History Will Absolve Me is the classic full-length album from billy woods, the Zimbabwean-Jamaican-by-way-of-Brooklyn rapper, who delivers a fragmentation grenade of an album. An explosive riot of bitter invective, evocative lyricism and daisycutter beats, History Will Absolve Me is a solid hour of hardboiled anti-nostalgia. The album features guest appearances by established stars like Roc Marciano, Vordul Mega (Cannibal Ox), MarQ Spekt, and Masai Bey, but also features up-and-coming talents Elucid and junclassic. Willie Green, A.M. Breakups, Marmaduke, Nasa (Def Jux/Uncommon Music) and Man Mantis handle the beats and provide a backdrop that matches the intensity of woods’ labyrinthine verses. This original release followed on the heels of Cowardly Threats & Hideous Cruelty mixtape, HWAM was woods’ third official solo album, but with eight years between them, this is less a follow-up to his debut than it is a bare-knuckle epilogue.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that if this album had never dropped, Backwoodz might not be here today.

This version restores the album to it’s intended form by including the Mike Eagle and MarQ Spekt assisted track, “Frozen Sunlight” produced by Willie Green, one of our favorite billy woods collaborations.