REVIEW: Armand Hammer @ Arts at Amory 9/23
Photo Credit: Edwina Hay
Review by Yassin Mokbel
When duo Armand Hammer took the stage at Arts at the Armory last night, rapper billy woods had a few comments on the weather.
“It’s good to be in the Northeast during the fall,” the New York-based artist said. “It feels real good when you put that hoodie on.”
Woods and his counterpart Elucid, who released their first project together in 2013 and have remained bastions of the underground since, like to keep it simple. They arrived at their small venue concert in everyday outfits and performed in front of a screen that plainly read “Armand Hammer.” After 13 years together, and even longer solo careers, touring is a regular job for them, the artist equivalent of a 9-to-5. They show up to a city, appreciate the weather and rock a set for an audience of hardcore fans.
While Armand Hammer shy away from the glitz and glamor of performance, don’t let their lack of showmanship fool you into thinking they don’t care. After an electrifying opening set from labelmates ShrapKnel, the two kicked off with tracks from their last album, 2025’s “Mercy.” The duo’s contrasting synergy, which really came through on that record, seamlessly translated to the stage. Woods raps every verse like it’s his last, his breath exhausted and his emotions palpable in each word. Meanwhile, Elucid is more carefree and melodic in his delivery, allowing himself to easily flow through his performance. On songs like “Laraaji” and “Scandinavia,” where the two rapidly exchange back-and-forth verses, this duality is especially effective.
The rest of the set showcased a mix of throwbacks, deep cuts, and the duo’s biggest songs, alternating between solo and collaborative tracks, occasionally interrupted by troubleshooting audio issues. Amidst the set, it was easy to tell which songs resonated more with the audience. The harder-hitting instrumentals of “Misery” or “Rehearse With Ornette” certainly worked better in a live setting, while the spacier, more sparse “The Flexible Unreliability of Time & Memory” and “Waterproof Mascara” did seem to slow down the show’s momentum, even if undeniably impressive performances. Their mix of solo and duo songs was also appreciated, but it felt like a missed opportunity to not perform more collaboratively, as those moments were easily the highlight of the show.
Despite slight clunkiness in the setlist’s flow, when Armand Hammer hit their stride, they proved why they’ve been staples in the hip hop scene for so long. The ability to spit complex, high-concept verses, littered with historical references and double meanings, is unparalleled. When combined with a killer hook and beat, like on “Black Sunlight” or “Super Nintendo,” it makes for a masterful performance. Even if there’s a lack of catchiness in their discography, you can still feel a high level of audience engagement and appreciation on tracks like “Falling Out the Sky” or “Stonefruit.” The latter, which closed the show, generated the loudest moment of the night.
After the duo wrapped up their just-over-an-hour-long “no breaks” set at around 10:15 p.m., they made their way to the merch table, where they personally signed memorabilia from the audience, an act that underscored their humanity and dedication to the art. What woods and Elucid perhaps lack in theatrical flair, they make up for with a genuine connection to the fans. Their extensive experience as artists hasn’t stopped them from taking a moment to talk to everyone who comes to their show. After all, apart from the occupation, what makes them that different from us? They put their head down, do their work and when the weather gets a little cold and it feels like home, they look forward to putting on that hoodie and getting comfortable.