As we enter the ‘blanket’ season, what better way to keep warm than with The Foreign Exchange! I don’t know exactly what it is about Nicolay‘s production coupled with Phonte‘s vocals that taps into my senses, but I can play these guy’s music for hours and not feel like a rotating fool! It truly was a blessing when these guys found each other on the Okayplayer message boards (Nicholay residing in Holland and Phonte in North Carolina) and started to share music amongst themselves back in 2002. Fast forward 6 years later, they are now a Grammy winning nominated group! Do not underestimate the power of the internet!

Authenticity is aptly titled, as they have stayed true to themselves in their musical journey, pushing their conventions a little further, but not displacing their audience during their growth. Authenticity is the LOVE album, getting to a place of calm, of being unafraid to show weakness or vulnerability.

Always enlisting great talent for their projects, Authenticity features longstanding musical friends YahZarah, Darien Brockington, Zo! and Median, and also relative newcomers Chantae Cann and Jesse Boykins III. Check out “Maybe She’ll Dream of Me” (which is also available for free download in courtesy of Foreign Exchange Music) and “Don’t Wait.” With Nicolay’s sprinklings of Prince influence on various songs, Authenticity gets my stamp of approval.

“Maybe She’ll Dream of Me” (Download)

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“Don’t Wait”

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Authenticity is available for purchase on Foreign Exchange Music website.

The Roots need no introduction, however given the state of the music industry, a mention on Muphoric Sounds is necessary.

How I Got Over was released last week Tuesday, June 21, the same day as Eminen‘s album Recovery. The first week of sales, Eminem reached a whopping 741,413 units sold (34% digital), and The Roots, a quiet figure of 50,961 (42% digital). What does this say about Hip Hop? The answers are so varied, I could write a dissertation on it.

What’s baffling is, a group like The Roots, who tour tirelessly across the world, where their music touches all ages, from college students to money earners approaching middle age, and still they struggle for notoriety in this business.

With How I Got Over, The Roots collaborate with a great mix of artists such as, blu., Phonte, John Legend, Patty Cash, Raw Dice, Joanna Newsome, and many more. It’s such a solid piece of work. It’s rare that you can press play and let it run its course. Lyrically, spot on, with lines like, “I want the girl of my dreams to give me Einstein” to “Technology turning everybody into zombies,” How I Got Over should not be esoteric, but owned by all who listen to urban, alternative music.

So with this, I urge you to go and get yourself a copy of How I Got Over HERE and support good music.

“Doing it Again” feat. John Legend

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“Now or Never” feat. Phonte, Dice Raw

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Here’s the first video from the YahZarah‘s new album, The Ballad of Purple Saint James. I love this song, it has a vintage Prince sound, high energy, rocking guitars, coupled with YahZarah‘s vocals; it’s a winner! The video is fun, psychedelic, and features a lot of cameos — from producers Nicholay, Phonte (getting his Soul Glo on!), to fellow singers Raye 6, Jesse Boykins III and more. Check it out and enjoy!

A year ago, when Muphoric Sounds was born, I did a feature on the “Wave of Girl Power“, where I mentioned three amazing women who were clearly bringing sexy back with their own personal style and attitude. YahZarah was one of these young ladies. It was announced last year that The Foreign Exchange‘s Nicolay and Phonte had taken YahZarah under their wings and the internet world roared with cheers!

“Why Dontcha Call Me No More” is the first single from the forthcoming album entitled, The Ballad of Purple Saint James, scheduled to release May 4th, which is sure to be pure eargasm. This woman has worked with the best in the music world—a former backing singer for Erykah Badu, and has performed with Prince, Chaka Khan, R.Kelly, Bilal, The Roots, Talib Kweli, and J*Davey. Her vocal range is outstanding, not only can she funk it out (as she does on this single “Why Dontcha Call Me No More“), but she can also sing the hell out a ballad with her impeccable, pristine voice.

Listen to “Why Dontcha Call Me No More,” and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to hear it on repeat. So get the free download pack, which includes the single, cover art, and an avatar you can use on Twitter to promote the album’s release date.

“Why Dontcha Call Me No More” by YahZarah from The Ballad of Purple Saint James

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