The Greatest Story Never Told [Explicit]

Saigon | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 15, 2011
• Label: Suburban Noize Records
• Copyright: 2011 Suburban Noize Records
• Total Length: 1:18:54
• Genres:
  • Rap & Hip-Hop
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• ASIN: B004J334KW
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,506 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A work of genius February 27, 2011

By W. Perkins

Format:Audio CD

Saigon's "The Greatest Story Never Told" is a work of genius that vividly describes the challenges facing young African-Americans today through a lens of hope for the future.

The album tells two stories. First is the story of the modern-day poor, particularly the native black population, in the United States, largely trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty from a combination of the legacy of slavery, significant public policy failures, and general societal indifference. Interwoven with this is a second story, that of Saigon himself, including his time in jail, his decision to focus on serving society through his music, and his battle with and eventual split from his original record company to preserve his artistic integrity.

This album is like a rap opera as it slowly tells these intertwined stories, in an inventive and ever-changing way, through a series of gritty anthems. The album should preferably be listened to in a quiet place, from start to finish in a single listen, because the whole of this album is much greater than the sum of its parts. It will take you on a vivid, at times wrenching, yet ultimately beautiful journey filled with history, truth, sadness, but most of all hope for the future.

It is my sincere hope that this album will be in the running for one of the top albums of 2011. By drawing attention to the profound difficulties and lack of opportunity facing many African-Americans, Saigon can contribute in some small way to improving the outlook for the next generation.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Saigon's "The Greatest Story Never Told" is a long time coming February 25, 2011

By Perverted Alchemist

Format:Audio CD

Saigon's "The Greatest Story Never Told" was a highly anticipated debut album. A debut that was reached the same fever pitch as another debut- Nas' 1994 album "Illmatic". The trouble was that Saigon's label, Atlantic Records, stood in the way of the album's success. Originally scheduled for release in 2008, the album- and Saigon's career- was delayed, largely due to Atlantic wanting him to be something he wasn't. Saigon wanted to make conscious hip hop with unabashed social commentary, but the label wanted him to shy away from any controversial subject matter. In fact, they really wanted him to be either a gangsta rapper- much like his hugely successful then-labelmates Plies and T.I.- or make club music like Twista and Flo-Rida. The end result was a nearly two year stand off betweeen Saigon and the record company over artistic integrity- so much so, that he threatened to end his career before it even got off the ground. For a while, it seemed like "The Greatest Story Never Told" became just that. In between time, he released the mixtape "Warning Shots" and had a recurring role on the HBO television series "Entourage". In 2010, after years of fighting and failed compromises, Saigon decided he wanted out of his contract with Atlantic, and he was granted a release from his contract as well as his master recordings. So, he took the album to the indie label Suburban Noize Records, a label owned by the late 90's rap-rock band Kottonmouth Kings.

In 2011, "The Greatest Story Never Told" actually sees the light of day. It's an almost 80 minute album complete with older songs "Come On Baby" as well as "Believe It", in which he aired out his greiveances with Atlantic Records. Most of the production on the album is handled by his mentor Just Blaze with a few exceptions.... Kanye West produces the somber letter to God "It's Alright", Red Spyda handles the Devin The Dude featured "What The Lovers Do", and Buckwild produces "Oh Yeah (Our Babies)", a lament about children growing up in a violent world. On the song "Clap", he enlists the help of Faith Evans to stand up against negative influences. He takes an evangelical pastor to task for his blatant materialism and hypocrisy on the controversial song "Preacher". The track "The Invitation" sounds like a club record on the surface, but upon closer listening, Saigon addresses the issue of prisons overcrowded due to corrupt drug laws. On the title track "The Greatest Story Never Told", he explains the reason behind wanting to include social commentary in his music. Overall, this album is really good and really needed in a time when there are real issues that need to be talked about, and it's more comfortable for some to simply look the other way. Saigon's album is easily the best hip hop album of the year. Read more ›

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic (yeah, I said it) February 22, 2011

By P. Binh

Format:Audio CD

"The Greatest Story Never Told" is one of the few albums I felt was a hip-hop classic after the first listen. The world has been waiting for this album to drop since 2007 and it was well worth the wait. Even though the music was written more than five years ago, it still sounds fresh.

Saigon is one of the most well-rounded and intelligent rappers in the game right now. On TGSNT, he combines stories about the trials and tribulations of street life, punchlines, and social/political commentary with a strong talent for writing songs that range from the soulful to the catchy. Like I said, he's well-rounded and it should be no surprise that he has been co-signed by Jay-Z and Just Blaze, two of the biggest names in the genre.

If Saigon's lyrics resonate, it's because he speaks from experience. His life of street crime eventually caught up with him and he was locked up in a juvenile detention facility for over a year after when he was 16. While in prison, he read Wallace Terry's book Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History which transformed his outlook on the world and his life, much like Malcolm X's was changed forever after he encountered the Nation of Islam in similar circumstances. He decided to do something positive and creative with his life experiences in the hopes of preventing other young blacks from ending up in the hustler/convict dead end.

From start to finish, this album delivers five mics. When Saigon claims that TGSNT may be the best debut album in the last 20 years (presumably since Nas's 1994 Illmatic marked the beginning of modern hip hop) I am inclined to agree with him.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A CLASSIC THATS BEEN NEEDED February 15, 2011

By Rick Orozco Jr.

Format:Audio CD

this cd is great, i dont listen to much radio or watch tv so i havent heard of this guy and didnt know if he was the same guy off of entourage, but i took the risk and picked it up today and must admit this guy has talent not one bad song on here, been siting on my couch with the head phones off so i can focus all on this album and glad i picked it up