Two years later, he released a second album with Motown, Kiss Serious that included the hit R&B single "Rainy Night" (#18 R&B) plus "I've Been Watching You" (#43 R&B) and the title track (#53 R&B).
His third album Long Time No See was released on November 18, 1997, to critical acclaim and was preceded by the single "Iggin' Me" which garnered considerable airplay.
A non-album single "Superman" followed and was featured in the 1998 romantic comedy film Woo starring Jada Pinkett Smith and Tommy Davidson.
The lead single "Give You What You Want (Fa Sure)" gave him one of his biggest hits (#71 US, #11 R&B) to date, and had a remix featuring rapper Trina released.
His sixth studio album Addiction was released in July 2009 under Kedar Entertainment Group (since 1997)[3] and included the single "Oh No" which peaked at #76 on the R&B chart.
[8] On April 2, 2020, DeBarge's eldest son, Dontae (born 1984), was murdered in a stabbing incident in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles, California at age 35.
[9] In January 2021, DeBarge was charged with drug possession, DUI and false impersonation after pretending to be his brother James during a traffic stop in Burbank, California.