Saigon (rapper)

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Saigon
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Brian Daniel Carenard
Origin = Brooklyn, New York, United States
Born = July 13, 1977
Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = Rapper, Actor
Years_active = 2001-Present
Label = Fort Knocks Entertainment
Associated_acts = Just Blaze, Tru-Life, Jay-Z
URL = [http://www.abandonednation.com Official site]

Brian Daniel Carenard, better known by his stage name Saigon, is an American rapper.

Saigon is currently signed to Just Blaze's Fort Knocks Entertainment record label and is awaiting the release of his highly anticipated label debut entitled "The Greatest Story Never Told".

Biography

1977-2000: Early life and prison stint

Born in Newburgh, New York, Saigon spent his upbringing in Spring Valley, New York. Cyril Cordor. [http://wc10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dvfuxq9aldke~T1 (((Saigon > Biography)))] Allmusic. Accessed November 21, 2007.] After his prison release in 2000, he established the company Abandoned Nation, which was partly a nonprofit foundation that provided support for the children of incarcerated parents, but it also helped him and associated artists to pursue their music careers.

2001-2006: Rise to fame, "Entourage" and stabbing

After Saigon was released from prison he started to appear on mixtapes and make contacts inside the music industry. His first important musical contact was DJ/producer Mark Ronson, who gave him studio time and access to other valuable contacts. The rapper later left Ronson's company, on good terms, in order to explore better options. In 2002, Saigon released his first mixtape "Da Yard Father 1 - The Best of Saigon", which "XXL" ranked 14 on their top 20 artist-driven mixtapes list. [Leah Rose and Anslem Samuel (July 27, 2006) [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=3345 Hustler Musik] "XXL". Accessed November 22, 2007.] Saigon quickly gained popularity in the underground circuit and on the internet. Saigon was listed on many "Artists to Watch" columns (including Time magazine) and graced the covers of many hip-hop publications throughout the early to mid-2000s.

In 2005, Saigon landed a recurring role in the popular HBO show "Entourage". Fact|date=May 2008 He appeared as himself in the second and third seasons of the show. Entourage is credited as being a big boost to his career, making him more recognizable to the mainstream U.S. population. Fact|date=May 2008

On the night of January 17, 2006, Saigon was stabbed in the temple with a wine bottle as he left a diner in the Chelsea section of New York. [Shaheem Reid (January 19, 2006). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521194/20060119/saigon.jhtml?headlines=true Saigon Assaulted Outside Diner In New York] "MTV". Accessed November 4, 2006.] A man approached Saigon and attempted to steal a chain of his, worth $18,000. When Saigon grabbed it back, a fight started. Saigon, bleeding from the head, tried to hail down a taxi but was unsuccessful. As a result, Saigon ended up driving himself to Bellevue Hospital where he received seven stitches.

2007

Prodigy, "Moral of the Story" and album with Tru-Life

On the night of September 19 2007, after an impromptu performance by Saigon during a Mobb Deep show, words were exchanged between Saigon and Prodigy of Mobb Deep. [ [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2007/09/3121/ Saigon, Mobb Deep Get Into Physical Altercation During Music Showcase In New York] BallerStatus.com (September 20 2007). Accessed December 19 2007.] This escalated into an argument, which resulted with Saigon punching Prodigy twice in the face. [ [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5731/title.saigon-punches-prodigy-of-mobb-deep Saigon Punches Prodigy of Mobb Deep] HipHopDX.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed November 21, 2007.] Two video versions of the events have since emerged. One version with slow motion footage shows a clear look of Saigon punching Prodigy, while another video being endorsed by Mobb Deep shows Saigon being chased and running out of the club. [ [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12603 Saigon Talks Fight With Prodigy] Sohh.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed November 21, 2007.]

"The Moral of the Story" is Saigon's street album Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Liz Hernandez. [http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/111207/ Mixtape Monday: Jay-Z Borrows The-Dream's 'Hook'; Young Buck Says His Album 'Is Better Than Kanye's And 50's'] MTV. Accessed November 19, 2007.] , which consists of new original material and songs that were cut from "The Greatest Story Never Told". This album was released to create hype for his debut album and to hold fans over until his major label debut was released. Despite the mixtape not having his best material, Saigon says that it's better than most rappers studio albums. The album was released on November 13, 2007. On the album, Saigon criticizes many rappers.

On November 17, 2007 Saigon and fellow New York rapper Tru-Life. Announced they would be recording a collaborative album. [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=2027 Saigon and Tru Life recording album together; HipHopGame bringing continuous, exclusive coverage on the album] HipHopGame.com (November 17, 2007). Accessed November 19, 2007.] Speaking on the album Saigon stated: quote|We’re using what got us here, and that’s our talent. Our talent put us in this situation to get our music out there. At times we get sidetracked by the bullshit, but we have to bring it back to what made me love hip-hop and that’s the genuine shit, not the gimmicky shit. The radio is pretty much destroying hip-hop. The bullshit music is fucking it up because now everybody feels like they can do it. When everybody can do something, it gets so diluted and the music won’t be as potent. We’re not even going to call this a mixtape. We’re doing an album together.|Saigon and Tru-Life have reportedly recorded about six songs for the album. [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=2057 Saigon and Tru Life still recording album together] HipHopGame.com (December 3, 2007). Accessed December 3, 2007.]

"The Greatest Story Never Told", arrest and the "I QUIT" blog

"The Greatest Story Never Told" is Saigon's highly anticipated debut album set to be released on Just Blaze's Fort Knocks Entertainment. Originally scheduled for a 2005 release but was constantly delayed. On June 1, 2007, Saigon posted a blog on his Myspace stating that he felt Atlantic Records didn't have the desire to release his album because he is an artist, and they only care about the money, not the music he's producing. He stated that the album will be released independently if Atlantic will not release it. [Verbal Walker (June 4 2007) [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5314/title.saigon-vs-atlantic-records Saigon Vs Atlantic Records!?!?] HipHopDX.com. Accessed December 19 2007.] Saigon later took down that blog because he thought it offended Just Blaze. On June 14, 2007, Just Blaze responded to Saigon's comments on his own blog. He stated that he was not offended by the blog but just didn't understand why Saigon would post it now when the only thing holding up the album release is a sample clearance for the single "C'mon Baby" which Craig Kallman—president of Atlantic—was personally handling. [Just Blaze (June 14, 2007). [http://themegatrondon2.com/2007/06/14/strictly-business/ Strictly Business] The Megatron Don. Accessed November 21, 2007] . Saigon then posted an apology and announced he signed a deal with Violator Management. [Shake (June 16, 2007). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5362/title.saigon-apologizes-and-signs-with-violator-management Saigon Apologizes and Signs With Violator Management] HipHopDX.com. Accessed November 21, 2007.] Just Blaze later posted that all samples had been cleared. [Just Blaze (June 20 2007). [http://www.themegatrondon2.com/2007/06/20/word/ Word!] The Megatron Don. Accessed December 2007.] The Greatest Story Never Told was set to be released early 2008.

On August 22, Saigon was arrested in Manhattan on felony weapon charges. According to the New York Post, a small knife was found by authorities in Saigon's car after he was pulled over on 11th Avenue and West 29th street for a traffic infraction. Saigon was released on $1500 bail, and appeared in court on December 5, 2007. [Slava Kuperstein (August 24, 2007). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5619/title.saigon-arrested-for-weapons-possession Saigon Arrested for Weapons Possession] HipHopDX.com. Accessed November 21, 2007.]

On November 19, 2007 Saigon posted a blog on his myspace entitled "I QUIT" [ [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=16507 LINK: Saigon Announces He’s Quitting Rap] "XXL" (November 19, 2007). Accessed November 19, 2007] stating he was quiting the music industry because of how the media spins what he says in interviews and how they don't care about his real message. Saigon said in his blog:Later in the day Saigon gave a statement to HipHopGame.com confirming what he said in his myspace blog. [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=2032 Saigon releases exclusive statement on HipHopGame] HipHopGame.com (November 19, 2007). Accessed November 19, 2007.] He told HHG that he was going to focus more on his nonprofit organizations In Arms Reach and Abandoned Nation, which help New York City kids whose parents are incarcerated.

On December 19 Saigon posted another blog, entitled "It Feels Good....,", [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=2096 Watch Out Hip-Hop Saigon is Back] HipHopGame.com (December 19 2007). Accessed December 19 2007.] stating that he had decided not to retire. In his blog Saigon said:

2008

On May 14 2008, Saigon, in an exclusive interview with Providence's 95.5 WBRU, announced that his contract with Atlantic Records had been dissolved.Recent media speculation has indicated that Saigon will be signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation, a soon-to-be newly established, joint venture with Live Nation.

More recent speculation suggests that Saigon is expecting a baby girl in October 2008. No word yet on the name of the baby or who the mother of his expected child is. This will be Saigon's first child.

Saigon has also recently worked on a project with Hot97 DJ Peter Rosenberg, an EP produced by Oddisee. [ [http://www.rosenbergradio.com/2008/09/26/the-first-love-lockdown-remix-prod-by-oddisee/ The First "Love Lockdown " Remix! Prod. by Oddisee....] RosenbergRadio.com (September 26 2008). Accessed October 1 2008.]

Discography

Albums

*TBA: "The Greatest Story Never Told"
*TBA: Thank God

Mixtapes

* "Da Yard Father 1 - The Best of Saigon"
* "The Abandoned Tracks Volume 1"
* "The Abandoned Tracks Volume 2"
* "Warning Shots"
* "Abandoned Nation"
* "Da Yard Father 2 - On the Go Back"
* "Welcome to Saigon"
* "The Return Of The Yardfather"
* "Belly of The Beast (The Scram Jones Files)"
* "The Moral of the Story"

Filmography

References

External links

* [http://www.saigonnation.com Official website run by Atlantic Records]
* [http://www.abandonednation.com Official website run by Saigon]
* [http://www.myspace.com/saigonthayardfather Saigon] at Myspace
*
* [http://inarmsreach.org/flash.html In Arms Reach] charity organization
* [http://nysdocslookup.docs.state.ny.us/GCA00P00/WIQ3/WINQ130 New York State Prison record]