The Very Good Agency

YaHeard? Foreign Exchange – Connected

Few albums have stuck me the way Foreign Exchange’s debut effort did. The only thing I knew about the project before listening, was that the two masterminds had never actually met before releasing the album. North Carolina-based MC Phonte (of Little Brother), and Netherlands-based producer Nicolay, met on the Okayplayer (www.okayplayer.com) messageboards, where Nicolay emailed beats to Phonte, who dropped verses, and then the Dutch master mixed the final product. The result, Connected, is a lush 14-track hip hop symphony of wonderfully layered beats and potent lyricism.

At the time I purchased the album I had only just been introduced to Little Brother, and without much thought, ordered the album without having listened to any of it. What I got was easily the best album of 2004 for me. Nicolay crafts beautifully intricate, soulful landscapes, of which Phonte takes complete lyrical control, along with a whole host of friends such as Justus League cohorts Median and Joe Scudda, the sultry diva YahZarah, and his Little Brother partner in crime, Big Pooh.

The album kicks off with an interesting syncopated harmony which builds with the charming voice of YahZarah, and then drops into a typical Nicolay groove with her singing “Thank you for the music, thank you for right now”; once you’ve heard this album in its entirety you’ll realise just how appropriate this is. The next track, “Von Sees”, features Von Pea shouting out to all involved in the project, and really serves as a second introduction, before seemlessly blending into Phonte‘s first verse on the next track, “Raw Life”, where he comes in spitting straight fire alongside Joe Scudda. The journey continues with the following track, “Hustle, Hustle”, a smooth organ-driven beat with a deep bassline and funky horns on the chorus.

Perhaps the albums best track, “Let’s Move”, is up next. An amazingly layered mellow blend of multiple vocals and euphoric brass and string sections. This is easily an album highlight, guest Big Pooh and  Phonte express the woes of the independent musician, with Phonte delivering one of his finest lines: “My rhymes never dramatise, I applied for the job of rap nigga, but I was overqualified”. The appropriately titled “Nic’s Groove”, is up next. A smooth mid-tempo harmony and booming bassline, with Phonte and Big Pooh again trading verses, Pooh coming with one of the most creative rhymes I’ve ever heard: “Mental precipitation, without the weather reports, to forecast of predict my thoughts”.

Foreign Exchange featuring YahZarah – Sincere

The albums flow is infectious, with tracks blending into and complimenting each other, raising and lowering the tempo in just the right places. “Sincere”, “Be Alright” and “Brave New World” keep the vibe of the album rolling along nicely, and the final track “All That You Are” finishes things as strongly as possible; you won’t want the journey to end. I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to this, but I seriously consider it one of the most amazing hip hop albums i’ve ever heard. Even as I sit here now listening to it I’m looking forward to the next time I get to hear it. And it’s been out for nearly 4 years!

Despite the distance between the two artists during the production of this album, the final product gives you the feeling that they’ve been making music together for years. Connected will take you on a laid back ride through hip hop, electronic groove and soul, and have you nodding your head the whole way. Nicolay‘s beats are simply beautiful, elaborate and enchanting; you need to listen to this by yourself the first time to fully appreciate them. Phonte and family all do their bit throughout the album, but the man himself really shines, consistently ripping his verses to pieces with his silky flow and creative rhymes. And although at the time it probably seemed like a nice little side project, the critical acclaim this album has received has resulted in Nicolay and Phonte teaming up again for Leave it all behind, to be released later this year. Now that is good news to me.

That’s YaHeard? for the week, keep an eye out in coming weeks for an interview with Ohmega Watts collaborator and Lightheaded member, Braille.

Peace

You can check out more of Foreign Exchange at:

www.theforeignexchangemusic.com

…..Crack

Tags: Collaborations, hip hop

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