Saigon (rapper)

Brian Daniel Carenard (born July 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Saigon, is an American rapper and actor.[2] After years of delay due to former record label interference, his album The Greatest Story Never Told was released on Suburban Noize Records.[3] He is also known for his appearances on the HBO television series Entourage.

Saigon
Saigon in 2011
Background information
Birth nameBrian Daniel Carenard
Born (1977-07-13) July 13, 1977[1]
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1]
GenresEast Coast hip hop, gangsta rap
Occupation(s)Rapper, actor
Years active2000–present
LabelsSquid Ink Squad Records, CPXi (current)
Suburban Noize Records, Fort Knocks Entertainment, Amalgam Digital, Atlantic (former)
Associated actsJust Blaze, Tru-Life, Jay-Z, Scram Jones, Bun B, Fatman Scoop, Q-Tip, Trey Songz, Swollen Members, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, K-Slick
Websitewww.saigonnation.com

Life and career

Born to an African-American mother and a father from Port-au-Prince, Haiti,[4][5] Saigon was raised in Spring Valley, NY and was sentenced to jail time at Napanoch's Eastern Correctional Facility in the late 1990s, serving a sentence for first-degree assault after shooting at someone in a bar.[2] One day while in the recreation yard, Brian met a fellow inmate named Hakim, who rapped and had a reputation for incorporating positive messages, and heavy use of prestigious vocabulary in his rhymes.[2] Carenard would later state that battle rapping with Hakim would help instigate his personal rehabilitation, as he set a course for redemption through hip hop music.[2] While serving time, Brian named himself "Saigon" after reading Wallace Terry’s book about the Vietnam War.[2] This book helped realign the content and diction in Saigon's raps, as well as the advice of a prison lifer: "There’s no right way to do wrong."[2] Saigon was eventually released from prison in 2000, and immediately recorded mixtapes, with the goal of obtaining a record contract as a means to release a debut album, which he wanted to be titled "The Greatest Story Never Told".[2]

With the help of the underground buzz that he garnered over the years, Saigon signed a record deal with Atlantic Records in 2004.[2] Despite the co-sign from producer Just Blaze and collaborations with several acclaimed rap artists such as Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kool G Rap, Saigon's record label repeatedly balked at setting a release date for his debut album.[2] Saigon revealed that he realized as early as two months into his deal with Atlantic Records that there were problems.[2] He later recalled how his early excitement at signing to the same label that "had so much history with black music, like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles" was quickly dampened when they suggested he record a radio-friendly song with the Miami-based R&B quartet, Pretty Ricky.[2] He also recalled a meeting with an Atlantic executive who told him "We need our three singles, then you can bust your artistic nut on the rest of the album."[2] Saigon however, wasn't willing to compromise with this request, and only one year after signing with Atlantic, he hired a lawyer to work out a release from his label.[2] He explained "They signed me knowing the kind of music I was making, but then they try and change the direction".

This however didn't prompt a break from his record company, as they offered a few stipends, leading him and his fans to believe they’d still eventually put the record out.[2] Saigon later suspected that Atlantic wanted to make sure he didn't take the material elsewhere and benefit from the buzz he'd created.[2] While caught in this issue with Atlantic, Saigon continued to perform freestyles on hip hop radio shows, release mixtapes, and also continued to write and record The Greatest Story Never Told.[2] Despite not having an official album out, Saigon gradually became somewhat of a high-profile hip hop artist, as he appeared on the covers of several magazines and had a recurring role playing himself on the hit HBO show Entourage.[2] Saigon was also managed by celebrity manager Glenn Toby.

In 2009, Saigon signed with Boston-based new media outfit and independent label Amalgam Digital.[6]

On April 14, 2014, Saigon announced the formation of his own record label – Squid Ink Squad Records, partnering with global digital media company CPXi. On July 28, 2014, it was announced that Saigon's third studio album would release on September 30, 2014.[7][8][9]

Personal life

On the night of January 17, 2006, Saigon was stabbed in the temple with a wine bottle as he left a diner in Chelsea, Manhattan, NYC.[10] A man approached Saigon and attempted to steal a chain off his neck. 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. At the end of 2008, Saigon became a father. His daughter's name is Rayne Dior Carenard and she was the inspiration for his single "Fatherhood". She also appears in the music video of the song, which was directed by Derek Pike.[11]

Further details of his personal life emerged with his participation in the fourth season of reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: New York, where it was revealed that he also has a son (born to Erica Jean, i.e., not the same mother as the daughter mentioned above).[12]

Feud with Prodigy

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.[13] This escalated into an argument, which resulted with Saigon punching Prodigy twice in the face.[14] 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.[15] The feud has apparently died down, since Saigon had expressed happiness that Prodigy was coming home, in an interview two months before the rappers release.[16] However Saigon kept the animosity going through his Facebook page, commenting on the recent situation between Mobb Deep (The one half of Mobb Deep, Havoc, had allegedly spoke of Prodigy in a hostile manner through Twitter. However, he has since denied that he did so, and stated that his Twitter account was hacked at the time).[17]

Discography
Main article: Saigon discography
Studio albums

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops Himself Documentary
Bring That Year Back 2006: Laugh Now, Cry LaterTV Movie
2015 Entourage[18][19][20]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2005–2006 Entourage Himself 4 episodes
2013–2014 Love & Hip Hop: New York 10 episodes
2014 Iyanla: Fix My Life Episode: "Fix My Celebrity Parenting Nightmare"
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References
  1. Saigon. allmusic.com
  2. Mlyner, Phillip (February 23, 2011). The Seven-Year War of Saigon – Page 1 – Music – New York. The Village Voice. Retrieved on February 23, 2011.
  3. Saigon "The Greatest Story Never Told" New Tracklisting & Album Snippets. HipHopDX (January 17, 2011). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
  4. "Saigon". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  5. "Relafriendship Saigon". Genius. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  6. Saigon Talks About Amalgam Digital Deal. HipHopDX (March 9, 2009). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
  7. Saigon, DJ Premier and Lil Cease At 'Nunya' Video shoot. HipHopMyWay. Retrieved on September 10, 2016.
  8. Homie, Big. (April 14, 2014) Saigon Announces New Album & Label. Rap Radar. Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
  9. Saigon Launches New Label And Announces New Album – XXL. Xxlmag.com. Retrieved on September 10, 2016.
  10. Shaheem Reid (January 19, 2006).Saigon Assaulted Outside Diner In New York MTV. Accessed November 4, 2006.
  11. Kayser, Brian (January 22, 2009). "Saigon". HipHopGame.com. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  12. Peter Gunz Struggles To Keep His Secret, Saigon’s Baby Mama Drama On ‘Love & Hip-Hop’. XXL Magazine, November 5, 2013
  13. Saigon, Mobb Deep Get Into Physical Altercation During Music Showcase In New York. BallerStatus.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed December 19, 2007.
  14. Saigon Punches Prodigy of Mobb Deep HipHopDX.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed November 21, 2007.
  15. Saigon Talks Fight With Prodigy Archived April 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Sohh.com (September 20, 2007).
  16. Saigon Talks Prodigy Coming Home From Jail YouTube, 01/21/11.
  17. Brian Carenard – This is how I feel about that Mobb Deep.... Facebook (April 9, 2012). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
  18. Instagram. Instagram (March 20, 2014). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
  19. Instagram. Instagram (March 20, 2014). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
  20. Instagram. Instagram (March 20, 2014). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
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