VIDEO: RED BULL ACADEMY LECTURE----PHONTE (MELBOURNE 2006)

Later today, Phonte and 9th Wonder will be a part of the Red Bull Music Academy Session in Philadelphia, joined by soul artist Jesse Boykins III and Rich Medina.  The Red Bull Music Academy is a very dope concept, exposing individuals to various musical workshops and festivals, bridging gaps and giving those involved a communal feel.  To show the vibe associated with RBMA, here is one from the archives (2006 to be exact).  Thanks to my good friend MJ, I'm posting this dope look into the lecture series component of RBMA.  Phonte, being the cool as ice character he is, gives a unique perspective on his Little Brother music, along with a comedic side that is his and his alone.  The video is approximately an hour and fifteen minutes long, and it is well worth every minute.  Take a look, and spread the word about the Red Bull Music Academy.  If you can, venture to Philly at Sigma Sound Studios (made famous by the Legendary Roots Crew), located at 212 N. 12th Street.  It will be well worth the short drive up 95 North for my B-more/DC fam.  Here is a link to the RBMA info for this evening:  http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/events/rbma-session-philadelphia.  Also utilize the RBMA site for more information about application/registration for a dynamic music experience.  One Love!


Lecture: Phonte (Melbourne 2006) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

DOCUMENTARY------ONE DAY-INTRODUCING KOOLEY HIGH

I came across this 38 minute long documentary for underground NC group Kooley High about three years ago, and I love what Napoleon Wright II was able to convey.  It is an in-depth, yet short, look into the formation of Kooley High, comprised of Charlie Smarts, Tab-One, Sinopsis, Foolery, DJ Ill Digitz, and sole female voice Rapsody.  The three MC, two producer, one DJ outfit gave us a glimpse when this was filmed about what the Triangle Region (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) was about when it came to a purer, more grassroots approach to hip hop.  I've been fortunate enough to see Rapsody perform a few months ago, on tour with 9th Wonder and Phonte, and she is a microphone phenom to say the least.  I also chopped it up a couple of years ago with Charlie Smarts after a dope performance by The Foreign Exchange at Cat's Cradle (what's up Charlie Smarts, I didn't forget our parking lot conversation).  Special thanks to the keen mind of Napoleon and all that helped to make this short documentary happen.  Visit http://becauseus.org/ for more insight into the North Carolina design collective responsible for this vision to come to fruition.  You can also find out more about the Kooley High collective at http://www.kooleyhigh.com/.  Each member of the group is flourishing collectively or on a separate plane, and I am very proud of my NC brethren (and sista Rap Diddy too).  Enjoy the 38:01 long video, and check out their music!


One Day - Introducing Kooley High from Napoleon Wright II on Vimeo.

Album Review-------Charity Starts At Home

This album is the reason why I still have a passion for hip hop, and music in general.  Before I heard the first track, before I knew any song titles from the tracklisting, I could sense in my musical soul that Phonte Coleman was going to create an unforgettable piece of art.  Is it perfect?  I have yet to hear a "perfect" album (even though Songs In The Key Of Life and Illmatic are contenders for that mythical title).  Is it flawless?  No, because in my selfish realm the one thing I wanted to hear on this album is missing.  So exactly what is Charity Starts At Home?  It is an aptly titled creation and best album of the year contender (all genres included).  So how did I come to this conclusion? 

After purchasing this gem at the vaunted Sound Garden in Fells Point a few days after the September 27th release date, I still waited a day before opening the wrapper that enveloped the black and white cover art for Charity Starts At Home.  After a brief vocal monologue to open this solo opus, the Swiff D-helmed "Dance In The Reign" starts on a very strong note, with organs seemingly announcing the arrival of Mr. Tiggalo himself.  With the angelic Sy Smith providing backing vocals, and Phonte spitting lines like "sex symbol raps you niggas is Pam Grier" and "I've taken the sour grapes of wrath and made Cheerwine", it's evident that this supreme lyricist has one of the sharpest pens in the hip hop world.  "The Good Fight", produced by the incomparable 9th Wonder, is another introspective joint in the shared discography of the North Carolina brethren.  On this joint, Phonte waxes poetic about a topic many of us can relate to on a daily basis.  Just listening to this song, which has a similar lyrical tone to "Last Day/Next Day" from And Justus For All and Getback respectively.  This is that facet of Phonte's lyricism that strikes the biggest chord with listeners, because you can envision the portrait this extremely talented brother is painting.  "Everything Is Falling Down", featuring new Foreign Exchange voice Jeanne Jolly and produced by extended Justus League and The Soul Council family member Khrysis, discusses how Phonte feels about those non-supportive cats in and out of the hip hop realm.  The Elzhi and Phonte collaboration is in full effect (nod to Mantronix) on the 9th-produced "Not Here Anymore", which samples the very familiar Rose Royce classic "Love Don't Live Here Anymore".  9th Wonder laces this joint with his signature touch of soul, allowing Phonte and Elzhi to do what they do best:  spit hard-hitting lyrics.  This is another winner on Charity Starts At Home.  Outside of Rapper Big Pooh, the emcee that has the best lyrical chemistry with Mr. New Tigallo himself is Median, who recently released The Sender on The Foreign Exchange Music imprint.  "Eternally", another Patrick Douthit production, is the type of track that allows Median and Phonte the chance to volley lyrics back and forth like seasoned tennis players on a clay court.  Changing the pacing of the album slightly is the smoothed-out selection "Sendin My Love", constructed by Stro Elliott.  Funny comedian Affion Crockett sets the stage for this joint by letting the listeners know that no matter what a man may have at home, he is still possibly on the prowl for a feminine challenge.  I will plead the fifth on that note.

The second half of Charity Starts At Home starts with "Ball And Chain", a choice cut that falls in line with Phonte's musical sensibilities from The Foreign Exchange.  Envisioning the song title gives you a glimpse into the subject matter for this song, which was produced by Swiff D.  The following selection, "To Be Yours", produced by long-time collaborators and musical brethren Zo! and Phonte, is another song that could easily sit along with other songs from Leave It All Behind or Authenticity.  Phonte is as at ease with the romantic as he is with the bombastic, and that is evident with the effortless flow from one realm to another on this album.  S1 laced Taygravy with "Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", which also features Carlitta Durand on the beautiful vocals.  Here, Mr. Coleman and Ms. Durand get the opportunity to get their Peaches & Herb on, at least for three-plus minutes.  A standout on Charity Starts At Home is the Fatin-produced "We Go Off", where Phonte trades metaphorical jabs with lyricist supreme Pharoahe Monch.  The aptly titled song allows two of my favorite emcees to lace a fierce beat constructed by The Soul Council alumni, letting those within earshot what North Carolina has cooking.  "The Life Of Kings", featuring Evidence (who also released a dope album on September 27th entitled Cats & Dogs) and new Southern hip hop sensation Big K.R.I.T. (who was slated to release his debut album on the same date of September 27th but has been pushed back), allows each of these independent artists to dialogue about their royal status in hip hop, even if it is from the indie level.  Each emcee on this final 9th Wonder track on Charity Starts At Home gets the noble opportunity to share with listeners their take on life.  If the album ended here, I would be very satisfied, but the icing on the cake is the E. Jones-produced "Who Loves You More", featuring another everyman, Eric Roberson.  This is the song that strikes the biggest chord with me, and hopefully other listeners.  "I came from the bottom where the guns got withdrawn" is that sentiment I can share with Phonte.  He has the uncanny ability to articulate what I may be feeling or thinking at any moment, and does it with the ease not seen in the vast majority of hip hop.

Again, this album is not perfect or flawless.  Maybe because I'm biased and selfish, I wanted to hear at least one song with Rapper Big Pooh, or better yet, that long-awaited Little Brother reunion that may never materialize.  I apologize for that bias and selfishness Phonte Coleman.  What I will say though is that Charity Starts At Home is befitting as an album title, because he took it upon himself to create a masterpiece, not necessarily distancing himself from the legacy of Little Brother, but adding overall to the puzzle that is not only the Justus League, Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange, but hip hop and music as a whole.  September 27, 2011 will be etched in my memory as the day that a whole state showed its pride in not only this album, but the very dope creations by J. Cole and 9th Wonder as well.  I am glad that Phonte realized that before he could help others, he had to help himself, and Charity Starts At Home is the ultimate self-help guide in hip hop.



  

DJ FLASH PRESENTS THE BEST OF PHONTE MIXTAPE

September 27, 2011 is the date I've been anticipating ever since it was announced that BOTH Phonte and 9th Wonder were releasing their respective albums on this special date in NC hip hop.  I can't forget that Mr. Nice Watch himself, J. Cole, is also unveiling his rookie opus to the world, Cole World.  To start things off properly, we have Little Brother and Justus League turntablist DJ Flash presenting this tribute mixtape to the one and only Phonte Coleman.  It is no secret that Phonte is one of my all-time favorites when it comes to the art of emceeing.  This mixtape collection compiled by DJ Flash will show those that are not in the know what I mean by this statement.  From his career start with Little Brother, to his creative partnership with another favorite Nicolay, you will see the transformation and growth in this 70-track mixtape that captures the essence of Phonte.  Once you peep this mixtape, go support true, heartfelt hip hop and purchase Charity Starts At Home (as well as The Wonder Years by 9th Wonder and Cole World by J. Cole).  Tomorrow will indeed be a great day for hip hop coming from my home away from home, North Carolina!

http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com/2011/09/dj-flash-presents-the-best-of-phonte-mixtape.php

NEW TIGALLO NEW TIGALLO NEW TIGALLO!

One month from now we will FINALLY be blessed with the solo joint from one of my favorite artists EVER, Phonte Coleman, former Little Brother spitter, current Foreign Exchange emcee/vocalist, and resident hip hop renaissance man.  The first selection from his solo album is "Not Here Anymore", featuring rhyme scientist Elzhi and produced by another favorite 9th Wonder.  I'm so glad that 9th and Phonte are working together again, because you can not fake chemistry.  I love this joint, and I am sure you will too.  Hit me up on Twitter under @wisdom31 to see my "31 Days Of Phonte Quotables" starting today to see why this lyricist supreme is so revered in the hip hop community.  Even your favorite artists (i.e. Drizzy Drake) recognize Phonte as an influence because of his sheer dopeness and everyman appeal.  Don't forget to cop Phonte's album Charity Starts At Home on 9/27/11 (along with Cole World from J. Cole and The Wonder Year from 9th Wonder).  ENJOY!

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/audio-phonte-not-here-anymore-f-elzhi-prod-9th-wonder.html

VIDEO-----YOUNG AMERICANS "SET IT OFF" (PROD. BY SYMBOLYC ONE)

This is turning out to be a Carolina summer, to say the least.  First thing today, I see GREAT news that 9th Wonder and Phonte will BOTH be releasing their respective albums on the agreed upon date of September 27th (which also happens to be the target date for another Carolina lyricist J Cole.  Not to be outdone, fellow Justus League and Little Brother emcee Rapper Big Pooh has a venture Roc C.  Together they are Young Americans, and judging by this new video, I believe we may have some more dopeness from Pooh.  Check out this new offering entitled "Set It Off".

Album Review: The Foreign Exchange--------AUTHENTICITY

After Leave It All Behind, the second dynamic offering from The Foreign Exchange, what could Nicolay and Phonte, the masterminds behind the F.E. sound, possibly offer the listeners? Authenticity is the answer, both literally and figuratively. Authenticity describes the caliber of the music; Authenticity is the aptly named title of this third installment in The Foreign Exchange catalog. I’ve been anticipating this release for months, ever since the album title was released via www.theforeignexchangemusic.com earlier in the year. I am a very huge fan of the collective, because the music that I’ve heard, from not only Nicolay and Phonte, but extended family YahZarah, ZO!, and Darien Brockington, has struck a chord sonically and emotionally. For this album, do I get the same connection, so to speak?


The album starts with the signature opening listeners have come to expect from The Foreign Exchange. The trademark chime melts into the first track, “The Last Fall”. This song, from a musical standpoint, is reminiscent of the aural sounds that Nicolay has employed on recent releases. With Phonte laying the lyrical groundwork on this track, it’s a good way to usher in fall, real and imagined. “Authenticity” has a certain Prince-like feel in the construction of the music. Serving as the title track, this song brings up the notion of love as reality or fantasy. “She wants me to fill her need, she begs for authenticity, you don’t want truth from me, you just want what you want” sums up thematically where Phonte Coleman was taking us on this lyrical voyage.

Next on the Authenticity agenda is “Eyes To The Sky”, a somewhat melancholy cut about the musings of love. The piano-driven track compliments the lyrical content very well on this song.Phonte is very poignant in his songwriting, touching on the subject of love with an introspective flair. Unfortunately, “Eyes To The Sky” is a relatively short song, chiming in at 1 minute and 32 seconds. “All Roads”, the fourth song on the disc, showcases the beautiful background vocals of YahZarah intertwined with Phonte’s crooning. This song is reminiscent of Leave It All Behind in structure and sound. On “Fight For Love”, the lyrics identify a person no longer willing to endure the trials and tribulations of loving another. “Either it ain’t or it is, it either ain’t or it is” sums up “Fight For Love” in a nutshell. ZO! contributes on the piano, Fender Rhodes, and synth with this song.

The first song on Authenticity that enlists the rhyming talents of Phontigallo is “Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me”, a silky track that has a laid-back demeanor suited for a neo-soul/lounge environment. Darien Brockington joins Phonte on “Don’t Wait”, blending his smooth voice with a synth and drum machine-driven track. “Make Me A Fool”, a collaboration with Jesse Boykins III, covers familiar ground with the topic of love, yet puts a spin on the topic with Justus League and F.E. affiliate Median providing the lyrical support. Sonically, this is my favorite song on the album.

Another song that has a similar feel to the material on Leave It All Behind is “Everything Must Go”, a mid-tempo track that is very reflective and contemplative in nature. “Laughing At Your Plans” is a feel-good song in sound, but in theme discusses the ending, whatever that ending may be. The last song on the album, “This City Ain’t The Same Without You”, features the chocolate-hued songstress YahZarah vocally expressing how the city is different without her love. It’s a fitting way to close an album that sounds more like a continuous song than separate cuts.

All in all, Authenticity is one of the best offerings for 2010. However, I’m a little spoiled by the nearly flawless nature of Leave It All Behind., the previous release from Phonte, Nicolay, and crew. It is not fair to compare this album to Leave It All Behind, or Connected, for that matter, because Authenticity is more a natural progression than a continuation of those albums. Phonte, Nicolay, and The Foreign Exchange family have constructed an album that will be in constant rotation not only this fall, but going into the winter and beyond. It fits nicely within the catalog of my favorite collective, The Foreign Exchange Music Group. I strongly recommend listeners, both familiar and foreign, to pick up this album, and revisit previous releases to get the full scope of Nicolay and Phonte as The Foreign Exchange.

REVIEW WRITTEN BY WISDOM

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING: A Short Film About The Foreign Exchange

As a token of appreciation from The Foreign Exchange collective, a short film has been made entitled "Thank You For Listening:  A Short Film About The Foreign Exchange".  Shot and directed by Sandrine Orabona, the videographer for Michael Jackson's "This Is It", and Anke Thommen, this short film gives insight into the entity we call The Foreign Exchange.  This is a good companion piece with the newly released album Authenticity.  The short is in three parts, so enjoy each of these Youtube clips.  One love to Phonte, aka Taygravy, and the fine folks at Okayplayer!


PART 1-----CONNECTED:



PART 2-----LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND:



PART 3-----AUTHENTICITY: 

AUTHENTICITY ALBUM LISTENING PARTY AT TEAVOLVE

Written by: Wisdom

Even though my raffle ticket 938105 didn’t result in any prizes, “Gypsy Soul Presents The Sound Check Series Featuring Authenticity By The Foreign Exchange” at Teavolve was a very nice event. With music from The Foreign Exchange as the backdrop for the evening, the mood was set to preview the third release from Nicolay, Phonte, and crew. DJ Lil Mic manned the wheels of steel for the event, sponsored by Gypsy Soul in conjunction with Teavolve. Gypsy Soul definitely has its finger on the pulse of urban music in the Baltimore area, and this Thursday evening was no exception. Kayenecha Daugherty and the Gypsy Soul team are becoming quite accustomed to providing an atmosphere conducive for good music.

Authenticity, in my opinion, is the perfect soundtrack for fall. From the foliage-colored album cover to the autumn-themed musical content, the album fits like a glove during this season. DJ Lil Mic played many cuts from the current album, including “The Last Fall”, the title song “Authenticity”, and lead single “Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me”. I could tell that the Teavolve crowd was enjoying the soul vibe that permeated the air. The Foreign Exchange is the rare group in today’s musical environment that can conjure up this type of excitement just on pure musicality. I am an avid fan of the group, so I may seem a tad bit biased when discussing all things The Foreign Exchange. I loved the fact that I could vibe and discuss the album and group with others in the venue, including my wife and CVEG CEO Lewis Williams. We talked about various things relating to the album, including how it fits into the overall catalog of music for Nicolay and Phonte.

Throughout the evening, you could sense that the album was being enjoyed by the professional, progressive crowd in attendance. I didn’t sense any disappointment from anyone at Teavolve. With the album being released on October 12, 2010, you could tell that quite a few had purchased the album, including myself. The album fits nicely with the other albums from The Foreign Exchange, Connected and Leave It All Behind. DJ Lil Mic managed to play some songs from those albums as well. He even played a nice blend of Slum Village’s “Players” mixed with the a cappella from Michael Jackson’s “Butterflies”. The overall atmosphere was spirited and merry, thanks to a balance of great music and like-minded individuals in attendance.

All in all, the night was lovely! Authenticity is another gem from the musical minds of Nicolay and Phonte Coleman, and I’m pretty sure that those who attended The Sound Check Series at Teavolve are in agreement. A special thank you goes out to Gypsy Soul, Edith Williams from Diamond Digital Portraits, DJ Lil Mic, Lewis Williams and Teavolve for a beautiful evening filled with special music and good vibes.  If you haven't yet attended a Gypsy Soul event, make it a point to do so!  Stay tuned for my comprehensive review of Authenticity, by far one of the best releases for 2010.

THE END OF AN ERA???

APRIL 20TH IS THE RELEASE DATE FOR THE FINAL LITTLE BROTHER ALBUM LEFTBACK.  PHONTE COLEMAN AND THOMAS JONES HAVE TRUDGED ON AS A TWO-MAN UNIT WEATHERING THE STORM FROM THEIR PUBLIC SEPARATION FROM PRODUCER PTH WONDER.  THE GROUP HAS ALWAYS STAYED TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS OF DOPE LYRICS AND DOPE BEATS, SO LEFTBACK IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT, IN MY OPINION.  EVEN THOUGH, AS A FAN OF THEM COLLECTIVELY AND SEPARATELY, I WANT TO BE SELFISH AND SEE THE THREE ORIGINAL MEMBERS TOGETHER AGAIN.  TIME WILL TELL IF THAT WILL BE THE CASE.  TO CELEBRATE WHAT LITTLE BROTHER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO ON A CREATIVE FRONT, JOEY THEE DJ HAS PUT TOGETHER A MIXUMENTARY FOR LB FANS (AND THOSE THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE TO ABSORB THE LB EXPERIENCE YET).  THE LINK FOR THE FREE DOWNLOAD IS: 

http://depositfiles.com/files/3mcv47jda

http://soundcloud.com/joey-thee-dj/joey-thee-dj

I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO LISTEN TO QUITE A FEW OF THE TRACKS FROM LEFTBACK, BUT I'M STILL ANTICIPATING THE EXPERIENCE OF PURCHASING THE ALBUM TOMORROW (I GUESS I STILL LOVE MY HIP HOP).  I STRONGLY RECOMMEND MUSIC FANS IN GENERAL TO NOT ONLY PURCHASE THIS ALBUM, BUT VISIT THE ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY FOR THE GROUP (INCLUDING 9TH WONDER'S WORKS).  YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

ONE LOVE FROM LITTLE BROTHER'S EXTENDED B-MORE FAM!!!

WISDOM