“I’m as real as it comes/Don’t wanna see me go off like a gun/Pull the trigger if you’re ready for some,” dares Tesh Carter on “Rebel 2.0”, a sparse, percussion-driven cut from the Toxic EP. The track serves as a sequel to 2022’s collaboration with Blaqbonez, “Rebel”, underlining Carter’s renegade approach to her artistry and refusal to be boxed in by expectation. Having initially introduced herself to the public as a rapper, Toxic moves the multifaceted talent further into the realm of pop and R&B, drenching Afrobeat rhythms in atmospheric, club-leaning production. The mesmerising propulsion of “Lose My Head” and a reimagining of lead single “Monster”—which adds bulk to the mix and a feature from alternative soul star, Tomi Owó—emerge as standouts, but in a tight bundle of just five tracks, the quality margin is so narrow as to be barely perceptible. Toxic is an assured next step for a re-emerging talent dedicated to pushing the boundaries.