There's a not-so-big secret hidden in Brooklyn. Chances are, unless you walked alongside her on campus during her years as a Prairie View A&M Panther, reside in the New York/Brooklyn area, caught her stand-out appearance on Solange Knowles' record label compilation, or follow her on Twitter, Jade de la Fleur has flown under your radar. For my own part, it was a chance spotting of Jade's single, "Brown Box," in a random email that put me up on game. Little was I to know that "Brown Box" was just the first step in the process of the creation of Jaded, de la Fleur's debut EP. Hidden beneath the Louisiana-born, Houston-bred, and now Brooklyn-based brown skin beauty's captivating good looks is a voice that'll have you stopping in traffic mid-drive and turning up your radio. And the only thing you may find yourself "jaded" about while listening to the songbird's EP is that it took you so long to find it. Jaded the project is nine tracks infused with emotional rollercoasters, jazz-inspired scatting accompanied by pianos that break silence, love songs told in a soothing voice, and old school inspiration. The title track, which first found life on the aforementioned Solange Knowles Saint Heron, is breathtaking. "Freedom" is smooth and subtle, as Jade croons over an instrumental clearly inspired by Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." And while a cosign from hook- killer/songwriter James Fauntleroy on the radio-ready "Smokin in My Car" is a boost for de la Fleur's recognition, it's not needed to make Jade noticeable - it merely adds luster to a star that is already shining brightly. Jaded is an essential addition to any R&B head's collection, limited on features (Fauntleroy, Kafele Bandele, and D.A. of Chester French) and solid from start to finish. Guess the secret's out in 2014. Don't believe us? Just watch- err, listen below and cop accordingly.