E L U C I D

New York rapper and producer Elucid (often stylized as E L U C I D) makes raw, futuristic avant-garde hip-hop, both as a solo artist and as part of several collaborative projects, most notably Armand Hammer, his acclaimed duo with billy woods. His unconventional, abstract productions take influence from genres such as free jazz, industrial, noise, and Indian classical music, while his writing style is inspired by poets and activists like Amiri Baraka and Audre Lorde. Elucid's lyrics often focus on global struggles and the bleakness of the sociopolitical climate, yet he remains determined and hopeful. He emerged with several mixtapes during the 2000s, and formed the duos Cult Favorite (with A.M. Breakups) and Armand Hammer early in the following decade. His proper solo debut, Save Yourself, was issued by woods' Backwoodz Studios in 2016. He also formed projects with R.A.P. Ferreira (Nostrum Grocers) and the Lasso (Small Bills), composed a film score (2017's Bernadette), and released experimental works on the PTP imprint, including 2020's SEERSHIP! I Told Bessie, one of Elucid's most reflective efforts, appeared in 2022, and he focused more on live instrumentation with 2024's Revelator.

Chaz Hall was born in Queens and raised in Long Island; both of his parents were musicians. He released a few mixtapes as Elucid during the 2000s, including 2007's Smash & Grab, and guested on recordings by underground hip-hop acts like J*DaVeY and Tanya Morgan, additionally participating in the supergroup the Lessondary. Elucid became more interested in rapping over experimental soundscapes than throwback boom-bap, and he branched out with his solo releases and collaborative projects. He formed Cult Favorite with producer A.M. Breakups, and their LP For Madmen Only appeared on Reservoir Sound in 2013. Additionally, Hall and billy woods formed the prolific partnership Armand Hammer, which released several albums on Backwoodz Studios, beginning with 2013's Race Music. Elucid's first proper solo effort for Backwoodz, Save Yourself, appeared in 2016. Two experimental releases, Valley of Grace and Horse Latitude, as well as the soundtrack to the short film Bernadette, all appeared in 2017. Elucid and R.A.P. Ferreira (then known as Milo) released a self-titled 2018 effort as Nostrum Grocers. No Edge Ups in Uganda, a collaboration with Haj of Dumhi, was issued by Red Lotus Klan. The mixtape Every Egg I Cracked Today Was Double Yolked and a remastered edition of Shit Don't Rhyme No More (previously a tour-only release) both appeared in 2019.

By 2020, Armand Hammer had begun receiving major critical praise, and their album Shrines included guests such as Earl Sweatshirt, Moor Mother, and Quelle Chris. Elucid released the experimental work SEERSHIP! on the PTP label, and collaborated with Andy Caitlin (aka the Lasso) as the duo Small Bills, releasing Don't Play It Straight on Mello Music Group. Dirtee Deacon (In T.S.O.Pea), a full-length with Tanya Morgan's Von Pea, appeared in 2021, while Armand Hammer released the Alchemist-produced Haram. In 2022, Elucid issued I Told Bessie, an album dedicated to his late paternal grandmother, Bessie Hall, who was a major presence in his life until her passing in 2017. Elucid ended the year with the experimental release BRB Gotta Charge My Toothbrush.

2023 marked the return of Cult Favorite with Sway, Masses, while Armand Hammer released We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, their first album in a partnership with Fat Possum Records, with producers including El-P, JPEGMAFIA, Black Noi$e, and DJ Haram. Elucid's own first effort for Fat Possum, Revelator, appeared in 2024. Like We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, the album featured more live instrumentation than past releases. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi