This is the brand new single from Montage One featuring The Foreign Exchange (Phonte & Nicolay) and Yahzarah. The album, 10.6.3 OGX, drops Tuesday, September 25th and features production by DJ Babu, Evidence, Jake One, Exile, E-Swift, Evidence & More.

One from Phonte and Nicolay’s Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange CD/DVD combo pack, hitting June 28th.

LISTEN: Foreign Exchange – “All Of The Kisses” (feat. KING)

Foreign Exchange – “All Of The Kisses” (feat. KING)

Are you sure you want to be a rapper?

One more from Phonte and Nicolay’s third LP, Authenticity, available now.

Phonte and Nicolay discuss the history of Foreign Exchange in this three-part mini-documentary.

Presenting the cover art and tracklist for FE’s third LP, Authenticity, due Oct. 12th on FE Music.

“I think every band reaches that point when they come into their own and find a sound that is distinctively theirs,” says Phonte in reference to the album’s title. “The title refers to me and Nic’s journey to find our own unique space within this vast musical landscape. The biggest challenge as a musician is to find that ‘thing’ that makes you who you are. But I think we’re getting there, and we’re finding our way more and more with each record.”

So, does the white leaf on the cover represent Nicolay? Just askin’.

01. The Last Fall
02. Authenticity
03. Eyes To The Sky
04. All Roads
05. Fight For Love
06. Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me
07. Don’t Wait
08. Make Me A Fool
09. Everything Must Go
10. Laughing At Your Plans
11. This City Ain’t The Same Without You

Foreign Exchange Music’s new artist Yahzarah delivers her first video, directed by Matt Koza.

The press release reads as follows…..

“SunStorm” is the latest album from Detroit-area born, DC-area based producer/multi-instrumentalist Zo!

Best known for his 2008 collaboration with Phonte on the cult classic “Zo and Tigallo Love the 80′s” as well as his work on The Foreign Exchange’s Grammy-nominated LP, “Leave It All Behind,” “SunStorm” is an extensive 12-track set that shows the ever-expanding range and depth of Zo! and the entire Foreign Exchange Music family.

Indie soul siren and American Idol vocalist Sy Smith serves up a slice of 70′s soul on the breezy “Greatest Weapon Of All Time,” and Lady Alma, a Philly veteran and stalwart of the UK house scene, takes it to the dance floor on the frenetic “Free Your Mind.” The album’s lead single, “This Could Be The Night,” features Darien Brockington, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Eric Roberson, and Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother over a thumping two-step groove specifically intended for the ‘steppers’ of Zo’s native Detroit. Another highlight is the Phonte-assisted “Flight Of The Blackbyrd,” Zo’s heartfelt homage to the 70′s jazz/funk fusion of The Mizell Bros. and George Duke.

SunStorm hits stores 7/27 on +FE Music/HBD.

Tracklisting:
1. Greater Than The Sun feat. Phonte
2. Greatest Weapon Of All Time feat. Sy Smith
3. Say How You Feel feat. Carlitta Durand and Phonte
4. For Leslie
5. Be Your Man feat. Darien Brockington
6. Free Your Mind feat. Lady Alma
7. SunStorm feat. YahZarah
8. If I Could Tell You No feat. Jesse Boykins III
9. This Could Be The Night feat. Eric Roberson, Darien Brockington & Rapper Big Pooh
10. Flight Of The Blackbyrd feat. Phonte
11. All Is Well With Love feat. Chantae Cann
12. Make Luv 2 Me feat. Monica Blaire

Little Brother talk about the end of Little Brother, new solo projects, song writing and Foreign Exchange. Check it out above.

First of all, who put y’all together… it’s just really far-fetched to most a lot here in the game that a producer from the Netherlands and an emcee from the US could pair and make a viable impact in hip-hop.

Phonte: “It all pretty much came together through the Internet man, I had Nicolay’s tracks online at Okplayer.com. Heard them, liked them and asked if I could rhyme over them. Me and Pooh (from Little Brother) rhymed over one of his beats which later became “Light it Up” – the B-Side to our single, “The Listening.” From that point on after we did “Light it Up,” me and Nic got building. He kept sending me tracks (online), I kept rhyming over them and getting people involved in it, then about a year and a half after, that’s how it all happened.”

So initially, it really wasn’t something that you’ll had planned?

Nicolay: “Nah, not at all, it pretty much happened, not by accident, but basically it started with one track and we liked what had happened to it, so we sort of just kept it going.”

So Phonte, you didn’t know or weren’t searching for Nicolay when you discovered his beats online, did you?

Phonte: “I was just really playing around, looking for new talent, looking for new music. He’d put up a poster on OKPlayer.com saying “’Check out my new tracks’ by me or whatever, and I just heard it and I was like, MAAN!!’ I gotta get with that….and from that point on, I was like, look man, there’s something with this guy, let me just stay on him, see what we could do. It didn’t start out like we intended to do an album, I just really loved his tracks and it inspired me to create and so that’s how the Foreign Exchange was born out of that desire to just make music.”

In this world today, of great communication technology, obviously a great factor in making this LP possible, what were some of the obvious and not so obvious obstacles you both encountered?

Nicolay: “Well the obvious one was like ah….the time difference. Like ah….Phonte not having a computer.” (EVERYONE LAUGHS!!) “So that was like the obvious stuff. I guess the lesser obvious stuff would be ah….well, it took time because Phonte was busy touring so we had to do it in between a lot of other stuff. So in the end, it took a long time.”

Phonte: “The surprising thing about it all was that, out of those obstacles, like none of them were musical obstacles. I never had a problem communicating an idea to Nicolay. Like we were talking about mixes granted this is all online now – I’m typing this into a computer and I’m like, ‘yo, I think the beat should drop out at such and such part,’ and he’ll automatically get it, yuhknowhati’msayin? So that was cool, we got it. All the problems I say is like external things like time, scheduling, but musically, it was never a problem, like we’d pick up on each other’s ideas almost kinda instinctively.”

Phonte, this one is for you, was 9th Wonder scared out of his sneakers after hearing these incredible tracks from Nicolay? As a producer, I would feel threatened!

Phonte: (BEGINS TO LAUGH OUT OUT!!) “Nah man, he wasn’t scared, but he was just like, ‘Maan, Maaan, I’m just glad I don’t make the types of beats that Nicolay makes, or I’ll be outta a job!’ Yeah, yeah, he makes it hard, but it was never a thing like that, ’cause the thing with the Justus League and Little Brother, our whole philosophy on making music is that we don’t have to worry about being necessarily better than the next man. I just gotta be the best me, like I ain’t gotta outshine this dude, or compete with this dude. No. As long as I’m the best me and hold my skills, then cats is gonna like me for one reason that they might not like him. Cats might like Nic’s beats for one reason, they gonna like 9th’s beats for another reason, but they both like dope music.”

Nicolay, this one is for you, is Phonte the first emcee project from the US you worked with? You’ll seem to fit so perfectly, I’m really complimenting you both on this man….

Nicolay: “Yeah he is, I know, yeah I had a good start right? Well, it was really Phonte and Pooh for “Light it Up,” they were the first cats to ever bless the track that I did, like American or European. So yeah, that was like a nice head start.”

Not to take anything away from you or this project, but in the Netherlands, are you like this lone unique hip-hop/soul music producer, or are there many other Nicolays out there waiting to be given this US exposure or break you’re getting?

Nicolay: “Right, I don’t know, I think they’re slowly picking up on what’s happening in my hometown too. So ah…..basically what was happening is that I tried to get my foot in between the door like for a couple of years, like ’90-’95 and on in all sorts of groups, but it never really happened. I guess this is my chance to do it, on my own terms and come back to enter through the back door, so to speak. Right now people are getting the buzz that actually someone from the Netherlands did some shit! It’s a combination of some people there feeling proud, and also thinking, ‘how the fuck did that happen?’”

Every so often, there’s that LP unknown to the masses that has slipped in as one of the most classic-to-be, before-its-time type of sounds. This to me is Connected. The beats, music, just heavenly – the lyrics, flow, more than relevant and entertaining and on point! This magic, where is it coming from?

Phonte: “Well, ahh maan, before I did this album, I took a fast for 40 days and I asked God, yuhknowhati’msayin’, to tell me if there’s a light out there in the universe, ’cause I was really thinking about giving up music, I was going through a lot, I was working as a Sales Clerk. Things wasn’t going too good, I wasn’t making the sales I normally was. They had me in the Gift Wrap section, I couldn’t quite wrap the gifts as fast as I should. I was just going through a hard time at my job man….so no lie, I went on a fast for 40 days and 40 nights. I asked God to send me, if there is a sign or a light, if this is really not it for me send me a light. Send me something to show me that all is not lost, and that I’m here to do this music. And the next day, that was when I heard the beat for “Light it Up,” and I just broke down and cried man, cause Nic just really brought me back, he brought me out. It’s like that song in church they sing (HE BEGINS TO SING VICARIOUSLY): ‘He’s bringing you Owwwwuuut, oowwwoohhh, he’s bring you owwwwwut!!!’ So that’s where the magic comes, it comes from up above, from God. It’s like Nic is my brother from another color man.”

You’re too funny man, so like a sort of revelation. The openness and beauty of hip hop is the nature of having lyrics already written looking for a mate, and applying it towards a groovy beat, and the same strategy can be applied vice versa. How was each track lined up to match the lyrics, or vice versa?

Phonte: “It started off with beats first, like Nic would just send the beats, then I’d write to the beats. I don’t have like rhymes laying around, I always write specifically with the beat in mind.”

Phonte – upon receiving the tracks, which one was so incredible, it gave you a hard on?

Phonte: (THE ROOM BURSTS OUT IN LAUGHTER FOR 10 SECONDS STRAIGHT) “Ah well, ah….well (PHONTE STARTS TO GOOF AROUND NOW) I….I….I….at the time (NIC INTERRUPTS BURSTING INTO LAUGHTER AGAIN) ah well, I don’t know if I was getting a hard on, but I….I….I felt the….ah mean, I do like Nic and all, but we’re not Connected in that way….(PHONTE IS STRAIGHT CLOWNING NOW). But as far as the track that ah…. it AROUSED me….ah, well, ah….I guess “All that You Are” that would be the track that aroused me, that was about a woman in my life at the time, ahh..she was giving me a hard on. That track, yeah, that one….” (LAUGHTER CONTINUING)

Hey, you know I am glad I asked the question that way, I’ve never laughed so hard in an interview, and it seemed you’ll got a great kick out of it too. Nic’s literally crying with laughter. So, Nicolay, upon hearing the lyrics Phonte wrote, which once again assuming the titled song is on the album – had you the most open?

Nicolay: (A LITTLE LAUGHTER ANTICIPATES THE END OF THE QUESTION). “Right. My favorite lyrics was in the “Happiness” cut, because that’s about like daily life, about the bull shit you go through and struggle, and then at the end of the day, coming out victorious. That would definitely be my favorite lyrics, Word Up.”

FOREIGN EXCHANGE on “THE CONNECTED” TOUR

Thursday September 30  RICHMOND, VA  @ Mr.Bogangles
Friday October 1  BALTIMORE, MD  @ Ottobar
Saturday October 2   WASHINGTON, DC @ Black Cat
Sunday October 3  PHILADELPHIA, PA  @ Okay Player Event
Monday October 4  NEW YORK, NY @ BB King’s
Tuesday October 5   NEW HAVEN, CT @ Toad’s Place
Wednesday October 6  BOSTON, MA  @ Middle East
Thursday October 7  PROVIDENCE, RI @ Lupo’s
Friday October 8  NORTHAMPTON, MA @ Pearl Street
Monday October 11 – 13 Canada
Thursday October 14  DETROIT, MI  @ St Andrew
Friday October 15  CLEVELAND, OH @ Peabody’s
Saturday October 16  CINCINATTI, OH @ Top Cats
Monday October 18  INDIANAPOLIS, IN @ TBA
Tuesday October 19  CHICAGO, IL  @ TBA
Wednesday October 20  URBANA, IL  @ Canopy Club
Thursday October 21  ST LOUIS, MO  @ The Gargoyle
Friday October 22  COLUMBUS, MO @ The Blue Note
Sunday October 24  MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ TBA
Monday October 25-30 Canada
Monday November 1  SEATTLE, WA  @ Chop Suey
Tuesday November 2  PORTLAND, OR @ Red Sea
Wednesday November 3 EUGENE, OR  @ Wow Hall
Thursday November 4  MEDFORD, OR  @ Main 1 Arts Center
Friday November 5  SACRAMENTO, CA @ Harlow’s
Saturday November 6  SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Harlow’s
Monday November 8  SANTA CRUZ, CA @ The Catalyst
Tuesday November 9  LOS ANGELES, CA @ Key Club
Wednesday November 10 ANAHEIM, CA  @ The Galaxy
Thursday November 11  SAN DIEGO, CA @ TBA
Friday November 12  PHOENIX, AZ  @ Bash On Ash
Sunday November 14  SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ The Zephyr
Tuesday November 16  BOULDER, CO  @ Fox Theatre
Wednesday November 17 ALBUQUERQUE, NM @ Sunshine Theater
Thursday November 18  DALLAS, TX  @ Gypsy Tea Room
Friday November 19  AUSTIN, TX  @ Stubbs
Saturday November 20  HOUSTON, TX  @ Engine Room
Monday November 22  NEW ORLEANS, LA @ TBA
Wednesday November 24 MIAMI, FL  @ Soho Lounge
Thursday November 25  ORLANDO, FL  @ The Social
Friday November 26  ATLANTA, GA  @ Apache Café
Saturday November 27  ASHEVILLE, NC @ Stella Blue
Sunday November 28  CHARLOTTE, NC @ TBA
Monday November 29  CARRBRO, NC  @ Cat’s Cradle

     While Little Brother has breathed life into hip hop at a time when the art form was suffering without the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Foreign Exchange fills a void for those who want their hip-hop a little more of the groovy variety. As soon as the “Foreign Exchange Title Theme” sets in on the naive ears, listeners will realize that Connected is a different animal in its entirety. The soulful singing and vibes bring a feeling of vibrant joy to the listener, something that has been sparse in hip-hop over the last few years. Nicolay showcases a signature sound that instantaneously will separate him from his hip-hop counterparts. The crisp drums of “Raw Life” orbit around Phonte and Joe Scuda’s razor sharp delivery. What separates this track is the way Nicolay filters Phonte’s verse as it builds into a violent uprising as Tay verbalizes “I speak with no prejudice/You thought kissing ass was in my blood type/ O(h) Negative.” Airy flutes combust into the controlling “Let’s Move” as Tay and Big Pooh pound out line after line with a moving hook that will send many a hip hop head into a state of hypnotism. At this point open ears will realize that Connected is something special. But thoughts of just something “special” will develop into something a little bit more extravagant when the astonishing “Nic’s Groove” invades speakers. The melodic groove is something to behold as Big Pooh and Phonte “Connect like He Man and Battlecat” and manage to ebb and sway with Nicolay’s incredible vibe. If there ever was a hip-hop joint made for the fellas to grab a lady by the hips and groove the evening away, this is it. As the production fades out, the listener may be forced to hit the repeat button but just as that index finger extends the vibrant production is brought back easing the listener into a land all to itself. Even the interlude of laid-back piano riffs finds its place in between tracks and is just as important as the song itself.

     While Nicolay’s production shines through and though, Phonte takes the opportunity to prove that he is no slouch on the mic either. He utilizes his time on the mic to get a little introspective in between the smoothed out sounds of “Be Alright.” He then maintains command of the mic to give his insight on his universe on “Brave New World.” Phonte stays grounded throughout and attests that he just isn’t there to ride the production. To set the mood even further, Foreign Exchange tosses in a few “neo-soul” joints to keep the energy flowing. The apt stylings of “Come Around” provide the perfect set up for Phonte and Big Pooh’s observation of their careers thus far on “Happiness.” Nicolay puts together another uplifting beat that would make the staunchest of soul supporters give him a resounding thumbs up. Just when you thought it was safe and the song is ending, Nicolay breaks the beat down to places unknown and for that brief moment the listener is transported to ephemeral ecstasy. The “Foreign Exchange End Theme” sets in to close out the album but like any great performer knows; there is always room for a curtain call. “All That You Are” is that proper curtain call as Tay and Median rumble amongst the triumphant production to close out the album.     

    Seldom has a hip-hop album encompassed soulful grooves like Connected has. Sure many albums have come along that have attempted to create an atmosphere of serene vibes and tranquility, but those very vibes are broken up when artists look for a brief change in pace. Connected doesn’t suffer from this. Each joint smoothly transitions into the next generating an ambiance like none other. What Phonte and Nicolay have done is remarkable not only in the sense of music but in conception and completion. If you are looking for something crunk look elsewhere. But if you are in the disposition of setting the mood and settling into a comfort zone like none other, check out the Foreign Exchange. I promise in terms of establishing a groove that there is nothing like it.