Saigon Speaks on The Greatest Story Never Told [XXL Double Clicks]
With his album final in stores, Saigon speaks on The Greatest Story Never Told and his battle with industry politics in these exclusive out takes from his March 2011 XXL feature…
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Saigon has overcome. After building a name for himself in the streets and hip-hop’s mixtape circuit, the rapper signed to Atlantic Records in 2004 and heavily began promoting his debut album The Greatest Story Never Told. Industry politics, bad decisions and personal issues all stood in the way and the album never saw the light of day— until, now. On Tuesday February 8, 2011 The Greatest Story Never Told was released, as promised.
For our March 2011 issue XXL spoke with Saigon for our feature story “Get Back Up.” Here is the portion that didn’t make the mag!
We’ve been hearing about the album for so long to the point where the title; The Greatest Story Never Told started becoming a joke.
Like I set it up like that.
How did you handle all that criticism on the blogs and Internet?
You know what kinda messed me up? Entourage. It was kind of a gift and a curse. Entourage was a big blessing as far as getting my name out there and the experience of acting on a hit show. But it also made everybody feel like I should’ve dropped my album just because Entourage was big.
I got my deal with Atlantic in December of 2004. Entourage was in 2005. Me and Just had two songs done when Entourage started airing and everybody felt like, “Oh now’s the time to go. If he misses his window this is it.” It was like, Hold up. We wanted to make a masterpiece album. You don’t make a masterpiece over night. So it was like when Entourage started to fade away people started to feel like I was fading away with that. I’m like I didn’t come in on Entourage, that’s what most people know me from because it was such a big stage, but that wasn’t who I was. I’ve been grinding, doing this shit since ’02. I’ve been working my way to get to the point where I could get a major record deal and where I could come out. You guys are gonna limit me to Entourage and shit? That kinda messed me up. As much as it helped me, in certain ways it kinda made everybody feel like I should’ve rode that wave because it was such a big wave.
A friend one time told me, “Yo I don’t know who that kid is on Entourage, but he can kinda rap.”
Even funnier than that, is that the name is bigger than the face. So I introduce myself as Saigon and they go, “Oh like the guy from Entourage?” So I’m like fuck it, “Yeah like him.”
If you could do it all again would you do it?
Of course. I would do it three more times. My core knows that was just a good look for me, but the people who just learned about me on that show or felt like I should’ve used that as an opportunity to just come out then are the ones who really don’t understand this business.
TRUE TALK!
Real talk, nigga got game. He also got my respect. Imma cop his album. Support his shit.
Lol at all the talk about lui vuiton, sounds like he was talkin about Game all the way.
and another lol at entourage. best serie today after the wire lol
i dig this brother man…we need more of these cats in hiphop!!
thats why i no longer listen to mainstream/commercial hip hop. cus i dont wanna hear or support none of that ignorant as louis vuiton shit
underground hip hop bigger now than ever
Sad for Saigon but that’s the reality of Labels, be Independent.
Saigon TGSNT is a classic!
Nice read. I just bought “TGSNT” n i also copped Warningshots 2. First of all “TGSNT” is def. worth the LOOOOOOOOONGG wait lol, n its a bangin album, alot of substans n quality is put into this one, but i would wish it would’ve came out back when.. but fuck it its here, n im a happy fan, n have nothing but respect for this guy!!
Warningshots is a strange experience, theres some sick bangers on it, but then again theres some fucked up shit on it, i wouldent expect Saigetty to make, but fuck it its water under the bridge.
I wish nothing but good luck too Sai, n hope to see him on top in the future, he is def. one of the top emcees in the game right now!!!
Trust Me! I shit felt damn GOOD! Had my Black Ass, knockin’ them white girls, shit GOT senseless!
I was bangin pussy in a dark parking lot, behind a damn club, sweet 18 year old Blonde, hairy ass pink pussy, that shit was sweet! My first taste, I never forgot that shit!
I had tongue pussy, like Staving Afircan! Damn lips, lock so sweet! Back home, Nigga dont eat NO damn pussy!
I was eatin’ my first pussy, that night! Had my damn Dik poking, HARD!
GOOD bang, like Deep Down Gangsta! White girlz, GOT sweet pussy. GOT so GOOD! I was tear that shit up! Made me feels my damn Kunty Roots! Deep Down pussy, made Nigga realized, back home. people, told a Brotha, that Strong Roots, we had!
shit SPOKE BLACK TRUTH! Nigga got Rootz! Like my Great Grand Daddy musta had! Sharecroppe. my Great Grand Daddy had a Bik Dik!
got that shit from Grand Daddy! Strong Roots GOT sweet pussy! Told some Plantaton Blonde HOW GOOD, that sweet was!
Telling her NOT, let Massa know! A Plantaton Buck, bangin Massa daughte! Roots Glide like Stallion! My Granddaddy know it GOOD! Like grangdday, I slam sweet Blonde GOOD Soul Pole!
like Sweet Black Justice! every damn Niigga, know it be GOOD!