YOU TAKE THE CREDIT, WE'LL TAKE THE CHECK – Jay Worthy & Harry Fraud Cook Up a West Coast Classic with East Coast Soul

Fresh off the heels of his smooth and well-received 2 P'z in a Pod collaboration with Larry June, Jay Worthy wastes no time keeping his momentum rolling. Now teaming up with the ever-consistent Harry Fraud, the two return with You Take the Credit, We'll Take the Check, their first joint project since 2020’s Eat When You're Hungry, Sleep When You're Tired. And just like that previous outing, this one feels more like a seamless ride down a sun-drenched highway than a typical rap tape — only now, the speakers are louder, the vibes are richer, and the guest list? Immaculate.

The announcement came just days before its release, creating a buzz that felt like an under-the-radar drop reserved for those truly tapped in. Clocking in at 14 tracks, this project doesn’t just deliver — it glides. With features ranging from underground veterans like Sha Hef and Ramirez, to mainstream-respected names like Conway the Machine, Curren$y, Larry June, MadeinTYO, and Kamaiyah, this album is a West Coast fever dream filtered through an East Coast lens.

Fraud & Worthy: Two Stylists at Their Peak

This is also Harry Fraud’s second major project of the year, following his work on Montega with French Montana — and if that tape showcased Fraud's cinematic beat-making on a grander scale, You Take the Credit… brings things down to a more intimate level. It's Fraud at his most textured and playful.

Whether it’s the G-funk bounce of “Daytons,” the airy, soulful lift of “Tonight,” or the laid-back, synth-slick soundscapes of “Helicopter Homicide” and “Editorials,” Fraud is clearly in a creative zone. He stretches his palette far beyond dusty loops or boom-bap purism. There are shimmering keys, warm guitar licks, chopped vocal samples, and percussion patterns that never stay stagnant — all designed to complement Jay Worthy's cool, conversational flow.

Tracks like “Pacific Coast Highway” and “Almighty” are filled with samples that sound like they were dug straight from crates buried beneath 1970s soul sessions, while “Helicopter Homicide” plays like a night-drive through Malibu with neon lights flickering through the rearview. It’s these textures — those “you-know-it-when-you-hear-it” Fraud choices — that elevate this album far beyond the standard rapper-producer collaboration.

Jay Worthy: Smooth Talker, Street Poet

Jay Worthy’s delivery has always had a unique blend of effortless swagger and gritty realism. On this project, he doubles down on both. There’s a sense of confidence here — not braggadocious, but lived-in. His verses are filled with West Coast cool, street wisdom, and low-key flexes, delivered in a voice that always sounds like he’s telling you something important — even when it’s wrapped in luxury brand references or street slang.

On “Tonight,” he plays with tempo and tone, showing that he's more than a one-speed rapper. Then on “Earth Sky,” he lets loose with a faster flow, keeping things sharp and dynamic. It's this versatility that makes his presence feel so central — he's the anchor of the project, no matter how wild the beat gets or how distinctive the feature is.

A Cast of Characters That Keeps You Guessing

The guest appearances deserve their flowers. Each one brings something distinct to the table. Conway the Machine shows up with his typical surgical precision, slicing through his verse like only he can. Curren$y coasts on his feature, his stoned wisdom and vivid imagery perfectly at home over Fraud’s production. MadeinTYO injects a dose of youthful bounce, while Kamaiyah and Bandgang Lonnie Bands bring unique regional energies that expand the album’s sonic territory.

Perhaps most impressively, none of these features feel out of place. There’s cohesion in the diversity — a clear sign that Fraud and Worthy had a vision for how each voice would play into the broader landscape. Every artist introduces a new energy, a fresh detail — and yet it all remains in the same cinematic universe.

No Skips, No Filler – Just Vibe and Craft

What makes You Take the Credit, We'll Take the Check stand out isn’t just its production or features — it’s how complete it feels. So many projects these days feel like playlists more than albums. But this? This is a full, narrative-driven experience. The transitions are smooth. The pacing is deliberate. There’s an arc here — not necessarily a plot, but a mood that evolves track to track.

You can throw it on front to back and get everything you’d want from a modern rap project: bars, beats, storytelling, and style. You can also study it, dissect the production choices, notice how Fraud switches his sample game to fit the cadence of each feature, or how Worthy subtly changes his voice depending on the vibe of the track.

Final Verdict: A Masterclass in Collaborative Chemistry

You Take the Credit, We'll Take the Check is more than a clever title — it’s a mission statement. Jay Worthy and Harry Fraud have cooked up something special here, something that doesn’t shout for attention but earns it quietly, track after track. It’s confident without being arrogant, smooth without being shallow, and carefully constructed without ever sounding overthought.

In a year already packed with strong rap releases, this one feels like a sleeper hit — the kind of album you recommend to your friends when you want to show them something they haven’t heard a million times. It’s a project that celebrates craft, chemistry, and consistency.

Take the credit? Jay Worthy and Harry Fraud just took the whole damn moment