West Coast stalwarts Jay Worthy and Dām-Funk release their collaborative album Magic Hour via EMPIRE. Magic Hour captures the essence of funk and West Coast hip-hop from one of the city’s foremost musical emissaries in Dām-Funk and showcases the musical prowess and adaptability of Jay Worthy as one of the most prominent voices and musical forces of the West Coast underground.

 

 

Yesterday, just before the album’s release, the duo released a new video for “San Dimas” featuring G Perico and Honda Carter as Worthy and crew ride out in one of the old-schools from his extensive classic car collection. That follows their previously released singles “Westside,” featuring DRAM, a glowing ode to the coast they hail from and its rich musical tapestry, and “105 West,” featuring fellow Angelenos Channel Tres, Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Quik and A-Trak, named after Southern California’s infamously busy, but integral interstate. “105 West” contains all the bounce and unbothered conviction that has made West Coast rap so recognizable, affirming a shared regional pride across generations with a subsequent nod to the Black and brown cultures that have contributed to one of the most influential genres to date. The single was released following a performance for The Pop Out: Ken & Friends and was accompanied by a video that showcases the featured artists at their Magic Hour event at SoHo House in LA.

 

 

First arriving on the scene in the mid-2010s, Jay Worthy has made a name for himself as “one of the most dependable members of the West Coast underground,” having worked on tracks with artists like The Alchemist, Westside Gunn, Kamaiyah, Harry Fraud, and most recently Roc Marciano on their collaborative album Nothing Bigger Than the Program. Worthy is also an influential musical figure behind the scenes. Beyond being featured on DJ Quik’s new album CHUPACABRA, he also helped A&R the record.

Enter Dām-Funk. Even before signing to Stones Throw in 2008, the DJ and record collector has remained a legend in his own right, keeping the spirit of Boogie and G-Funk alive as the genre’s foremost guardian all the while pushing its boundaries, collaborating with artists like Disclosure, Little Dragon, and spearheading 2023’s Dām-FunK Presents The Music of Grand Theft Auto Online Original Score for Rockstar Games.