James Worthy Drops Visuals for Single ‘Tick Tock’ Ft. Big Gipp and Talks About His Musical Journey

The video for “Tick Tock,” the sultry new single from R&B singer and songwriter James Worthy, opens with a stunning aerial shot of a village in the California hills. We’re shown the red-tiled roofs of handsome houses, water cascading into backyard swimming pools, and, as the camera gets a little closer to the ground, the beautiful women who populate the neighborhood. It all seems idyllic. Yet only thirty seconds into the video, one girl surreptitiously slips a powder into the expensive wine glass of her date. Something treacherous is afoot. There’s turbulence beneath all the beauty, and placid and lovely as things might seem, danger is always present.

That could be a visual metaphor for James Worthy’s music. The texture is silky — the artfully muffled beats, softly luminous synthesizer, echoed percussion, and gently melodic bass guitar all conjure an atmosphere of romantic indulgence and late-night seduction. Then there’s the singer himself, who has one of the sweetest pipes to grace contemporary R&B in quite a while. Yet wade a little further into Worthy’s sound, and the deadly undercurrents become apparent. This is deep, unplumbable music, music that tugs and whispers and intoxicates, and once it’s got you, it doesn’t let go.

All of those qualities lurked in the grooves of “In The Dark,” James Worthy’s dream-shadowed April 2021 single. That track — which has now been streamed more than two million times — was so gorgeous and so immersive that the pain and psychic destabilization at the heart of the song was easy to miss. On “Tick Tock,” he’s taking no chances. He’s joined forces with one of the straightest talkers in hip-hop: the reliably incisive Big Gipp of the legendary Atlanta rap crew Goodie Mob. On Goodie Mob’s classic records, Big Gipp was always the rhymer who cut to the chase and delivered the brutal truths in unsparing, epigrammatic couplets. He’s brought that same energy and talents to “Tick Tock,” and his verse is a tough, muscular counterpoint to James Worthy’s winsome singing.

Gipp and Worthy are both powerful, magnetic presences in the endlessly rewatchable narrative clip for “Tick Tock,” which, despite its pretty veneer, pulses with trouble and drama. Despite all the beauty, this is the story of a robbery and an erotic liaison that isn’t what it seems. In the end, even the thieves are betrayed by their emotions and ambitions. The “Tick Tock” clip is also a stark reminder that sunny days aren’t any safeguard against deception — and prettiness is, all too often, a cover for nefarious activities.

How would you describe your sound? How has it developed through the years?

I would describe it as Soulful, Eclectic, Smooth, & Relatable. It has definitely evolved through the years with experimenting, and trying new ways of creating. Also in my writing style as well.

How did COVID-19 shape your artistry? Did the pandemic harm or encourage your creativity?

Actually it made me more creative. I’ve had more time to create and develop a new direction that I’ve always wanted to do. It also helped me figure out the things that I wanted to talk about lyrically in my music which is important to me.

When did you first break into the music industry? What are some of your biggest accomplishments to date?

I officially broke into the industry in 2010 as a music producer, and songwriter. I later transitioned into a recording artist years later. I’ve been blessed to have worked with many mainstream, and independent acts whose work I admire a lot. To name a few: Justin Bieber, Bobby Brown, J. Holiday, PM Dawn, Robin S, Whodini, Future, and so many others.

What is your process when it comes to creating a new hit song? Where do you find inspiration? How do you come up with its narrative?

There really isn’t a specific process. I go off of how I feel, and what comes to me naturally. Whatever situation, inspiration, or thought that pops up I create from those things. When actually creating I do find myself starting with melodies then creating the layers around it to build it up. The song concept or lyrics usually come towards the end.

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations? Why?

Many to name but: A Tribe Called Quest, Whodini, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Miguel. Just to name a few. They all have distinctive sounds which I truly admire.

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Tags: Big Gipp, James Worthy, Tick Tock

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.