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Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2: Bread And Circuses - Music Head - 08-11-2012 online listen good lyrics on some of this and I like that piano riff on the clip with 11 featured artists I never know who I'm hearing guess Saigon couldn't go it alone 1.4 from me and not yet rated by the pros at allmusic from the album - Blown Away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwZmfSDMhlg released Nov 6th, 2012 Bio - from allmusic Analogous to mixtape kingpins 50 Cent and Papoose, Saigon rose to prominence within hip-hop's top ranks, particularly in New York, on unofficial singles and mixtapes alone. Politically conscious and street- smart, the rapper became a formidable force when he was taken under the wing of Roc-A-Fella Records' in- demand producer Just Blaze, who shared his passion for early-'90s hip-hop. Born in Brooklyn but raised in Rockland County, New York, Saigon (aka Brian Carenard) developed his deft rhyming skills during his seven-year stint in prison, where he also earned the nickname "the Yardfather." Only a teenager, he spent much of his time delving into politics and black history, educating himself on topics like the Vietnam War and Toussaint L'Ouverture, but he identified primarily with the history and background of Malcolm X. After his prison release in 2000, he established the company Abandoned Nation, which was partly a nonprofit foundation to provide support for the children of incarcerated parents, but also helped him and associated artists to pursue their music careers. 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. Saigon began producing mixtapes in 2002. It didn't take the raw lyricist much time to gain a sizable fan base with songs like the political "Shok TV," the street gang-focusing "The Color Purple," and the alliterating exercise of "The Letter P," one of his first tracks with Just Blaze. Blaze was looking for an atypical rapper with whom he could start his new Fort Knocks imprint, and after hearing Saigon, he signed him almost immediately. To say Saigon became just a promising up-and-comer is an understatement. Saigon was listed on tons of "Artists to Watch" lists (including in Time magazine) and graced the covers of many hip-hop publications throughout the early to mid-2000s. His songs found their way onto the mixtapes of many reputable DJs, like DJ Kay Slay, DJ Whookid, and DJ Drama. Meanwhile, his own mixtapes, including the Yardfather volumes and Warning Shots (2004), sold very well. By 2005, the MC was signed to Atlantic Records via Blaze's imprint and had landed a recurring role in the HBO hit series Entourage. However, his official Atlantic debut album was constantly delayed, causing his buzz in the industry to subside slightly, but still leaving many in anticipation. Just months after signing, Saigon began working to obtain his release from Atlantic, claiming artistic differences, and even announced his retirement in 2007; finally, he was released from the label in 2008. Although very little official material emerged -- just a few singles -- he released mixtapes and other unofficial albums prolifically, including two further volumes of his Warning Shots series (which had debuted in 2004). Finally, in 2011, Saigon released his first official album, The Greatest Story Never Told, via Suburban Noize Records and Just Blaze's Fort Knocks. Produced primarily by Just Blaze, the album earned strong reviews and sparked Saigon to talk about recording a new album soon. Album Review - from xxlmag The sequel to his much delayed debut LP The Greatest Story Never Told, Saigon’s sophomore album The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2: Bread and Circuses showcases the maturation of the Yardfather’s artistry as he explores harsh realities once more in addition to his career, moral sense, religion and ambition. Starting with “Plant the Seed (What U Paid For)” foreshadowing several main subjects that reoccurs throughout the LP, the self-claimed Thespian vocalizes, “Everybody ballin’, huh, everybody winning/Ain’t nobody poor no more, everybody spending.” It foretells how little reality he feels his peers are incorporating in their music, a topic he blatantly tackles on, “Brownsville Girl (Ghetto).” It’s a continuously repeated theme throughout the project, as Sai revisits the matter on “Not Like Them”— illustrating how he, on the contrary, is taking action in his lyrics—and the Just Blaze-produced “Rap vs. Real,” which reaffirms his desire for hip-hop to revert back to how it used to be in his eyes. With the help of Cincinnati up-and-comer Corbett, who produced four records on the album, Saigon lightens the grimness of the LP on “Let Me Run.” Comparably, Sai and Corbett do the same with Lecrae on “Best Thing That I Found,” a spiritually elevating record that reveals the Yardfather’s church-oriented past. “Forever Dreamin’,” keeps a similar vibe, but accentuates the emotions as Sai dedicates the record to his recently passed manager, and industry veteran, Chris Lighty. Never the one to hold his tongue, Saigon addresses his thoughts on homosexuality on “Our Babies 2 (Crazy World),” in which he states, “The other day I seen a girl acting like a boy/Then I seen a little boy acting like a girl/People try to tell me that’s just the way of the world/Shit make you wanna hurl.” Is the Brooklyn rapper admitting his homophobia? It’s up for interpretation, but it’s clear the MC won’t stand for something politically correct for the sake of it. In short, Saigon’s second LP offers a sizable amount of diversity over fitting instrumentals, exhibiting how much he has evolved as a rapper by personifying his bars to reflect his music and his life. The album is gratifying, surely enough to make those whom purchase the album to be happy with what they paid for. Track Listing 1. Plant the Seed (What U Paid For) 2. Rap vs Real 3. Let Me Run Feat. Corbett 4. Not Like Them Feat. Styles P 5. Brownsville Girl 6. The Game Changer Feat. Marsha Ambrosius 7. Blown Away 8. When Will U Love Me Feat. Andreena Mill 9. The Vowel Song Feat. Rayne Dior 10. Best Thing That I Found Feat. Lecrae & Corbett 11. Relafriendship Feat. G Martin 12. Yeah Yeah 13. Forever Dreamin' Feat. Tony Collins 14. Intervention (Let It Go) Feat. G Martin 15. Our Babies 2 (Crazy World) 16. Keep Pushing Feat. Chamillionaire 17. Blown Away Pt 2 Feat Sticman of Dead Prez 18. Rap vs. Real Homegrown