AMG Review of Long Time No See

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Chico DeBarge spent much of the late '80s and early '90s in jail after being convicted for trafficking cocaine, which meant it took a full 11 years for him to return with his second album, Long Time No See. DeBarge tries desperately to fit into the trends of the '90s, adding street-level, bass-heavy rhythms and hip-hop beats to his productions. He hasn't abandoned urban soul -- many of the songs remain smooth, sleek love ballads, and those are the ones that see DeBarge at his best.