Search - Chico Debarge :: Addiction

ADDICTED TO CHICO DEBARGE

Lecil Wills | 07/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been addicted to the music of the soulful family DeBarge ever since I heard ALL THIS LOVE. And Bobby and El, as far as I was concerned were the undisputed masters of the sophisticated slow jam from the late seventies until the early nineties. No one however ever accused Chico, youngest member of the famed Motown musical dynasty of matching his older siblings writing or singing skills. But what Chico always had was a harder edge and charisma to burn, whether he was begging women to pick up the phone and "Talk to Me," or lay on the bed during a "Rainy Night," this young brother knew how to deliver a song. And eventhough his early promising career was cut short by a drug related prison sentence which forced him out of the game for nearly a decade he came back stronger and hotter than ever with his Prison Epic LONG TIME NO SEE in 1997. I think people embraced it not only because of such commercial gems as "No Guarantee" with Joe and "Love Still Good" but because he was giving the public a healthy dose of adult Reality Music and not catering to the whims of an ever changing youth driven market. It is said that we all live in our own prisons, some that we create ourselves and some that others create for us. Chico tapped into that mind set when he musically exposed the world to his own real confinement. The public not only embraced it but he emerged, since the passing of Bobby and the retirement of El, the standard bearer of his family's musical legacy. Chico follow up project THE GAME in 1999 was just as good musically as LTNS but the story line and compilation about being torn between two lovers during his post prison years was less focused and the public once again began to write him off as a one hit wonder for the second time. His next project FREE in 2003 was even less inspired and seemed to be a rehash of the previous projects. Chico however was never a quitter. He didn't give up the music scene after being sent to prison in 1988 nor did quit after an attempted mafia hit in 2003 (well OK a nightclub stabbing) which sent him on a downward spiral of drug addiction. I was so eager to cope his latest joint that I preordered ADDICTION on Amazon.com along with Joe's and Maxwell's latest CDs, through a special deal. I received it today but have yet to listen to the other two projects because Chico has once again delivered a fantastic collection of songs and melodies, that you simply must listen to over and over again. Eventhough Chico still seems to enjoy discussing relationship problems, continuing to be torn between two lovers, ADDICTION, is a fascinating look into overcoming a poisonous relationship. It's obvious that Chico is exposing his real life problems between his wife and his relationship with the troubled Nona Gaye. But what makes this CD stand out is that Chico delivers nearly a perfect musical compilation with nearly ever song a commercial gem, which the public has not witnessed from him since LONG TIME NO SEE. Hopefully the public will not sleep on such dance jams as "Oh No!" "I Forgot Your Name" "I Want You," and "She Loves Me," nor the slow jams such as his duet with Joe on "Tell Ur Man." The rest of the album contains introspective jams that are beautifully crafted including a musical jazz flavored interlude called "Medication." The brilliant rapper Talib Kweli masterfully lends his skills to Chico's "Math, a clever way of letting everyone and his lover know that you can't count him out. It ends with a knock on the door and a straight up reflection on domestic violence and cops, with the song "Do My Bad Alone," that is too real to believe. ADDICTION even has a spoken prologue like LTNS. We all have addictions and I believe Chico has tapped into this mind set and is musically articulating it as good as he ever has. I love it and I hope it becomes a major success, and gives him the industry honors he so richly deserves. At forty something Chico is proving he has staying power and still giving the public what it wants and what it needs."

OMG, You Go Boy!!!

A. Boykin | Baton Rouge, LA | 07/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have his previous albums Long Time No See & The Game but this one, this one is the ONE! I love Chico's voice its so smooth and when he sings, you can truly feel him. This cd is (for lack of better words) is totally awesome from track 1 all the way through the bonus track by Lylit. This man is very talented and truly blessed & I am so happy that his return to the spotlight is with Addiction. I have only had this cd for 5 hrs and I have listened to it on repeat for about 6 cycles now. Track 4 with he and Joe is simply sick (in the best possible way). I picked this up just a bit after 9am this morning and there were only 3 cd's left on the shelf.



Chico, looks like you will have the strong showing this cd really deserves. Congrats & welcome back!"

Great Album!!!

Avid Reader | USA | 08/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have never really listened to Chico Debarge before but I have to say this album is the bomb! So many of the songs are hits, that I play it over and over again in my car. My favorite song has to be Bad all Do My Bad Alone. Its a mellow track about the end of a very stormy romance. Chico has a mellow groove and a simplicity to his words that make you feel exactly what he is saying. Honorable mentions are Oh No, Math, Slick, I Want You, I Forgot Ur Name, He You and Change. I even loved the prayer. It's obvious that Chico has learned great things from bad experiences and decided to share them with the world thru song. Like I said, I said I have never been a big Chico Debarge fan, but this album is a must for the mellow listener!"