''Connected'' is the first studio album by

the Foreign Exchange The Foreign Exchange is music duo consisting of the American rapper Phonte and the Dutch record producer Nicolay, their music is a blend of hip hop, soul, R&B and electronica. Musical career The pair initially made contact via message boar ...

, a hip hop group consisting of American rapper

Phonte Phonte Lyshod Coleman, known mononymously as Phonte (born December 28, 1978), is an American rapper, singer, and producer. He is also a member of Team Supreme, that co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast. Phonte is a member of the North Caroli ...

from Little Brother and Dutch producer Nicolay. It was released on BBE on August 24, 2004. Their group name comes from how they produced their songs: Nicolay would produce a beat in the Netherlands and send the beat to Phonte through

instant messaging Instant messaging (IM) technology is a type of synchronous computer-mediated communication involving the immediate ( real-time) transmission of messages between two or more parties over the Internet or another computer network. Originally involv ...

email Electronic mail (usually shortened to email; alternatively hyphenated e-mail) is a method of transmitting and receiving Digital media, digital messages using electronics, electronic devices over a computer network. It was conceived in the ...

, and traditional

mail The mail or post is a system for physically transporting postcards, letter (message), letters, and parcel (package), parcels. A postal service can be private or public, though many governments place restrictions on private systems. Since the mid ...

to lay down the vocals. Phonte would return the product, so Nicolay could then master the track; they did not meet until after the album was completed. ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' placed it at number 22 on the "Top 50 Albums of 2004" list. In 2015, it was ranked at number 86 on ''

Fact A fact is a truth, true data, datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance. Standard reference works are often used to Fact-checking, check facts. Science, Scientific facts are verified by repeatable careful observation or measurement by ...

''s "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time" list.

Track listing

Personnel

– vocals * Nicolay – production *

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 ...

– vocals (on "Foreign Exchange Title Theme", "Sincere", and "End Theme") *

Von Pea Tanya Morgan is an American hip hop group, which consists of MC William Donald "Donwill" Freeman and MC/ producer Devon "Von Pea" Callender. Donwill is from Cincinnati, Ohio, while Von Pea is from Brooklyn, New York. Their fourth studio album, ...

– vocals (on "Von Sees") * Joe Scudda – vocals (on "Raw Life") * Quartermaine – vocals (on "Hustle, Hustle") * C.A.L.I.B.E.R. – vocals (on "Hustle, Hustle") *

Rapper Big Pooh Thomas Louis Jones III (born February 12, 1980), better known by his stage name Big Pooh (or Rapper Big Pooh), is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, is a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Brot ...

– vocals (on "Let's Move", "Nic's Groove", and "Happiness") * Median – vocals (on "Be Alright" and "All That You Are") * Frank Ford – vocals (on "Be Alright") *

Kenn Starr Kenneth Jones, known as Kenn Starr is an American rapper from Suffolk, Virginia, currently residing in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Starr is a member of the Low Budget Crew and also the duo Isaac Jones. His solo debut album, '' Starr Status' ...

– vocals (on "The Answer") *

Oddisee Amir Mohamed el Khalifa (born on February 24, 1985), better known by his stage name Oddisee, is an American rapper and record producer from Washington, D.C. He is one third of the hip hop trio Diamond District. He was also part of the Low Budget C ...

– vocals (on "The Answer") *

Sean Boog The Away Team is a Hip hop music, hip hop duo consisting of MC Sean Boog and producer Khrysis, both of whom are members of the North Carolina rap collective the Justus League. History Boog and Khrysis were introduced to each other in 2001 by L ...

– vocals (on "The Answer") *

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 stud ...

– vocals (on "Come Around", "All That You Are", and "Call")

References

External links

* {{Authority control 2004 debut albums The Foreign Exchange albums Barely Breaking Even albums Albums produced by Nicolay (musician)