Choker is an upcoming 23-year-old rapper from Michigan and this new release has him slated to become a household name in the R&B scene.

If you are a fan of Frank Ocean, JPEGMAFIA, Kevin Abstract, Tierra Whack, or Anderson Paak, Dog Candy will surely find its way into your playlists any day now.

Last year he released his second album, Honeybloom, which featured a widely colorful set of fantastically produced songs with beautiful instrumentation, memorable transitions, and great lyrics. Choker smoothly flowed between rapping and singing, building an environment around him that gives every track on the album a unique feel.

His recent EP, Dog Candy, features three packed songs featuring fantastic production, variation of flow, and great flow. The EP shows that Choker continues to grow as an artist and reinvent his style.

The first song on the EP, “Dualshock,” begins with choir-like, heavenly bursts of sound that grow in intensity, transitioning into a smooth stage of serenity. Choker has intimate vocals reflecting two sides in an unstable relationship. He plays each side using pitch tones that sound super similar to Frank Ocean on “Nikes” from Blonde.

The song escalates in the middle with the overall beat structure and intensity but remains its soft, intimate sound amidst the exciting background. The song ends with more soulful, introspective lyrics encapsulating his internal conflicts and finding meaning in the world.

“Master P” is the second song and my personal favorite on the EP. It features cold-cutting, clean rap flows in between catchy, Anderson Paak jazz-like choruses. Once again, the song brings back nostalgia stemming from strong Frank Ocean parallels during the rap verses.

The third and final track, “Kiko,” is the most erratic yet finely tuned song on the EP. He constructs wild flows that keep your ears on the edge of your headphones. He strings the verse together with two chorus that set a dreamy, imaginative land into the psyche of Choker.

This EP is an indication that Choker is on the rise and he will continue to perfect his style and dive deeper into what his sound can be. For those who enjoy hip-hop, R&B,  or even just beautiful production, I bet Choker will be a great addition to your daily rotation.

Check out the music video for his track “Dualshock” below:

Nick Bishop is a Cal Poly computer science junior and a KCPR staff member. He wrote the article. Image credit to Choker.