Here is the double sixth full-length LP from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada born albeit Compton, California raised emcee Jay Worthy. Coming on my radar in 2017 after The Alchemist produced his debut EP Fantasy Island from prime to backside, he would go onto drop 5 extra EPs & a unbelievable collab album with Larry June known as 2 P’z in a Pod regardless that preliminary plans of placing it out by Griselda Records fell by for no matter motive. Harry Fraud-produced his debut You Take the Credit, We’ll Take the Check & DJ Muggs did the sophomore effort What They Hittin’ 4 to vital acclaim, however the Roc Marciano-produced Nothing Bigger Than the Program was nonetheless good regardless of having too many options & the DāM-FunK produced Magic Hour improved on that as did The Tonite Show 2 fully produced by DJ Fresh final fall. Almost a yr later,Once Upon a Time is lastly arriving with Disc 1 now & Disc 2 in a pair weeks.

After the “Beginning” intro, the primary track “‘96 Big Body” gets the ball rollin’ with a easy ass instrumental recalling the times when he was driving round on this recent whip 3 a long time earlier whereas “The Only 1” that includes Kamaiyah works in a Mobb beat from Cardo addresses those that thought they have been the one pimps round. “For the Homies” that includes & produced by DJ Quik sends a shoutout to all of these of their lives who can’t be right here main into the g-funk heavy “Rekkless” wanting again at his youth.

“Open Minded” instrumentally jogs my memory of one thing The Neptunes would’ve produced within the early/mid 2000s praising his woman for protecting that actual sort of mentality whereas “From the Jump” that includes E-40, Jim Jones & Wiz Khalifa brings the quartet collectively speaking about how lengthy they’ve been placing it down. “Dark Tints” that includes 03 Greedo strips the drums due to Conductor Williams refusing to cease what they began whereas “Famous Players” slickly will get in his pimp bag.

As for “Tides”, we’ve got Jay Worthy on prime of a drumlessly summery beat with lyrics about wanting a lady that he’s by no means even met by his aspect whereas “Bellagio” that includes Conway the Machine charismatically flexes of creating music for the well-known Las Vegas, Nevada lodge of the identical identify. “Choosing Shoes” that includes Boldy James retains the drums out the equation portray imagery of the gangsta life-style whereas “2P’z” that includes Larry June recaptures the aura of their 2022 collab effort.

“True Story” that includes Ty$ begins the ultimate moments of Disc 1 by bearing on some actual life shit over a piano instrumental whereas “The Outcome” that includes Ab-Soul, Dave East & Westside Gunn unites the quartet for a 4 & a half minute barfest accompanied by a sample-heavy beat that The Alchemist cooked up actual realizing that that is the very second the place he & company ought to observe the outcomes.

It’s solely a matter of weeks till Disc 2 of Once Upon a Time sees the sunshine of day, so it’s a bit too early for me to make a last choice relating to my full ideas on the album & will reserve my full opinions for when the opposite portion of the LP comes out so I can assess it as an entire. However, it’s very a lot price nothing that I loved quite a lot of Disc 1 for what it’s from the manufacturing to the prime quality visitor appearances.

Score: TBA/10