billy woods - "Body Of Work" Ft. Roc Marciano & Masai Bey -2012

Earlier this month, billy woods announced an April 10th release date for his forthcoming album, History Will Absolve Me. Along with that announcement came the video for "Headband," a song that won't actually appear on the album, and so, as the release date fast approaches, woods is excited to debut the album's first official single, "Body Of Work," featuring Masai Bey and Roc Marciano.

The track, produced by Willie Green, is one of the earliest that the emcee and beatsmith recorded for the album, snatched up after woods heard Green making the beat live in the studio and had to have it. "The inspiration for 'Body Of Work' comes from chain-gang spirituals," he explains. "All of the verses concern themselves with work, but also with getting older and trying to sum up one's life, for better or worse."

For the concept to work, billy knew he needed some other voices on the song but it couldn't be just anyone. "I knew I needed some older cats on it," notes woods, "Masai is as old-school as it gets and I've been a big fan of Roc since the UN days." Each rapper adds their own personal experiences and perspectives, bringing the track to life with three unique and insightful perspectives. Of his own verse, woods had this to say, "if you are familiar with the land issue in Zimbabwe and South Africa, the content of my verse might be a little clearer but really, there is a universality in there. What is the line between working and stealing, between when you think you deserve and what you have?"