Rapper Saigon, long a staple of the New York underground scene and first signee of Just Blaze's Fort Knox record label, recently announced his retirement from rap. On his MySpace blog, the rapper, who has had growing mainstream buzz thanks to his involvement with rap heavyweights and a minor role on HBO's "Entourage," wrote that there was,
"NO MOREASS KISSING FOR ME. (Thank God)All of that trying to be politically correct bullshit is just that, bullshit..There is no honor amongst theives"
Later, in a statement to Hiphopgame.com, Saigon said,
"I can'''t even wake up and fart without seeing this shit on the internet and I'''m not even famous. Imagine if I was famous. I would go crazy. This shit would drive me fucking nuts. Everybody feels like they got a right to criticize you. I'''m not one of these people. I take it personally and I can'''t deal with it. If me being a rapper is inviting everybody to throw stones and take shots at me, then I don'''t want to be a rapper because I'''m going to be the one who ends up suffering. I'''m going to do something to one of these people and it'''s going to cost me my life and my freedom."
Finally, the rapper added, "This is it. The Greatest Story Never Told...I guess you could say it was prophecy."
Of course, given the steady stream of rappers quitting and returning to rap, nothing is certain here, but if this is official, one has to wonder whether or not the increasingly hostile, competition based culture of rap has prematurely claimed a gifted artist. Never one to talk recklessly on songs aimed at rappers, Saigon made his name crafting songs with unique concepts delivered with mainstream caliber flow and presence. Indeed, there could be plenty of blame to go around, with Saigon perhaps needing to learn to suck it up, rivals Joe Budden and Mobb Deep needing to fall back and let someone with a real chance at success shine, and label head and producer Just Blaze needing to use some of his clout to actually get his artist's music out before this happens.
In any event, not a good day to be a New York rap fan.