in: Photos
The Foreign Exchange at One MusicFest
Check out some great photos of The Foreign Exchange's performance at One MusicFest in Atlanta, courtesy of our good friend Paul Abraham.
Source: Flickr
· By Paul Abraham
View this photo gallery
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at The Door, Dallas TX | Nov 17, 2011
by Aimee Flint on August 30, 2011 at 11:00 PM · Comments
The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM
The Door, 2513 Main Street, Dallas TX 75226 | (214) 742-3667
in: Interviews
Phonte: In My Own Words (via The Source)
As a part of one of Hip-Hop's most influential groups, Little Brother; Phonte has always stood out. Ask around with anyone in the know, and he is pound for pound, one of music's most talented artists. He raps as good as any rapper in the game and sings just as good as any singer in R&B. Now, the freakishly talented artist out of North Carolina is ready to break out with his first solo project, Charity Starts At Home, and has linked back up with Little Brother member 9th Wonder after a long hiatus. In this interview, Tigallo speaks on his inspiration for the solo album, his relationship with Drake, 9th Wonder, the future of The Foreign Exchange and Little Brother, and more.
Source: The Source
· By Kazeem Famuyide
You shocked a lot of people by reuniting with 9th Wonder earlier this year. What exactly led to the reunion?
Me and 9th have a mutual friend in Fatin "10" Horton. Fatin is a producer in 9th's Soul Council production team and he's been a friend of mine since we were both teenagers growing up in Greensboro, NC. Through the years, he's always been a neutral party and always told us, "Look, whatever y'all gotta work out, that's on y'all; both of y'all are still my peoples." Fatin called me on New Year's Eve and said that 9th wanted to talk, and I told him to give 9th my number and we can hash it all out. He came to my crib on New Year's Day 2011 and we been rockin ever since.
The Foreign Exchange really allowed you to spread your wings as a complete artist, what does the future hold for that?
The Foreign Exchange has changed my life in so many ways. I tell everybody that +FE is me and Nic's 401K package. I love the craft of emceeing, but you can't rap forever. Being the person I am, I just love doing music. I don't want a vanity label, I don't want a bullshit clothing line, I want to make music until I die. +FE gives me the space to do that. I can sing til' I'm 70 if I want to. Me and Nic can be like Frankie Beverly and Maze and tour forever. You see Frankie step onstage with his white hat and them white linen pants, you know what time it is...lol.
Continue reading Phonte: In My Own Words (via The Source)
in: Interviews
+FE: Checkpoint (via Stark)
What began as a friendship between Dutch producer Nicolay and former Little Brother frontman Phonte in a forum on Okayplayer.com, lead to the birth of indie-soul juggernaut, The Foreign Exchange. Now a decade strong, the group reflects on their evolution and their search for authenticity.
Source: Stark
· By Cola Janneti
Since embarking on their collaborative endeavor nearly ten years ago in 2002, The Foreign Exchange members Phonte Coleman and Nicolay have been breaking down non-believers with their modern take on timeless Hip-Hop Soul music religiously. But for what seemed like an effortless creative front, the duo actually spent their first two years conceiving the foundation for their sound via non-stop emails, with Nicolay sending his production and Phonte recording to them. "Light It Up," one of those records recorded during that time span, became the B-side to "Whatever You Say" from Little Brother's 2003 debut album, The Listening, (Nic also produced the "5th & Fashion" skit on LB's highly-anticipated sophomore album, The Minstrel Show) while the others helped to deliver Connected, +FE's classic debut LP in 2004, without the pair ever meeting face-to-face.
That same year their first officially meeting took place at a Little Brother show in Amsterdam -- the meeting place coincidentally taking cue from the influences within the sound that we've grown to love. A sound where experimentation with Hip-Hop, Electronica, Soul and Psychedelic was the norm for the group, and long before the music industry began to accept genre-bending formats as the new standard. +FE even drew inspiration from everyone, from The Beatles to James Taylor and Prince. So as the underground buzz began to stir, the idea of creating an new album under the same pressures of the first, seemed a tad ridiculous and extra. So Nicolay moved to Phonte's home state of North Carolina, where they began to work on another project.
Continue reading +FE: Checkpoint (via Stark)
in: Photos
More of The Foreign Exchange at One MusicFest
in: Interviews
Median Recalls Early 9th Wonder Style, Explains Evolution Of The Justus League (via HipHopDX)
Source: HipHopDX
· By Paul Meara
Exclusive: The North Carolina emcee chronicles the super-collective that ranges from Buckshot to Rapsody, and explains how he had an opportunity to step things up for his sophomore, "The Sender."
Median. The name can mean a lot of things but to this Justus League member, the name is as complex as the artist.
Recently dropping his second studio LP, The Sender - executive produced by Phonte and 9th Wonder, Median hopes that he, like others in the Justus League, will become more than just a mysterious name with dope records.
Newer members of the Justus League have attributed a lot of their success to the instrumentals provided by legendary producer 9th Wonder; however none of the newer members had a first hand account of how 9th Wonder came to be, except Median.
HipHopDX recently spoke to the Raleigh emcee about the becoming of 9th Wonder and what the ultimate goal of Median really is.
Median Breaks Down His Role In The Justus League
HipHopDX: What does it mean to be a part of The Justus League with artists, some newer like Skyzoo, but some older guys like Buckshot? What does that mix do for your artistry?
Median: Right. [Buckshot] has a whole movement/legacy that spans beyond like when I wrote my first line, I already had a Buckshot log full of classics. So yeah, that's a whole other world but I mean just watching all the moves that all the guys made, 9th [Wonder] in particular, it's just amazing. Because all of those names are names that you know are relevant and have history so watching him with those who you came up on. It's like the producer gods gave him that type of ability to move that way and it's just great to be watching.
Continue reading Median Recalls Early 9th Wonder Style, Explains Evolution Of The Justus League (via HipHopDX)
in: PAST EVENTS
Zo! Listening Party at Rumba Room, Memphis TN | Sept 5, 2011
by Aimee Flint on August 29, 2011 at 9:19 AM · Comments
:::::::music, poster & ticket giveaways:::::::
*Live Band- "Memfist10"*
$5 admission
Monday, September 5, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Rumba Room, 303 S Main St, Memphis TN 38103
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at Masquerade, Atlanta GA | Nov 9, 2011
Twenty 28 & From Afros To Shelltoes present
The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Masquerade, 695 North Ave Atlanta, Ga 30308 | (404) 577-8178
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at Zanzabar, Louisville KY | Nov 13, 2011
The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
DJ Set by: Dwight Johnson
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Zanzabar, 2100 S Preston St., Louisville KY | 502-635-ZBAR
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at Rumba Room, Memphis TN | Nov 15, 2011
NeoSoulville presents The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Rumba Room, 303 S Main St | Memphis, TN (Downtown) 38103 | (901) 523-0020
in: Reviews
Textura reviews Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange
Source: Textura
· By Ron Schepper
Essentially "The Foreign Exchange Unplugged," Dear Friends: An Evening with The Foreign Exchange perpetuates the embrace of acoustic soul that was so much a part of the group's last album Authenticity. As such, we're a long way removed from the raw hip-hop stylings of the group's earlier work. Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily, as the music on this latest recording is as refreshing as a warm summer breeze, and its appeal is bolstered by the fact that so few groups aside from The Foreign Exchange are waving this genre flag, so to speak. That the recording's sole cover is of a James Taylor song rather than something harder-edged tells you something about the mellow vibe The Foreign Exchange's courting with the set.Continue reading Textura reviews Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange
in: Music
Phonte feat. Elzhi - Not Here Anymore (Prod. 9th Wonder)
+FE Music proudly presents "Not Here Anymore", the first single from Phonte's upcoming solo album, Charity Starts At Home. The single features Elzhi and production from 9th Wonder.
Charity Starts At Home will drop 9/27 on +FE Music. Thank you for listening!
"NOT HERE ANYMORE feat. ELZHI" LISTEN | DOWNLOAD
Featuring Elzhi
Produced by 9th Wonder
Cover design by Chris Charles of Creative Silence Photography
Continue reading Phonte feat. Elzhi - Not Here Anymore (Prod. 9th Wonder)
in: Reviews
Independent Weekly reviews Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange
Source: Independent Weekly
· By Eric Tullis
Phonte Coleman and Nicolay Rook began The Foreign Exchange, as the name suggests, as an international file swap, with the Carolina-raised Coleman and the Dutch Rook building suave soul music through the Internet. But in the last several years, Rook has moved to Wilmington, Coleman has left Little Brother and the pair has made The Foreign Exchange a full-time, full-regalia operation. They've received a Grammy nomination, consistent critical kudos and, appropriately, a dedicated and worldwide fan base. In return for inviting them to our cities, they've invited us into the studio on Dear Friends. Recorded this past February at Durham's Sound Pure Studios in front of an audience of 40 fortunate fans, the CD/ DVD package is an intimate, scaled-down performance of several selections from The Foreign Exchange's entire catalog, exemplifying the magic that can happen when a band handles its music and career with care.Continue reading Independent Weekly reviews Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at One Eyed Jack's, New Orleans LA | Nov 21, 2011
The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
Sound provided by: DJ E.F. Cuttin
Monday, November 21, 2011 at 8:00 PM
One Eyed Jack's, 615 Toulouse Street New Orleans, LA 70130
in: PAST SHOWS
Zo! + Sy Smith at Ben's Next Door, Washington DC | Aug 22, 2011
by Aimee Flint on August 16, 2011 at 11:10 AM · Comments
Wes Felton & Ben's live presents:
An Intimate Night with Zo! + Sy Smith
An acoustic session that features Sy Smith on vocals while Zo! accompanies her on keys.
Monday, August 22, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Ben's Next Door, 1211 U St. NW, Washington DC 20001
in: PAST EVENTS
Zo! Listening Party at The Silver Room, Chicago IL | Aug 20, 2011
Join Zo! for the official '...just visiting three' Chicago Listening Party / Meet & Greet, hosted by Kwest_on and Dylan.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 6:00 PM
The Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
in: Photos
More of The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour in Sacramento
in: Reviews
Prefixmag reviews Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange
Source: Prefixmag
· By Craig Jenkins
Over the course of three studio albums, the Foreign Exchange, a collective built around the core duo of former Little Brother rapper/singer Phonte and Dutch producer Nicolay, has refined an increasingly austere brand of hip-hop/R&B that has taken them from the freewheeling braggadocio of 2004's Connected to the sophisticated relationship melodrama of last year's Authenticity. One element of the group dynamic that has gotten lost in the fray as the subject matter has grown up is the sense of humor. Onstage, Phonte is a veritable comedian, and his bandmates are his foils. That playful joie de vivre carries over to the music as well on their latest release, the live CD/DVD Dear Friends: An Evening with the Foreign Exchange, which documents an intimate acoustic set played for a group of friends and lucky fans in Phonte's hometown of Durham, N.C. back in February.
The Foreign Exchange has been touring extensively since the October release of Authenticity (which charmed its way onto Prefix's Best Albums of 2010 list in December), so Dear Friends finds a band in top form tearing through a series of hits, select numbers from individual members' solo outings, and a James Taylor cover, aided by the singing talents of newcomers Jeanne Jolly, a North Carolinian songstress, and actress, singer, and songwriter Sy Smith. While the Foreign Exchange's canon makes fantastic use of producer Nicolay's icy electronics on record, Dear Friends takes advantage of the acoustic setting and imbues these songs with a kind of breezy, almost porchfront vibe.
Continue reading Prefixmag reviews Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at 2720 Cherokee, St Louis MO | Nov 14, 2011
by Aimee Flint on August 10, 2011 at 6:39 PM · Comments
Epic + kiD present The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
Sounds provided by: DJ JMo of The Soulition
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 8:00 PM
2720 Cherokee, 2720 Cherokee Street, St. Louis MO 63118 | (314) 664-9900
in: Music
Median - Bright Individual (Prod. Khrysis)
+FE Music and Jamla proudly present "Bright Individual", the new single taken from Median's upcoming album, The Sender.
The Sender will drop 8/16 on +FE Music/Jamla. Thank you for listening!
"BRIGHT INDIVIDUAL" LISTEN | DOWNLOAD
Produced by Khrysis
Additional vocals by Jeanne Jolly
Cuts by DJ Flash
Cover design by Chris Charles of Creative Silence Photography
Continue reading Median - Bright Individual (Prod. Khrysis)
in: Photos
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour in Oakland
in: Photos
More of The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour in San Jose
in: Releases
Charity Starts At Home
The multi-talented frontman of Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange drops his long-awaited solo album.
Continue reading Charity Starts At Home
in: Video
Nic's Groove live from Portland
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at The WorkPlay Theatre, Birmingham AL | Nov 10, 2011
by Aimee Flint on August 2, 2011 at 12:22 PM · Comments
The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Zo!, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly and live band
Sounds provided by DJ Rahdu
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 8:00 PM
The WorkPlay Theatre, 500 23rd Street South, Birmingham AL 35233 | (205) 879-4773
in: PAST SHOWS
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour at The Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte NC | Sept 10, 2011
The Foreign Exchange (Phonte + Nicolay) with Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly, Zo! and live band
Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 9:30 PM
The Neighborhood Theatre, 511 East 36th St., Charlotte, NC 28205
in: Releases
Median - The Sender
+FE Music and Jamla proudly present Median's sophomore album, The Sender.
in: Photos
The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity Tour in San Jose
