Foreign Exchange - Connected...

Orizio

So has anyone heard this album?

For those who don't know, this is a collab album between Phonte of Little Brother and a Dutch producer named Nicolay.The story goes that Phonte heard some of Nicolay's stuff on OkayPlayer and they started working together, making the album without meeting each other in person or talking on the phone.

Nicolay's style is very distinctive, about as far as I can go describing is saying its 'neo-soul'.In general it doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard, has a really smooth and dreamy feel to it.Phonte rides the beats perfectly and brings those catchy and brilliant Little Brother hooks to the project.The Justus League is also out in force, with Pooh, D-Brock,Yehzorah,Median etc all on it.

Its just an incredible album, one of the best this decade from an underground point of year."Von Sees", "Raw Life", "Lets Move", "All That You Are", "Be Alright" are all brilliant tracks, and there really isn't anything weak on it.As a warning its very much a mixed Hip-Hop/Soul album...

Jay Ru

yeah, its been one of my favorite albums for a while now. its a cool how these 2 got together and put the album out. their first project was a track called "light it up" its on the b side of little brothers "whatever you say", its easily me favourite colabo between nilocay and phonte.

if u like the foriegn exchange album u shud check out his new album "here" which is out on bbe records, he also released an instrumental album called "city light" on the same label and theres a comp album out there called "nicolay presents the dutch master" which features remix's of some the foreign exchange and little brother tunes plus a couple of original tracks from some artists close to nicolay. its well worth checking out, i got my copy off itunes.

Orizio

Jay Ru wrote:

yeah, its been one of my favorite albums for a while now. its a cool how these 2 got together and put the album out. their first project was a track called "light it up" its on the b side of little brothers "whatever you say", its easily me favourite colabo between nilocay and phonte.

if u like the foriegn exchange album u shud check out his new album "here" which is out on bbe records, he also released an instrumental album called "city light" on the same label and theres a comp album out there called "nicolay presents the dutch master" which features remix's of some the foreign exchange and little brother tunes plus a couple of original tracks from some artists close to nicolay. its well worth checking out, i got my copy off itunes.

Yeah I've ordered 'Here'.Cheers for the info.Didn't he do some work with Cesar Comanche and other members of the Justus League?

I found Yehzorah(sp?) particurly brilliant on the album.Hope she drops something...

I heard Foreign Exchange part 2 is on the way in 2007 as well.

Jay Ru

nice, can't wait to hear that. nicolay's production is top class, can't get enuff of his music. u shud check out that other album i mentioned man, theres some very good tracks on it ie. gridlock'd fams "hold me down" that track alone is worth the 9.99 the whole album cost me on itunes

as far as i know he's done a few tracks with the rest of the justus league and don't quote me on this but i think he produced one track on big pooh's solo album "sleepers" (yet another purchase off itunes)

I found Yehzorah(sp?) particurly brilliant on the album.Hope she drops something...

yeah she's got a real distinct voice, for me though the best tune on the album is nic's groove, the remix on the promo e.p. its **** hot too.

Orizio

Yeah its scheduled for Summer 2007, but Little Brother are dropping an album around the same time so things might get re-arranged.

TBH anything associated with Phonte and his ilk tends to be absolute quality.They seem to be holding Hip-Hop together at times.

Jay Ru

i fell in love with the little brother sound as soon as i heard the first track, they reminded me of an early a.t.c.q. 9th wonders production was like a breath of fresh air. they never fail to deliever whether its an group album, solo r just a colabo. i got me hands on a copy of the promo e.p. from jazzy jeff's new album and theres a l.b. track on it. nice little mid tempo number with phonte singin and rapping with big pooh. the rest of the e.p. is pretty good (features, rhymefest, cl smooth and raheem devaughn)

getting back on topic, i'm a little bit nervous bout the new l.b. album though, 9th wonder won't feature as much on the production end, it does mean theres a chance nicolay will make the album, but i really hope they dont do a j5 and get someone like scott storch in.:mad:

Orizio

Jay Ru wrote:

i fell in love with the little brother sound as soon as i heard the first track, they reminded me of an early a.t.c.q. 9th wonders production was like a breath of fresh air. they never fail to deliever whether its an group album, solo r just a colabo. i got me hands on a copy of the promo e.p. from jazzy jeff's new album and theres a l.b. track on it. nice little mid tempo number with phonte singin and rapping with big pooh. the rest of the e.p. is pretty good (features, rhymefest, cl smooth and raheem devaughn)

getting back on topic, i'm a little bit nervous bout the new l.b. album though, 9th wonder won't feature as much on the production end, it does mean theres a chance nicolay will make the album, but i really hope they dont do a j5 and get someone like scott storch in.:mad:

I'm not really worried about the LB album.For one thing, 9th hasn't been in top form all year.As well as that, if they choose Khrysis,Ill Mind and Nicolay with a few 9th tracks on production then I don't see a problem.It depends who they work with, its dangerous if they try to make the same album again and again.

Jay Ru

kev brown might get a look in to. his album is worth checking out too. its called "i do what i do"