Michigan native
Dezi Phillips' Tabu debut,
Kickin' It, was produced by
Bernard Terry, whose credits include
Ready for the World's early hits. It's an appealing slice of late-'80s hip-hop-flavored R&B. The tracks picked as singles were up-tempo: "Didn't Do It" and the second single, "Why You Wanna," which charted number 45 R&B in the summer of 1989. The standout cut, though, is the gentle ballad "This Ring for You," which isn't so surprising considering that slow cuts were what initially broke
Ready for the World. Other highlights are "Love You Forever" and "I've Been Watching You," which makes reference to the same-named hit by
Randy Hall. ~ Ed Hogan