Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Kristinia DeBarge

Kristinia DeBarge’s debut album Exposed dropped this week. Does James DeBarge’s 19-year-old daughter live up to the family name? Find out below.

Entertainment Weekly: Exposed’s airy, girlish pop—especially cotton-candy Casio grooves like “Future Love” and “Died in Your Eyes”—mostly recalls the female stars of her dad’s era: Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Paula Abdul, and (coincidence?) Exposé. B

Rolling Stone: On her Babyface-assisted debut, this 19-year-old nearly pulls a hamstring striving for the emotive power of Rihanna or Christina. But she’s most fun riding lilting, girly R&B not so different from her dad James’ tunes in 1980s group DeBarge. 3 out of 5

Los Angeles Times: She’s best in two tracks co-written by another savvy recycler, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic: “Future Love,” originally recorded last year by the ill-fated boy band Varsity Fanclub, and “Speak Up,” which Tedder also produced in his signature emo-soul style (think of Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love”). Neither is shocking; both are awesome. 2.5 out of 4

Newsday: Exposed really does unveil DeBarge, who’s set to open for Britney Spears this fall, as a complete package and a music marketer’s dream—a teenager who can sing grown-up songs and make them feel young, and feel comfortable with everything from hip-hop to Celine Dion ballads. B+

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Future Love,” “Goodbye,” “Sabotage”

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11 Comments

dee
July 29th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
quick question for rap-up, is this site ran by one person?

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An0thrDream
July 29th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
she’s gonna blow up when she goes on tour with Ciara and Britney Spears this fall

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Vaun
July 29th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
She can actually sing, she just needs to work on her performances and her vocals a little..Great Album

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bass_man
July 29th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
“emotive power of Rihanna” …? eh. I see it.

But, there are some nice cuts on the album.

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Giselle
July 29th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
She definitely has potential. I’ll check the album out.

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thedevil
July 29th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
she can sing? LOL the definition of studio singer! pray that you will never have to hear her sing live without playback and backup singers. I won’t even check this crap, the 1st single speaks volumes. labels act like there’s no real talent out there…amazing…

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javonscott
July 29th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
i LIKE “goodbye” but ALL THE SONGS ON THE ALBUM SOUND THE SAME..

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goons
July 30th, 2009 at 1:34 am
i love kristina.. she is the next big thing to explode in the pop world..she does not have the best vioce but pop is not about singing anyways..like someone said, she is a marketers dreams and is a beauty..fresh faced and already has an endorsement with baby phat..not bad for somene who just had one sigle goodbye..

i want her to hook up with cb though, i think they would make a cute couple..just my thoughts!!!

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BP86
July 30th, 2009 at 7:46 am
I must be honest, I’m not feeling her all that much… Future Love is amazing, but I have the Varsity Fanclub version (the original), it’s just better in my opinion.

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SJR
July 30th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I bought her album & I thought all of the songs
were good. It took me awhile to buy her album cuz I was debating on whether it was worth it. Well I took that chance & know i’m satisfied with what I heard. The only thing I would like for her to do is dance a lil more. If she is goin to be touring with Britney & Ciara she better bringing it.

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ANT
July 30th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Kristinia is Fresh, she just needs to improve her-self on her Performance but in time she will. But the thing is i think she doesnt know what to do right now, either she should show she can dance or the fact is can really sing. I’m pretty sure she’s both, and she has a amazing voice, prolly more in the future she’ll show it off with great 1# ballads. Oh and also i guess she doesn’t want to be one or the other, she just wants to be a great Performer. The Cd overall was good, i disagree that the tracks sound the same because they really don’t. My favorite track is “disconnect” it’s raw and seems to tell how the relationship out-grown from eachother but you wish it would work, something thats going on in my life at this moment. I’m a big fan of Kristinia, the family group Debarge were prolly good but i’m pretty sure she wants to make a name for her self. I just can’t wait to see her grow in her music in the future. I LOVE YOU KRISTINIA! YOU ROCK!

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