The Greatest Story Never Told

Infobox Album
Name = The Greatest Story Never Told
Type = studio
Artist = Saigon


Released =
Recorded = 2005–2008
Genre = Hip hop
Length =
Label = Fort Knocks
Producer = Just Blaze, Kanye West, Buckwild, Red Spyda, Scram Jones, Stevie E., DJ Coco Chanelle
Reviews =
Last album = "The Moral of the Story"
(2007)
This album = "The Greatest Story Never Told"
Next album = "Thank God" [ [http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hiphopdx/news/~3/413786438/title.saigon-talks-second-album-before-releasing-the-first Saigon Talks Second Album Before Releasing First.] HipHopDX.com. Accessed October 7, 2008.] Singles
Name = The Greatest Story Never Told
Type = studio
single 1 = C'mon Baby
single 1 date = 2007
single 2 = Believe It
single 2 date = May 21, 2008

"The Greatest Story Never Told" is the rapper Saigon's debut album. It is to be released on the producer Just Blaze's record label Fort Knocks Entertainment. [Jayson Rodriguez (November 12 2007) [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 News. Accessed November 21 2007.]

Background

"The Greatest Story Never Told" has never had an official release date, Saigon has never handed an album into Atlantic Records. The album wasn't completed until early 2008.

Just Blaze will be handling most of the production, but Buckwild, Kanye West, Scram Jones, Ben Donaghy, and Red Spyda will contribute as well. Guest appearances will include Q-Tip, Faith Evans, Bun B, Swizz Beatz, Devin the Dude.Just Blaze (June 14 2007) [http://themegatrondon2.com/2007/06/14/strictly-business/ Strictly Business] The Megatron Don. Accessed November 21 2007.]

Saigon claims that his album is the best album in the last 20 years. [Dick Johnson (May 4 2007) [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/11535 Ice-T Snitches On Cam'ron, Beanie Sigel Gets Physical, Pimp C Will "Expose You Cl*tor*s"] SOHH. Accessed November 21 2007.]

The album's first single "C'mon Baby" was released in 2007. The album's second single "Believe It" was released May 21 2008. [ [http://themegatrondon2.com/2008/05/21/sweet-freedom/ Sweet Freedom | themegatrondon2.com ] ]

Controversy

MySpace blog

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 a real artist, not a "jingle writer", and they only care about the money, not the music. 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. Accessed November 21 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. Saigon then posted an apology to Just Blaze. [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. 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 November 21 2007.] The issue has since been resolved.

Retirement rumors

On November 19 2007, Saigon posted a blog on his myspace entitled "I QUIT" announcing his retirement from the music industry. [ [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=16507 Saigon Announces He’s Quitting Rap] "XXL" (November 19, 2007). Accessed November 19, 2007.] In a statement he gave HipHopGame.com late in the day he said, "This is it. The Greatest Story Never Told...I guess you could say it was prophecy," implying the album would not be released. [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=2032 Saigon releases exclusive statement on HipHopGame] HipHopGame.com (November 19, 2007). Accessed November 19, 2007.] On November 26 2007, Just Blaze posted a blog stating he was putting the final touches on "The Greatest Story Never Told". He continued to hint that the album may in fact be released.Just Blaze (November 26, 2007) [http://www.themegatrondon2.com/2007/11/26/feelin-it/ Feelin It.] The Megatron Don. Accessed November 27, 2007] On December 19 2007, exactly one month from the first blog, Saigon posted another blog stating that he had reconsidered retiring. He also said that the album would indeed be released saying, "My album WILL be released VERY soon". [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=2096 Watch Out Hip-Hop Saigon is Back] HipHopGame.com (December 19 2007). Accessed December 19 2007.] The album's executive producer stated that The Greatest Story Never Told had undergone its final mastering on January 8th. [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=justblaze Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes ] ]

In an interview with hiphopgame.com, Just Blaze explained various reasons behind the numerous delays of The Great Story Never Told, the most prominent being that he wished a relationship to be established with Saigon before creating an album. In the said interview he expressed that "...people wouldn't have found out about the deal until maybe a year and a half ago as opposed to three years ago" [ [http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=justblaze Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes ] ] Saigon had stated that he planned to release the album by September 30th, 2008 [ [http://www.sixshot.com/articles/11346/ Saigon Closing In On New Record Deal, Jay-Z's Roc Nation Mentioned ] ] , but was unable to achieve this.

Release from label

On May 21 2008, Just Blaze ,announced via his blog, that they have gotten their release from Atlantic, and 100% ownership of the album. This is due to all the pushbacks and problems caused by Atlantic. He stated there is a new situation in the works. Saigon on his myspace blog verified the statement and they are getting a new deal and the album will be released this year [ [http://themegatrondon2.com/2008/05/21/sweet-freedom/ Sweet Freedom | themegatrondon2.com ] ]

References