The Foreign Exchange is an R&B/

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...

/ hip hop duo consisting of the American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

/singer

Phonte Phonte Lyshod Coleman, known mononymously as Phonte (born December 28, 1978), is an American rapper, singer, and producer. He is currently of the North Carolina hip-hop trio/duo Little Brother (revived in 2019 without producer 9th Wonder) and ...

and the Dutch record producer Nicolay. Phonte performing in Atlanta 2

Musical career

The pair initially made contact via message boards on Okayplayer.com and soon began recording and exchanging music. Soon after, they formed The Foreign Exchange without having ever met each other in person, hence the name. Their album, ''

Connected Connected may refer to: Film and television * ''Connected'' (2008 film), a Hong Kong remake of the American movie ''Cellular'' * '' Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology'', a 2011 documentary film * ''Connected'' (2015 TV ...

'', was released in 2004 and was a showcase for Nicolay's musical talents as well as an introduction to like-minded Little Brother affiliates who contributed to the album. The album received strong reviews and the single, "Sincere", featuring

YahZarah Dana Nicole Amma Williams (born June 24, 1978), is known professionally as YahZarah, is a Ghanaian American singer and music producer. She is known for radio hits "Wishing" and "Why Dontcha Call Me No More". In 1997, she began her career as a b ...

, was released with a music video directed by Joey Boukadakis. In October 2008, the duo released their second album '' Leave It All Behind''. In June 2009, the group announced that Zo! is now an official artist on The Foreign Exchange Music imprint and, in November 2009,

also joined the imprint. Median and

Darien Brockington Little Brother is an American hip hop duo from Durham, North Carolina that consists of rappers Phonte and Big Pooh. DJ and producer 9th Wonder was an original member of the group but departed in 2007. The group has produced five acclaimed studio ...

later joined. In December 2009, the group were nominated for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

, for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Daykeeper" (feat. Muhsinah) from their ''Leave It All Behind'' album. The group's third album, ''

Authenticity Authenticity or authentic may refer to: * Authentication, the act of confirming the truth of an attribute Arts and entertainment * Authenticity in art, ways in which a work of art or an artistic performance may be considered authentic Music * A ...

'', was released on October 12, 2010. In January 2011, the duo went on tour with

Sy Smith Sy Smith is an American singer and actress. Early life and career beginnings Sy Smith began her career leading a six-person Washington D.C. go-go band called "In Tyme". After graduating from Howard University with a bachelor's degree of Scien ...

and Darien Brockington. In June 2011, the group announced their first live album, '' Dear Friends: An Evening with the Foreign Exchange'', which includes appearances by

and

Jeanne Jolly Jeanne Jolly is a singer-songwriter from Raleigh, North Carolina, who first gained fame as a featured vocalist for Grammy Award winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. Jolly has performed with several symphonies, at Carnegie Hall in New York City ...

. In September 2017, the group released their first compilation album, Hide&Seek.

Discography

Studio albums

* 2004: ''

'' * 2008: '' Leave It All Behind'' (#68 US R&B) * 2010: ''

'' (#145 US; No. 23 US R&B) * 2013: ''

Love in Flying Colors ''Love in Flying Colors'' is the fourth studio album by the Foreign Exchange, released in 2013. It peaked at number 115 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. ''Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or ...

'' (#115 US; No. 22 US R&B) * 2015: ''

Tales from the Land of Milk and Honey ''Tales from the Land of Milk and Honey'' is the fifth studio album by the Foreign Exchange, released in 2015. NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization ...

'' (#12 US R&B) * 2017: '' Hide&Seek''

Singles

* 2004: "Sincere" (feat.

Yahzarah Dana Nicole Amma Williams (born June 24, 1978), is known professionally as YahZarah, is a Ghanaian American singer and music producer. She is known for radio hits "Wishing" and "Why Dontcha Call Me No More". In 1997, she began her career as a b ...

) * 2008: "Daykeeper" (feat.

Muhsinah Muhsinah is an American Grammy Award nominated singer and producer, from Washington, D.C. She cites Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Nirvana and Chopin as among her influences. Musical career A graduate of the Duke Ellington S ...

) * 2009: "Take Off the Blues" * 2009: "House of Cards" * 2009: "I Wanna Know" * 2010: "Maybe She'll Dream of Me" * 2011: "Laughing at Your Plans" (feat.

) * 2013: "Call It Home" * 2014: "Dreams Are Made For Two" (feat. Carlitta Durand) * 2015: "Asking for a Friend" * 2018: "June"

Foreign Exchange Music

Foreign Exchange Music (often abbreviated as +FE Music) is a record label founded by The Foreign Exchange members Phonte and Nicolay. The label was first started for the release of their second album ''Leave It All Behind''. Originally created for the release of their own music, the label has since issued albums for other acts.

Current roster

* The Foreign Exchange * Phonte * Nicolay * Zo! * BeMyFiasco

Current producers

* Nicolay * Zo!

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Exchange, The Dutch hip hop groups American hip hop groups Hip hop duos American musical duos Barely Breaking Even artists