Track Listing

1. Title Theme
2. Von Sees
3. Raw Life
4. Hustle Hustle
5. Let's Move
6. Nic's Groove
7. Be Allright
8. Sincere
9. Brave New World
10. The Answer
11. Come Around
12. Happiness
13. End Theme
14. All That You Are
15. Be All Right Remix
16. Call
17. Downtime Remix

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5327 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Album Description
The Foreign Exchange first "met" in mid-2002, when Phonte (who resides in North Carolina and is also a member of the underground rap trio Little Brother), heard some of Nicolay’s music online and asked to rhyme over one of his tracks. When Big Pooh of Little Brother, lent his vocals to the track, the song became "Light It Up," and was featured as a B-side single for the group’s acclaimed 2003 effort, The Listening. "Nic was sending me some of the most beautiful stuff I’d ever heard in my life," Phonte says emphatically. "They inspired me so much that I just had to do something over them." The end result is Connected, a gorgeous and reflective blend of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic soul.

While Phonte serves as the duo’s main vocalist, the group is quick to point out that Connected is not a "Phonte solo album," and is instead an ensemble record with Nicolay and Phonte acting as the project’s conductors. With guest shots from up and comers Critically Acclaimed on the churchy, organ-driven "Hustle, Hustle," and neo-soul songstress Yahzarah contemplating lost love over the melancholy vocal harmonies of "Sincere," Connected finds Nicolay and his multi-talented counterpart uniting artists from different genres under a united theme of good music.

Amazon.com
As cliché as it sounds, music does have the ability to bring people of various background and ethnicities together. Think not? Witness Connected, the debut album from the Foreign Exchange. North Carolina-raised MC Phonte, one-third of Little Brother, and Dutch producer Nicolay formed the duo and crafted the ethereally lush hip-hop album without ever meeting face-to-face. Using the marvels of modern technology, the group traded verses and tracks over the Internet. The result is anything but mechanical. Nicolay crafts soulful, intricate backdrops that draw comparisons to producers Pete Rock and Kanye West. On the appropriately titled "Nic's Groove," the producer crafts a pitch-perfect midtempo track over which Phonte and Little Brother cohort Big Pooh trade verses. Phonte also enlists a host of upcoming artists to guest on the set. The group's MC teams with newcomer Median on the emotional "Be Alright." While Median holds his own, Phonte is in full command with a personal lyric about dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life. Meanwhile, "Sincere," which features R&B songstress YahZarah, will have listeners falling in love with hip-hop and each other all over again. Connected is a prime example of the power of good music uniting different worlds. Maybe our elected officials could take a page out of the book of the Foreign Exchange. --Lincoln Smith

Customer Reviews

Vintage Classic Review: Nicolay and Phonte will have you connected to this album!
Phonte's first solo project finds him hooking up with producer Nicolay to give you a soulful side of the LB lyrisist. In this album you find that Nicolay's production has dramatically stepped up from his instrumental project "City Lights Vol 1". Though Phonte toned his aggresive flow down a notch, his delivery match pretty well with Nicolay's production and the result, another classic from Justus League's finest! This was great album all the way around, even the album cover itself is one of the most grabbing in recent memory. "Von Sees" introduces the album on a mellow whirlwind sounds and heavy drums followed by the most aggressive and biggest highlights of the album "Raw Life" featuring Joe Scudda provides rough lyrics and the most ultrasounding production you immediately become hook.

There are also solid highlights like "Brave New World", "Be Allright" , and wickedly produced "All that You Are" keeps the album consistent with conscious flow and just songs you can just lay back and groove to. Now this album would have been complete with out help from Phonte's LB counterpart Big Pooh, who gives us solid performances on "Let's Move", "Nic's Groove", and one of the best songs on the album "Happiness" which have the duo rapping about pleasing their fans by giving them that good music for the world to hear, this album is a gem! There's really no flaws in this album you will not be at all disappointed by this wonderfully produced and written classic!!

5 stars. Put this album in your deck and stay connected!!

New Discovery!!
I just happened to be listening to Pandora when Come Around came on and I had to know who this was. Once I heard samples of the CD, I had to get it. This is some serious music right here, nice and smooth, driving up LSD (that's Lake Shore Drive, Chicago) music. I hope there is more to come!

THIS IS AMAZING MUSIC.
BOTTOM LINE:

This is hiphop production on another level. Nicolay weaves so many levels of music - it is a feast for the ears. Not only dope beats and dope rhymes, -ALSO- incredible blends and amazing vocals. This is beautiful.

A+. Buy it now!