Search - Nicolay :: Here

Nicolay is my favorite producer, but...

P. T. J. | Detroit MI | 10/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It pains me to give this album four stars, but I can't legitimately give it more. Nicolay is - hands down - my favorite producer, if not my favorite musician to come along in years. The Foreign Exchange album is one of my top three favorite albums ever made. Nicolay isn't a producer in my eyes, he's a composer. His music is beautiful, soulful, touching, head-nodding, superb on every level, and above and beyond almost anyone in hip-hop now-a-days. "Connected" is the perfect album for me, since Phonte - next to Talib Kweli - is my favorite emcee, so of course, I wasn't expecting this album to be quite to that caliber, but I wasn't doubting. I have unlimited faith in Nicolay's music and his taste in emcees, but "Here" falls short for one specific reason: on "Connected," Phonte's lyrics were beautiful and intelligent, and complimented Nicolay's production to a T. On "Here," Nicolay enlists a roster of emcees not on the same level. I don't mean to knock on Black Spade or any of the emcees on this album, but the tracks lyrically are much weaker than I expected. "I Am The Man" is blessed with a great beat, and yet the lyrics are often simple and shallow. On track 8, "End Is Near," I was incredibly disappointed. Black Spade kicks some rhymes that sound like a bad page from 50 Cent's notebook. "Good Days Are Gone" is lyrically passable at best, nothing extraordinary, and "What It Used To Be" is, while very catchy, certainly not a classic. I expected "My Story" to be a very strong lyrical song, and again, the rhyming abilities of the emcees fell just short. Of all the rap songs on this album, however, "What It Used To Be" and "My Story" are the strongest. Ironically, it's Nicolay's tracks that stand by themselves, and his r&b songs that score big numbers here. "Give Her Everything" is amazingly addicting and lilting. "I Love The Way You Love" is the next best song on the album, boasting Darien Brockington on vocals with some blissfully heartfelt and intelligent songwriting. Props to him. Yahzarah wins as well on "Adore," using her trademark high-pitched vocals to play harmony to a beautiful Nicolay track.

I'm one of Nicolay's biggest fans, or at least self-proclaim myself to be, and so I hate to give any album he's been a part of 4 stars, but I look at the roster of emcees he's affiliated with and wonder why didn't enlist more of them for his album? Phonte? Big Pooh? Supastition? Nicolay is incredibly sought after as a producer now-a-days, and I can't help but feel that he's been pressured to go a little too mainstream with his music, and has forgotten that it was his heartfelt music coupled with soulful rhymes that won people's hearts in the firstplace. HOWEVER, I do NOT mean to cast a bad opinion on this album. I gave it four stars and it earned each and every one of them. Even on songs like "End Is Near," which I don't like, the production is solid and there are portions where the lyrics come through. I still recommend this album. The songs that are good on hear border on classics. This is more of an appeal to Nicolay himself than anything. I just hate to see his music going mainstream. Nevertheless, this album is worth every penny, and I highly recommend it. There's something here for everyone, and no matter WHAT emcees Nicolay may have brought on board, it can certainly be said that Nicolay himself is still at the very top of his game."

Laser focus

C. W. Hall | Atlanta, GA USA | 01/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's not often that the producer of a love song can steal the spotlight from the singer. It's usually the singer's place to make women swoon. But as the intro fades out and the opening notes of "I Love the Way You Love" come in, Darien Brockington is destined to take a backseat to Nicolay getting his love on with the sampler.



That theme dominates on Here. No matter who comes on-board as guest vocalist, they are never able to budge the spotlight off the production. Lush, multi-layered, larger than life music makes this the definition of a producer's project. Taking nothing away from the talented group of vocalists that present themselves here, but Nicolay unfailing outshines his guests.



"Give Her Everything" works itself beautifully around a vocal sample. Eschewing additional vocals, Nicolay finds a myriad of approaches to supporting and highlighting his chosen vocals. This song shows that the man who was introduced to you as part of a Foreign Exchange has now settled comfortably at the head of his class.



Move a few songs further into the record and Nicolay proves two things. First, that "What It Used to Be", "Give Her Everything", and "Let It Shine for Me" show that a sample (vocal or otherwise) doesn't have to be obscure to be incredible. Second, that the strictures of producing for rappers may be the only thing limiting Nicolay's imagination.



The only vocalist who rises to the challenge of matching Nicolay idea for idea, note for note, is Yahzarah on "Alone." The song is very simply put, beautiful. It is one of the things that everyone needs to hear, just so that we can have some common landmarks to discuss. It really is that good. If you can't find anything else off this record, make a point to hear "Alone."



Unfortunately, I don't envision Nicolay being long for this type of underground project. The only reason we get to see him on the level we do at this point is that he's not based in New York, L.A., or Atlanta. When domestic producers put this caliber of work together, it's just a matter of time before they are clearing out space on their walls for the platinum plaques. It's not that Nicolay is making incredible music. What makes it special is that it's incredible and extremely accessible. Enjoy him working with your favorite underground artists now. I promise it won't happen for too much longer."

I'll take you there!!!!!

C. W. Hall | 01/01/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Nicolay presents us with a decent debut. The beats was on point, production was good. A little bit too laid back. The featured artist were ok could have been better(Where's the Justus League!!!!!!) Black Spade is decent. The rest ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. A good download. But don't waist a lot of money on this. I prefer his Foreign Exchange projects!"