Jay Worthy – Once Upon A Time 2 [Album Stream]
“Once Upon A Time 2” is the second swing of a double-album idea that actually sticks the landing.
It’s the victory lap after “Once Upon A Time” set the table two weeks earlier—same clean curation, wider reach. Sixteen tracks in 43 minutes, released October 10, 2025 on GDF/EMPIRE: tight runtime, big cast, no wasted space.
The guest list is the story and the seasoning. “Jive 95” throws Spice 1 and Bun B on the same record without forcing the chemistry; “Daytons” brings Mack 10 back into the frame; “Escape From LA” loops in Jay 305 and B-Legit; “The Jump” yokes Wiz Khalifa and OhGeesy for a quick hit; “Sake” slides with Curren$y; “P Funkentelechy” lands George Clinton and Leven Kali; “Angel Dust” gives Thundercat space to color; and the closer “Act 2: The End” calls back to the Disc 1 opener by pairing Worthy with Freeway Rick Ross again. It reads like a map of the world Worthy moves in, not a features dump.
Production is the other through-line. Sean House and DJ Muggs give the music its backbone; Terrace Martin shows up late with “Runnin Outta Time” and you can hear the polish immediately. Even when a newer name steps in—“Jive 95” is credited to Nvrhrdxf—the mix stays roomy, the drums hit clean, and the bass leaves enough oxygen for Worthy’s pocket talk to work. The result is cruise-ready West Coast music that respects space.
Worthy’s role is curator and tone-setter. He doesn’t chase spectacle; he picks beats that move, lines up the right voices, and keeps the verses conversational but sharp. The sequencing helps: momentum builds through the Mack 10/B-Legit run, crests with George Clinton’s funk wink, and settles into the Terrace Martin closer. Taken with Disc 1, the bookends (“Act 1: The Beginning” → “Act 2: The End”) give the whole two-part release a simple frame that actually feels earned.
Standouts? “Jive 95” for the pure OG handshake, “Sake” for the glide, “The Jump” for instant replay, “Bix In The Morning” for Ice-T’s voice of god, and “Angel Dust” for the left-field texture. If you’re here for Worthy’s ear more than fireworks, this is the better half of a strong one-two. It’s coherent, it knocks, and it knows exactly what lane it’s in.
“Once Upon A Time 2” isn’t a reinvention; it’s proof of concept. Worthy’s taste does the heavy lifting, and the circle he keeps brings it home.
Take a listen below and keep scrolling for the visual to “Jive 95”.
