S. Samuel
With the upcoming release of Saigon's long-awaited Greatest Story Never Told, SOHH talked to producer Just Blaze to get his reaction to the realization of the project's release.
Serving as the Story‘s executive producer, Blaze explained why the project has taken four years to be issued.
“It’s very cool,” Just told SOHH when asked about Sai’s album finally having a release date. “No pun intended, I’m happy he gets to tell his story and it’s something that he put so many years of blood, sweat and tears in to. I’m happy that somebody was able to see his vision, and get the album and understand what he wanted to do with it, and allow him to release it without having to really alter [anything]. And I’m happy that they’re allowing him to have the proper platform and budget to do that. There were a lot of other potential situations on the table over the past two years or so for as soon as he got his release from Atlantic [Records] but either the money wasn’t right or they wanted to make changes or they didn’t have the money and resources to put the album out in the fashion that it deserves to be put out.” (SOHH)
Blaze also said despite multiple offers, initially there wasn’t a negotiation presented that suited Sai’s needs.
“From paying for the sample clearances, proper marketing, proper budget, a proper promotional budget to the situation he’s in right now, they’ve really put their money where their mouth is in terms of believing in the project,” Just added, referring to Suburban Noize Records. “There’s a lot of labels and a lot of people in general that claimed to believe in the project and I honestly believe they did. I think everybody that came to the table definitely really did support and believe in the project, but not everyone had the means to support it in the way it needed to be supported. And so through some perseverance and a little prayer, Sai came across a situation that had the best [deal]. It’s definitely an exciting time and I’m happy to see him get his album out finally.” (SOHH)
The long-awaited album is currently slated to drop in February.
The greatest story will finally be told. After nearly half a decade of delays, Saigon’s official debut album, The Greatest Story Never Told, will finally be hitting shelves on February 15, 2011. Set to come out on Suburban Noize Records, the project will see Just Blaze, Sway Calloway and Rich Nice serve as executive producers. “I got everything planned out; it ain’t no more starting and stopping,” said the former XXL Leader of the New School cover subject. He also gave a few details on the album, telling XXLMag.com, “It’s been a long journey.” (XXL Mag)
Last March, Sai blamed contractual obligations to Atlantic Records for holding up his LP.
“I just got my release from Atlantic yesterday, literally,” he said in an interview earlier this year. “I got my release, a good release, a fair release from the record company yesterday and moving forward, I’m not gonna position myself to be somebody’s artist to where they can just have me sitting around and not putting out music — I’m gonna play the game by my rules. That’s what I meant when I said I was quitting — I was quitting playing it their way, I’m doing it my way from now on. I love hip-hop…I own my masters now, I own Greatest Story Never Told, I own the masters. it was worth the wait…I’ve been trying to leave Atlantic since ’06. It’s the contract you sign [that’s so difficult.] The contract is 82 pages long.” (Soul Culture)
Check out some recent Saigon footage below:
