The Foreign Exchange: Connected

Look at that album cover. Is that not one of the most beautiful sights you’ve ever seen? The sun glaring, yet, creating this type of darkness between two people (with any particular race, style, and even gender shadowed out) allowing them to be in their own world and connect. The fence doesn’t act as a barrier, but instead, it acts as a foundation for the intimacy and ensures that it remains stable. Perhaps it is me just looking too deep into the picture, but the connections between this album cover and the process, development, and overall finished product are all in tact. Connected is presented to you by The Foreign Exchange consisting of rapper Phonte, out of North Carolina and producer Nicolay, out of the Netherlands. In this E-world, even with distance creating a big challenge, the chemistry and connection between these two artists is greater than those who live in the same area code.

The beat rings in on “Raw Life,” and the drums slam hard while Te’ drops gems like: “He couldn’t draw a crowd with a paint brush and easel” or “Thought kissing ass was in my blood type? That’s, oh, negative.” And even the quick “Nigga, save that back talk for the chiropractor.” Te‘s verses serve as the tasty bread for Joe Scudda‘s boring and tasteless bologna. “Be Alright” is in the same vein as Little Brother‘s “Speed”, but it includes a look on the upside and optimism found in the worst of situations. Median lends a great, but not necessary, helping hand to Te‘ and Nic on the track.

As the beat zones in, the listener can sense that something special is coming. “Happiness” provides us with Nicolay‘s premier beat on the album, as well as Phonte and Big Pooh speaking on the small tidbits of life that satisfy them. The NC natives deliver it in such a unique and stylistic manner that only Little Brother could do. It really is a very “happy” track that demands the listener’s smile. “Sincere” provides a mirage of sound before it simples out for Phonte. The title of the song is the perfect adjective for describing Phonte‘s quick flow verse. The problem is that there is only one verse by Te‘ and it leaves you wanting more.

“All That You Are” comes after “Closing Theme,” but it is easily one of the best all around tracks on the album. The beat, the chorus, the flow of both Te‘ and Median, and the subject matter of underestimating (or overestimating) the potential of one’s self all contribute to four minutes of highly a satisfying listen.

Songs like “Let’s Move” and “Raw Life” would connect any hip hop fan with the genre and songs like “Come Around” and “Sincere” could fit perfectly on any R&B album. The “slower moving tracks” contain a certain hip hop gait that allows it to mesh beautifully with the hip hop vibes around it. Te‘, as an artist, is hard to box up and to limit Nicolay would damage a promising and musically gifted producer. The variety both artists have to offer is infinite, however, more of just Te‘ and Nic would prove the album more beneficial. The aforementioned feature of Joe Scudda looks pale in comparison to the verses Phonte drops and one can only ponder what a third verse from Te‘ on “Raw Life” would sound like. “Von Sees” displays the closely linked Von Pea over a beat that Phonte would eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…yet, we never get a peak of what that might be like.

The album is missing a “banger” of some sorts, even if it is of the R&B variety. For some, the album may drag on due to the similar styles of production displayed in sequence throughout the album, but a detailed ear will be able to notice slight and subtle differences Nic makes throughout his production on a song to song basis. Since the release of this album, he has no doubt expanded his production to areas that were not explored on this release (“Brenda’s Baby” by Median or “What It Stand For” by EMC).

Nicolay (Kev’s spotlight here) provides a different type of soul and jazz influence than what 9th Wonder provided Phonte with on “The Listening.” It is very spaced and galactic almost, but the drums hit hard on all tracks and the massive collection of instruments/sounds/melodies displayed on the album is enough to suit all types of eardrums. It’s so sultry, that it allows Phonte to be in a laid back atmosphere. His lyrics from the Little Brother joint, “Hiding Places,” express his opinions with the reaction it got:

“And Tay is blazing it lovely, cause I’m one with the game/ So I sat back, chilled, dropped Foreign Exchange/ And a lot of rap niggaz got lost/ Heard Phontigga carrying tunes and assumed he don got soft/They didn’t understand it was my next direction…“

Indeed, it was certainly a next direction and a new dimension for Phonte. Foreign Exchange gave him the ability to display his unreal singing voice that carries so much soul, so much passion, and so much hip hop in it. The swap from Europe to the US (and vice versa) was one that came with no frills and it was straight product being delivered right to the listener with no gimmicks.

Overall Score: 84/100

Standout Tracks:

“Raw Life”

“Happiness”

“All That You Are”