The EP will “bridge the gap” until the release of her debut album.

Speaking with Rap-Up TV, the rising R&B talent announced plans to release the Sailed Out EP in advance of Souled Out, her first full-length effort since 2011’s Sailing Soul(s) mixtape.

Rather than leaving some of the album’s 20 recorded tracks on the cutting room floor, Aiko decided to release an EP. “Sail Out has a lot of the hip-hop/rap influence on it, even with the beats,” she says. “It’s something you wanna put in your car; it’s perfect for the summer time.”

The EP will feature Black Hippies Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul, along with ubiquitous rappers Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean. Lamar previously appeared on Aiko’s ‘Growing Apart Too’, and the singer describes this new collaboration, ‘Stay Ready’, as a “Janet Jackson, real sexy type of song.” Taking cues from Ciara and Nicki Minaj, Aiko’s rap altar ego J. Hennessey will also make an appearance.

While there are no release dates for either the EP or the LP, you can watch an acoustic performance of ‘Bed Peace’ below, also via Rap-up.