Armand Hammer: The Abstract Hip-Hop Duo

Armand Hammer is the critically acclaimed experimental hip-hop duo of New York-based rappers and producers billy woods and Elucid. Formed in 2013, the pair has built a formidable reputation for dense, poetic lyricism and avant-garde production, releasing a string of lauded albums on labels like Backwoodz Studioz and Fat Possum. Their 2023 album We Buy Diabetic Test Strips marked a commercial peak, debuting on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and solidifying their status as underground innovators.

Early career

The duo's origins trace to the long-standing independent hip-hop scene in New York. billy woods, known for his abstract and politically charged solo work, and Elucid, a fellow Brooklynite with a similarly gritty and surreal style, began collaborating in the early 2010s. They officially formed Armand Hammer and released their debut album, Race Music, in 2013 on the Backwoodz Studioz label, immediately establishing a dark, challenging sound.

Breakthrough

Armand Hammer's breakthrough to a wider audience accelerated with their 2018 album Paraffin, which featured production from legendary beatmaker The Alchemist. Critical acclaim grew substantially with 2020's Shrines and 2021's Haram, a full-length collaboration with producer The Alchemist that was named among the year's best by numerous publications. Their 2023 album We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, released via Fat Possum, became their first to chart, appearing on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.

Key tracks

Chicharrones — This early track from Race Music showcases the duo's raw, confrontational dynamic and established their foundational sound.

Fuhrman Tapes — A standout from Paraffin, its claustrophobic beat and intricate verses highlighted their evolved chemistry and thematic depth.

Stonefruit — Featuring guest verses from peers, this track from Haram exemplifies their collaborative spirit within the experimental rap scene.

Woke Up and Asked Siri How I'm Gonna Die — The lead single from We Buy Diabetic Test Strips demonstrated their continued refinement of abstract concepts into compelling music.

Their later work continues to push boundaries, with both members maintaining prolific solo careers that feed back into the duo's creative process. They have collaborated with a who's who of alternative hip-hop, including producers like JPEGMAFIA and artists like Pink Siifu, further cementing their central node in the genre's network.

Fans of Armand Hammer's dense, sample-heavy style often seek out similar artists. billy woods is one half of the duo and his solo work expands on similar thematic and musical landscapes. MIKE operates with a comparably lo-fi, introspective, and lyrically complex approach to hip-hop. Navy Blue shares a commitment to poetic vulnerability and atmospheric, jazz-influenced production. Ka delivers a similarly minimalist and philosophically weighty style of rap from the same New York underground milieu.

The challenging and thought-provoking music of Armand Hammer has earned regular rotation on specialist radio. Their tracks are featured on independent music radio stations and online radio streams dedicated to avant-garde hip-hop and left-field beats, where listeners seek music beyond the mainstream.

You can discover the discography of Armand Hammer, from Race Music to We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, through dedicated radio stations available on onairium.com. Tune in to hear their groundbreaking take on abstract hip-hop alongside other visionary artists shaping the sound of modern rap.