaborative album with the Alchemist, Mercy, on November 7 2025.[22] The album has been reviewed favorably by critics.[23][24]
Members
- Billy Woods – vocals
- Elucid – vocals, production
Discography
Studio albums
|
Mixtapes
EPs
Compilation albums
|
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "David Rodigan" | 2014 | Curly Castro | Brody |
| "Fake Surfers 2" | 2015 | Zilla Rocca & The Shadowboxers | Non-album single |
| "The Thousand Headed Man" | 2016 | Willie Green | Doc Savage |
| "Favors Are Bad News" | 2018 | Zilla Rocca | Future Former Rapper |
| "Be Safe" | 2019 | Blockhead | Free Sweatpants |
| "Free Kelly Rowland" | 2020 | Bartees Strange | Live Forever |
| "Shortcuts" | 2021 | Defcee & Messiah Muzik | Trapdoor |
| "Burner Account" | Open Mike Eagle | Component System with the Auto Reverse | |
| "Tabula Rasa" | 2022 | Earl Sweatshirt | Sick! |
| "Rossi" | Defcee & Boathouse | For All Debts Public and Private | |
| "Upper Room" | Akai Solo | Spirit Roaming | |
| "Tokyo Blunts" | Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man | Real Bad Flights | |
| "Tithes" | 2023 | Celestaphone | Paper Cut from the Obit |
| "Compass/SeaMurda" | Ho99o9 | Territory: Turf Talk, Vol. II | |
| "Give Thanks" | Blockhead | The Aux | |
| "Family" | Shapednoise | Absurd Matter | |
| "Native Sun" | Jeff Markey | Sports & Leisure | |
| "Jomon - Preservation Rework" | 2024 | Hatis Noit | Non-album single |
| "Spellcasted Television" | Kenny Segal & K-the-I??? | Genuine Dexterity | |
| "Blood Running High" | Kronos Quartet | Outer Spaceways Incorporated: Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra | |
| "1010WINS" | 2025 | Aesop Rock | Black Hole Superette |
| "Repeater" | Shapednoise | Absurd Matter 2 | |
| "Stenography" | DJ Haram | Beside Myself | |
| "Mondo Cane" | Preservation & Gabe 'Nandez | Sortilège | |
| "Crtx/Vrtx" | Pink Siifu | ONYX'! | |