Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
In 2003, Roc-A-Fella producer, Just Blaze heard Brooklyn rapper, Saigon, rap for the first time. He was immediately impressed and wanted to work with him. Because of his style, he knew Saigon would not fit as a Roc-A-Fella artist. Instead, Just wanted to start his own label for Saigon.
Roc-A-Fella boss, Jay-Z, had just taken over at Def Jam and he denied Just Blaze's request to launch a new label. Blaze instead went to Atlantic Records and they helped him establish his own label. Named Fort Knocks Entertainment, Just Blaze wanted to take over the rap game.
The executives at Atlantic Records promised Just Blaze they would release Saigon's The Greatest Story Never Told. But, for five years, they delayed his album. The frustration was so much that Saigon considered leaving his deal with Just Blaze just to release his album. Last year, Just Blaze was able to leave the label, taking Saigon and the album with him.
Now, with a distribution deal with E1 Music, Just Blaze and Saigon are ready to release the album. At the time, many people felt Just Blaze would have quickly released the album and establish a new powerhouse in the rap game. But, to the shock of many, not even his name could get the album released. By this time, many assumed Just Blaze would have also been one of the top record executives in the game. Now, Blaze has lost most of his credibility.
But, with The Greatest Story Never Told finally coming, Just Blaze hopes to gain a lot of this hope and promise back. After the release of Saigon's album, Just Blaze will likely want to sign more artists to his imprint. But, with the Saigon debaccle, what artist would even be interested in signing with Just Blaze's label if it will take them six years just to release their first album?