Call Me Crazy, But...

Sevyn Streeter has been in the music industry since the early 2000s. She was a member of TG4 (driven by Chris Stokes), and was then part of RichGirl (a Rich Harrison venture), neither of which released an album prior to disbandment. Within a few years of the latter's breakup, she established a songwriting career with work for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland, and Alicia Keys. Working beside Chris Brown, she co-wrote Brown's Hot 100 Top 20 hit "Yeah 3x," as well as "Slower," one of Brandy's best deep cuts. In 2012, Streeter released her debut solo single, while this — her first EP — capped a 2013 in which she placed songs on albums by Rowland, Ariana Grande, Fantasia, and Tamar Braxton. Brief at only seven tracks, Call Me Crazy, But... doesn't stray from the slick and frequently danceable pop-R&B she's been writing for years. It's co-executive produced with Brown, who's also featured on the Diplo co-production "It Won't Stop," one of the EP's handful of effective slow jams. "Sex on the Ceiling" is one of the year's boldest ballads, while "Shattered" slips and slides more seductively despite its sorrow. The assertive and robust "Come on Over," the uptempo highlight, puts her closer to Dawn Richard/K. Michelle territory. A fine first step, this is almost as impressive as her list of songwriting credits.