Mickey Woods Jr. Is Done Wondering When: Interview
Understanding your value does not come easy. It’s a process. Better yet, it’s more of a journey to find your self-worth. Of course, there will be some hills you’ll have to die on but there will also be some hills you’ll make it over.
It’s the feeling of overcoming your adversities and acknowledging your progress that Texas artist, Mickey Woods Jr., bears on his listeners in his new project, 40 Days and 40 Nights. He welcomes us on his path with jazz filled production that includes southern elements that resemble UGK and melodic chords that ooze in resemblance to The Love Below.
Woods' cadences feel like a long drive down a highway, where there is some fog blinding the distance but the soulful supporting vocals accompanied by B. Honey put your mind at ease.
On tracks like “Nomad’s Revenge,” Woods embraces the journey of understanding who he’s becoming.
On tracks like “Pressure,” Woods is embracing the conflicts he overcame which helped shape him into the person he is today.
The lofi production on “Remedy,” feels therapeutic as Woods takes the time out to clear his mind and elaborate on a few thoughts he’s pondered on.
“I know my purpose way fatter than my pockets”
My favorite track off the project is “The Usual.” Those Dilla-ish drums that come on after the 50 second mark strikes my soul every time. It occupies the second to last spot on the project and it sort of feels like a conclusion to Wood’s journey of self-acknowledgement.
I had a chance to chop it up with Mickey Woods Jr. about the album, life in Texas, and the pressure that comes with growing pains.
Our conversation, lightly edited for content and clarity, follows below.
What inspired the sound?
Being big on jazz instrumentation and immersing myself in the southern culture, I wanted my sound to be more polished than everyone else.
Around the start of the project, I was trying to get in numerology a little bit. I kept seeing the number 40 over and over again and being raised in a southern baptist church, it stuck out to me. God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights when Noah was building the arc or when the Israelites were roaming in the jungle before reaching the promised land. The Israelites knew where God wanted them to go but they were making their own path, I feel I am doing the same, finding myself and realizing my purpose.
You have a track called “Nomad’s Revenge.” A nomad is known for being a wanderer and you mention finding yourself, do you believe there’s ever a point where you ever stop finding and learning yourself?
Learning is a process and I feel I could never get to the point where I stop learning. There's a line on “Nomad’s Revenge”...“Lost a fight with fear and now he trying to seek vengeance”
I'm speaking on myself, having battles with fear throughout my life. “Nomads Revenge” is me gaining control over those fears and embracing certain aspects of myself.
I agree, because that's how you become stagnant. Growing up in a small city in Texas, has that experience felt hindering?
Port Arthur, Texas is a small city but it’s not too far from Houston. A Lot of our influences came from Houston. I’m happy I was not sheltered as a kid because my environment taught me how to be an individual. I appreciate the fact that I grew up in a rough place because it taught me how to evaluate situations and people.
What was high school like?
Man, it was weird. I wish I cared more but I only cared about ball and girls... I wish I would’ve taken music more seriously around that time because who knows where I would've been.
When did you start rapping?
In the 10th grade. But, I started to take it more seriously during my sophomore year in college, so around 2012.
How was the support from your family? Was there any conflict with your parents due to your church background?
When I first started, I was sneaking out to go to the studio (laughs.) But, once they found out, there was a lot of support. It’s not like the content I was rapping about was disrespectful but it was the stigma of the church that weighed over me.
You have a great ear, how did you find the beats?
I was living in Houston after I graduated school in 2015, but now I’m in Atlanta. So, I became immersed in their culture. The first person to send me beats was this kid named Tony Dark. He produced the intro and “The Usual.'' There is another guy named Todd Louise, he’s part of the Nice Guys. He produced “For the ISO,” “Nomads Revenge,” and “The Remedy”… a lot of the upbeat shit. I found a few on youtube that provided a different vibe for the project...
I paid this one guy to play horns throughout the whole album.
Who's singing throughout the project?
Her name is B. Honey, she's from H Town.
I love the soft soul element she adds to the project, what made you want to layer her voice over yours?
I really enjoy hearing my voice with a female voice and my engineer would always tell me a female voice over mine would be a nice balance.
How has Texas and Atlanta influenced your sound?
I'm big on giving credit on those who came before me. Big Krit is a big inspiration to me, down to his writing and producing and especially with the way he moves In the industry.
There’s a line on “The Usual” that stood out to me. “I woke up feeling underrated..” Can you elaborate on that?
I have days where I'm on top of the world and there’s moments when I feel low. It's crazy because the people you’re closest to are the last ones you give you your props. I feel I'm underrated because I still haven’t gotten props from the city I'm from.
There is a power struggle of understanding your value and not being happy with where you are throughout the album. On “Fill a Void,” you rap about filling the void of a woman. What other voids are you filling in your life?
I recently got engaged to my girlfriend, actually the day I dropped the project. You know how it is, you have to delegate time for your woman. But, when I'm getting off of work, I just want to get to work on my music. So, time management is constantly something I’m dealing with.
I grew up with the notion of family first but sometimes I get so caught up in the music, it’s hard to find the time. But, I'm working on it.
What inspired “4:09 AM?”
It's the area code of where I'm from. So, it's sorta like paying homage to the people in my city. I wanted to give them something to ride to. I make a lot of my music with that intention.
What’s next for you?
I'm considering releasing an ep that follows the same aesthetic of the album and new content that would get more people to go listen to the album.
What were the last three albums you played?
Blonde by Frank Ocean, every day
Teflon Don by Rick Ross
Before The Deal by GP-45
