Send "Saigon " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Absolutepunk |
 The drama behind the release of Saigon's debut album The Greatest Story Never Told played out over the years almost like a hip-hop soap opera. With threats of retirement and serious doubts that the album would ever be released, The Greatest Story Never Told almost became just that. Most of the conflict was caused by differences between Saigon and his old label, Atlantic Records, who eventually released the album and gave Saigon and the album's executive producer Just Blaze full control over the record's fate. Fast forward almost three more years, and we've just now seen the release of The Greatest Story Never Told. Did it live up to the numerous delays, or fall flat after years and years of production?The former. Typical of Just Blaze, the production is crisp and on point, coherent from track to track while also varied enough to make each trip through the album a captivating experience. While other producers obviously provided their input on more than one track, it's readily apparent that Just Blaze exercised his title as executive producer to the fullest. While nothing is all that mind-blowing, the whole of The Greatest Story Never Told is solid up until the final track. Funny enough, the two most stand-out tracks happen to be the ones produced solely by other artists. “It's Alright” features the extensive skills of Kanye West, with samples pulled from Luther Vandross' classic cover of The Carpenter's “Superstar.” Up and coming R&B vocalist Marsha Ambrosius also lends a hand with her unique vocals over subdued piano melodies and drum beats, but Saigon's heartfelt lyrics are the glue that holds this track together. He reaches out to families who have been torn apart by crime with a surprising amount of poise and honesty, a theme that follows him throughout the whole album....full text |
| Hiphopdx |
| While Saigon’s plight with the music industry is surely not a special case, it is still a revealing source of the intricate flaws that accompany being signed to a major label. Shelved as an artist due to marketing issues and unable to procure proper liberation from Atlantic Records, the New York rapper born Brian Carenard found himself shackled to a diminishing Rap career, a notion that was all too familiar for the former prison inmate. Five years later and finally off the label at the ripe age of 33, Saigon hopes to capture in one debut album what his peers have done in three to four releases with The Greatest Story Never Told. As proven by his venerable mixtape past, Saigon’s ability to maneuver through various topics becomes his best asset on The Greatest Story Never Told. Whether it’s his disdain for the streets that paved a rugged road to the slammer on “Enemies,” or his aim to set a better impression for the youth with “Believe It,” Saigon’s convictions over enticing beats reveal a man with a lot on his mind and the right medium to display these thoughts. Taking his criticism a step further, Saigon launches a verbal assault on corrupt pastors who coerce their congregation for offerings that they in turn pocket for their own good will. Channeling memories from the past, he rhymes, “We was fucking depending on Section 8 / But always had something to put in your collection plate / It was always so strange, it was odd / To see my mom scratching up change to give it to God / I think we all knew, nobody saying shit / You was using that to pay your car payments / We was mother fucking paying your mortgage / We was living in the projects you know we couldn’t afford it.”...full text |
| Rapfix |
| For years rapper Saigon promised to reclaim New York's rap crown. Instead, the MC was hampered by label politics, but not anymore. Sai, a Brooklyn-to-Spring Valley, New York transplant, was working diligently on his debut album The Greatest Story Never Told with super producer Just Blaze, and has been for the last several years. He and Just have ultimately cooked up, what some say, is the Big Apple’s follow-up to Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready To Die. And despite his numerous major label setbacks, Saigon has remained humble, knowing his day would come. Now The Greatest Story Never Told has arrived and RapFix took a listen. Nestled in a New York studio, the MC recently unveiled his trying story to a select group, saying the LP is slated to hit shelves in February 2011—just in time for Black History Month. The title track "The Greatest Story Never Told," produced by Just Blaze, opens the album with a roar. The next song, entitled "The Invitation," boasts Saigon alongside Q-Tip, who mans the hook with hypeman Fat Man Scoop. "Who got Q-Tip rapping on a jail record" asked Sai, with a wide smile. On "Bring Me Down" the MC rides over a guitar-laced sample, which could be seen as outside of his realm. "This is my version of a rock record" explained Sai. "This was actually the last record I recorded." "GSNT" also features Just Blaze's production and right before playing "Come On Baby" featuring Jay-Z, which hit the Internet several years ago, the MC joked that Just’s greatest gems slipped through his hands and into Mr. Carter’s lap. "But the homey did me a big favor getting on this record," Sai said with a laugh....full text |
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