Alright, so I will admit, I’m biased. I have a HUGE slight obession with Phonte from the critically acclaimed group Little Brother. I can’t help it, I love him. He is one of the best rappers in the game today. And on top of that he has a comedic side (See “The Story of U.S.” album–maybe I’ll post it one day). AND on top of ALL that, this man SAINGS!
**Falls out and starts speaking in tongues**
Let me compose myself…
Aight, so back in 2002 Phonte and producer Nicolay, “Connected” on famed website Okayplayer. They began to exchange music back and forth. Next thing you know, they had an album…and a name: The Foreign Exchange:
Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange came together via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, “Connected,” was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ’s such as Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica.
Click album cover to download...
“Leave It All Behind” finds The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay has since become a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. The duo’s second full-length is a dark, multilayered affair that features Phonte showcasing his abilities as an exceptional lead and harmony vocalist, while Nicolay extends his musical palette to include sprinklings of jazz, downtempo, and house. The lush, Darien Brockington-assisted “Take Off the Blues” picks up where Connected’s sleeper hit “Come Around” left off, while the complex polyrhythms and dreamy synthesizers of “Sweeter Than You” are described by Phonte as “swing jazz for the next century.” Marc Mac (of legendary UK production team 4hero), also contributes a string arrangement to the duo’s glorious cover of Stevie Wonder’s oft-forgotten 1991 gem, “If She Breaks Your Heart.”
Click album cover to download
Hey I always have to deliver the goods. If you are not familiar with these cats and love the sounds of Dwele, Bilal, Eric Roberson mixed with a little Coldplay…this is the album for you! Definitely a great album to play on Sundays when you are cleaning…REAL SMOOTH!
If you are still not convinced, check out the video for The Foreign Exchange’s first single “Daykeeper” featuring Muhsinah:
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