Saigon

Analogous to mixtape kingpins 50 Cent and Papoose, Saigon rose to prominence within hip-hop's top ranks, particularly in New York, just on unofficial singles and mixtapes alone. Politically conscious and street-smart, the rapper became a formidable force as he was taken under the wings of Roc-A-Fella Records' high-in-demand producer Just Blaze, who shared his passion for early-'90s hip-hop. Born in Brooklyn but raised in Rockland County, NY, 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 the most 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 that provided support for the children of incarcerated parents, but it 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 Knox 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 in tons of "Artists to Watch" columns (including in Time magazine) and graced the covers of many hip-hop publications throughout the early to mid-2000s. His songs always found their way onto the mixtapes of various reputable DJs, like DJ Kay Slay, DJ Whookid, and DJ Drama, and 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.