Artists often release EPs as satisfying stopgaps, appetizers to keep fans satiated before the full-course meal of a studio album. But CHIKA’s WISH YOU WERE (T)HERE is as substantial a release as you’ll hear, both musically and emotionally. A lot has happened since she earned buzz from dropping freestyles online: She earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, released a critically acclaimed debut studio LP, 2023’s SAMSON: THE ALBUM, and even had a day named after her in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. But she’s also been “canceled” on social media, and in May 2024, her father died. In a New Year’s Eve post that year, she said, “goodBYE to the worst year of my life (but thanks for the good parts).” WISH YOU WERE (T)HERE finds CHIKA processing the losses that she’s dealt with in spite of her career success. She’s grateful for all that she’s achieved and to be able to live in Los Angeles, but she also yearns for the familiarity of her life in Montgomery, when loved ones were closer and stakes were lower. “When you’re young, you just wanna be grown. When you’re grown, you just wanna go home,” she muses on the EP’s intro. On “FLOAT,” CHIKA tenderly raps and sings over somber violins, nostalgically revisiting fond memories of worry-free rapping with friends in school hallways and old jobs, contrasting old aspirations of visiting Paris to new lamentations of missing her late father. “WITHDRAWAL” appears to recount the stress from ICU hospital visits in recent years. “MORE IS MORE” unapologetically cites why she deserves the best in life, and “STIMMING” finds her recalling childhood ostracism before confidently encouraging her younger self to be comfortable with who she is. But it isn’t just what she is sharing, but how: CHIKA has dexterous rap flows, a melodious singing voice, and quotables that can dually work as social media captions or private affirmations to get through difficult times.