Revive Da Live put on what will go down as one of the best concerts of the year when they presented their latest installment of their Flagship Series at Le Poisson Rouge, titled “Hip Hop 1942″.  The premise of the show being was to perform jazz standards and seamlessly blend them into classic hip-hop songs that sampled the original.  It was a beautiful night of music from some of the best underground jazz musicians in the NYC area and the emcee duties were handled by John Robison, Raydar Ellis and Phonte (of Little Brother / The Foreign Exchange).  Here is their Dilla tribute, which included “The Official”,  “Fall In Love” and “Diana In The Autumn Wind”, with the trio of emcees freesyling, creating a jazzy hip-hop bliss.  If you live in NYC, you need to start checking out Revive Da Live’s concerts- you will not be disappointed.

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The Foreign Exchange kicked off their first ever official tour in New York City this past November at the Highline Ballroom.  For those who are sleeping on good music, The Foreign Exchange is comprized of Phonte (of Little Brother) and soulful producer extraordinaire, Nicolay.  Backed by a live band headed by Zo!, a frequent collaborator with Phonte, and with background vocals from the lovely Yazarah, here is the first time “Daykeeper” was ever performed for a live crowd… the results speak for themselves, simply beautiful music.

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