Billed as the first half of an “EP” that will actually be full LP if you want to be a jerk about it, this five-songer is a nicely rounded introduction to this multi-ethnic R&B singer, a Berklee dropout (all together now: isn’t everyone?) who’s only been duking it out in the L.A. trenches for two years. It was a fast-moving two years, though, owing to his outgoing personality, which he leveraged to get into a lot of studios and eventually under the wing of Tricky Stewart (producer of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” among others). I usually can’t freaking tolerate bling-pop at all, but this guy’s voice is like a male version of Neneh Cherry’s in a way, lots of sultry but unhurried and deeply genuine smoke wafting off these clever, chill beats, which walk a line between old-school Keith Sweat pining and trip-hop, all with some nice curveballs, including euro-trance, unless I’m hearing things (“Kill Pride”). More than likely you’ve already heard the feel-good home-run single “Purple,” the least daring thing on here. Don’t be surprised if this dude is Stewart’s next Frank Ocean. A  — Eric W. Saeger