I put out one song since I been over there.  And that was a song that I pretty much put out myself.  They didn’t even wanna put out “Pain In My Life.”  They were against it.  They were like, “No, no, what are you doing?”  

HHDX: Now your album is largely produced by one of the most successful hip-hop producers of this decade, Just Blaze, your A&R is a young hip-hop DJ, Sickamore, and you’re not signed directly to Atlantic, but through Hip-Hop Since 1978 – the same label that put Kanye West on.  You got all the pieces in place, so why hasn’t that arrangement produced a product?
Saigon: The product has been there, but it’s all about distributing it and getting the product out there.  That’s why on the blog I said if they don’t put it out, I’ll put it out.  If you guys are creating the perception that with all those pieces in place - like you said, with Just Blaze, with [Hip-Hop Since 1978 co-owners and Atlantic VP’s of A&R] Hip-Hop and G [Roberson] - that I can’t produce then that looks like it’s me.  People is like, It must be Saigon who can’t come correct, who can’t make a single, who can’t make songs, when I have over a 100 great songs.

HHDX: So who is that barrier then?  If it’s not Just Blaze, if it’s not Sickamore, if it’s not Hip-Hop Since 1978, who’s the barrier to putting this album out?  
Saigon: It’s the powers that be [at Atlantic].  If they were turning down the music, if we were submitting music and they were saying it’s not good enough that’d be one thing.  But they hear the music and they go, “Oh it’s great.  We love it!”  And then nothing happens.

My album is geared toward the upliftment of black people.  I don’t know if they’re scared of that.  I don’t know if they don’t think it’s gonna sell.  But there has to be balance in music.  And I guess they want the detriment rap.  That’s not me.  At the end of the day I gotta look in the mirror.  I can’t do that.  

HHDX: So what are they telling you then?  
Saigon: They’re not telling me nothing.  I’ve never seen somebody wait and sit around for three, four months for a sample to clear.  And the sample still hasn’t been cleared.  

HHDX: What’s the sample clearance issue?
Saigon: Supposedly my single called “Don’t Cha Baby,” which was recorded by me over two years ago, they’re realizing right now that they can’t clear the sample, two years later.  That’s the reason why I don’t have a song out right now, or I don’t have a single out, because they can’t clear [a sample].   Continued on page 3 »