Chase Cross is charting new waters on his Gully Thing EP. The project, which is set for release in New York today, sees the Gullyside act delving deeper into dancehall, a departure from his signature hip hop style.

“Initially, when I started out in the music industry I had a lot of rap and hip-hop influence,” he told Splash. “But I’ve grown since then and this EP is more the dancehall side of Chase Cross. I did this music with a lot a love and passion, because of the love that I have for dancehall, enuh. So I put a whole lot of energy and versatility into it.”

Gully Thing has eight tracks produced by Chase Cross Music and was released on digital platforms three months ago. Singles include the title song produced by Marvoni Records and Satisfied, produced by White Gad Records. The release party will feature performances by acts like his cousin Mavado.

It was just nine years ago that Chase Cross, given name Sameer Coombs, got his break as part of Mavado’s Gullyside Crew, based in Cassava Piece, St Andrew. He stressed that he has grown professionally and wants to be seen as more than “little Chase Cross”.

His breakout single, Better Days, was followed by releases like Can’t Stop Us and Money Me Want featuring Flexx. The latter is the only guest on Gully Thing, on the song Nothing to Something.

Chase Cross was granted bail on June 15, the same day his EP was released online. He was charged by police with assaulting Anthony Goulbourne, a man accused of shooting at Mavado in Cassava Piece on June 2.

According to police, Mavado (given name David Brooks) got in an argument with an individual who left the scene and returned with a group of men, one of whom shot at the deejay, who escaped injury. Mavado, who resides in the United States, has not been in Jamaica since.