Customer Reviews

Here

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

The more I listen to the album the more I like it. Nic expands his skills on this album....definately has a different feel than Foreign Exchange, but that is a good thing because no one wants a duplicate album. If you are a Nicolay fan, it's a no brainer, get this CD and you will be happy.

I thought the production of this cd would be on par with everything else Nicolay has done, but that was simply not the case. Short in length, this cd only has a couple headbanger(one being "what it used to be" by Wiz Khalifa). Nicolay's production should have been much better, although it seems like he threw the album together. If you like the Justus League and are down with this underground movement, then cop this album(it's ok).

It saddens me to say that I'm dissappointed in this album. But before some ignorant cat has a rebuttle, this album DOES HAVE great moments. First off, Nicolay is hands down one of my favorite producers of all time! His genius with melodies and song compositions are unparalleled to say the least. However, I feel he has changed his style on THIS album slightly to cater to the U.S. "typical-rapcat" flow. Don't get me wrong, it's well done, but it's just not what has captured my ear. I get a sense that he's living here in the U.S. and is allowing cats to change his signature sound to make what is perceived as more "marketable" beats. Everyone doesn't have to produce choppy tracks! He's won my support and loyalty as a listener because his albums have provided steady melodies and fluent drums and kicks. The Foreign Exchange album is hands down one of my favorite albums ever!!! Both City Lights and The Dutch Masters Mixtape are classic material, making all three of these albums a tough act to follow. I just wish Nicolay will keep making beats in the format he has in the past because I'm not ready to come down off of that cloud yet...

BOTTOM LINE:

Nic's music is good for cruising at nite or a backdrop to a nice get-together at the crib. This CD is nowhere near the amazing magic of 'Connected', but you can never go wrong with Nicolay! Still enjoyable, still soulful, and it's always a good thing to support (and pay for) GOOD MUSIC!

I thought this was a solid album by Nicolay, despite the complaints from others. Black Spade came with the delivery as usual, and I like the flow of Wiz as well. I think people get too caught up in believing that all albums should sound the same. Nicolay shows his diversity with this album which is not like his previous ones. So what is not as long as the other ones, it's still a good album.

YAAAY! Someone who understands why God gave us beats. Own this. Just playing this in public, is a show stopper--in a good way. Nicolay brings selfless expression and artistic dedication back to the one leg of hip hop that seems to have very few followers. It's like listing to Teddy Riley, Native Tongues(you may not be old enough for this one),D'Angelo, and Dwele with a more universal fell to it. I love the imagery as well. Just look at the album! No bling, or naked chickens, to disturb the feel of selfless love for what you do...I like that. Pick this up!

nicolay is an awesome producer and beat maker
if u truly are a hip hop junkie u neeeeed to own this album