Nicolay has been a significant factor in the progression of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music since the early 2000s. An accomplished beatmaker before he started to fully flex his skills as a subtly eclectic producer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist, he is known most for his Grammy-nominated partnership with Phonte under the name the Foreign Exchange, and has an extensive discography of additional collaborative and solo recordings. Among these releases are his City Lights trilogy (including 2015's City Lights, Vol. 3: Soweto), Glaciers (a 2018 meeting with jazz trio the Hot at Nights), and Analog Dreams (a 2021 set combining three EPs).