Cazawa.biz Network

Booking Hotlist

DJ Booking Hotlist

Chico Debarge Biography

Written by Cazawa.biz

In the last few years, the sound of Black pop has begun turning away from the New Jack Swing elements that have dominated the airwaves since the eighties. Dusting off their parents’ ancient records, the so-called retro-soul generation was suddenly curious about what it would be like to make records without sampling, rappers or repetitious plastic grooves.

Inspired by the genius of the old grooves on vintage Motown, Stax and Philly International Records, the young soul folks on the block are attempting to uplift the genre of rhythm & blues to a new level of musical greatness. Coming from one of the premier families in Motown’s recorded history (the much talented Switch and DeBarge) song stylist/producer Chico DeBarge is blessed to have greatness already flowing through his veins.

On his latest creation Long Time No See, released on the home of neo-classic soul, Kedar Entertainment/Universal Records, Chico takes the listener on a musical journey though his ill Street blues, inner-city woes and the intense love he showers upon the objects of his desires.

"I still carry my brothers’ lessons in my music," says Chico, the youngest member of his famous family in the music game. "Making music makes me happy." In creating his retro-soul concept album, Long Time No See, Chico DeBarge refused to candy-coat his brutal life, revealing the scars and sorrow that went through his head while he was in prison for six years on drug conspiracy charges. "When I was locked-up,” he says, "all I thought about was picking up the pieces of my life. I knew a lot of brothers who got out of jail still representing crime, but I’m a positive person and I just wanted to come out a productive person." Simultaneously street wise and romantic, Long Time No See, opens with Chico walking out of the foul prison into the sunshine of a brand new life, while his old buddies stand outside the gates waiting for him.

Reintroducing himself to the world that he left behind, the Chico DeBarge on Long Time No See is overflowing with wonder, bitterness and erotic notions. Reminiscent of his musical heroes, Marvin Gaye and Danny Hathaway, Chico opens the album with the smooth "Love Still Good," a track that combines the fierce passion of a poet with the realism of a documentary. "This song pays homage to Marvin’s ‘What's Going On,’ but instead of coming home from the war in Vietnam, I was coming home from a different way,” explains Chico.

Collaborating and co-producing "Iggin' Me" with his older brother El DeBarge, Chico states, "El is a genius of innovation, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my older brother. Just like kung-fu studies, El was the master and I was the student, but never once did he try to overshadow me." On the spookily electric "Iggin' Me," Chico is expressing his old girl blues; trying to figure out why she no longer needs him in her life. "I want to hold your hand, want to kiss your lips, I don’t understand,” he swoons. And with El laying the Hammond organ solos down, the song sounds both like a Saturday night knife fight at the Sugar Shack and a Sunday morning sermon. Slow dancing under the motor city moonlight in his hometown of Detroit, "No Guarantee,” co-produced with his brother, is perhaps the most real R&B track recorded in years. Without any Big Willie pretensions or mack daddy dreams, Chico simply breaks down the love that he feels for this woman. "I want to buy you diamonds/as soon as they increase my pay," he says, voice tender.

On "Virgin," a beautiful song with a hint of Brit-jungle in the grooves, Chico proclaims his love, even though the woman’s friends and family think he is just a loser. His remake of Marvin Gaye’s "Trouble Man," is the perfect narrative to Chico’s often hard and painful existence. On the haunting track "Superman," the organ creates a soundscape that incorporates sci-fi soul with lyrics that flex with comic book superhero boasts.

While "Physical Train," a song he wrote while still in prison, is a blues tune with a jazzy upright bass. With Long Time No See, Chico is ready to make a name for himself in his own right. "I signed Chico because of the unique talent he has in arranging his songs, along with the instrumentation that he uses. He breaks from the traditional DeBarge family R&B/pop mode,” says Kedar Massenburg, CEO/President of Kedar Entertainment. "He’s truly talented, and it is now his time to shine.” And on Long Time No See, Chico DeBarge redefines the retro-soul movement, embracing the sounds of yesterday with his very own style.

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Artist Gallery