Saigon

Life and career Born to an African-American mother and a father from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saigon was raised in Spring Valley, NY and was sentenced to jail time at Napanoch's Eastern Correctional Facility in the late 1990s, serving a sentence for first-degree assault after shooting at someone in a bar. One day while in the recreation yard, Brian met a fellow inmate named Hakim, who rapped and had a reputation for incorporating positive messages, and heavy use of prestigious vocabulary in his rhymes.

On April 14, 2014, Saigon announced the formation of his own record label – Squid Ink Squad Records, partnering with global digital media company CPXi. On July 28, 2014, it was announced that Saigon's third studio album would release on September 30, 2014.

In 2020, it was announced that Saigon had signed to Tech N9ne's label Strange Music. His first project under the label was the EP, 777: The Resurrection.

Personal life On the night of January 17, 2006, Saigon was stabbed in the temple with a wine bottle as he left a diner in Chelsea, Manhattan, NYC. A man approached Saigon and attempted to steal a chain off his neck. When Saigon grabbed it back, a fight started. Saigon, bleeding from the head, tried to hail down a taxi, but was unsuccessful. As a result, Saigon ended up driving himself to Bellevue Hospital where he received seven stitches. At the end of 2008, Saigon became a father. His daughter's name is Rayne Dior Carenard and she was the inspiration for his single "Fatherhood". She also appears in the music video of the song, which was directed by Derek Pike.

Further details of his personal life emerged with his participation in the fourth season of reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: New York, where it was revealed that he also has a son (born to Erica Jean, not the same mother as the daughter mentioned above).

Feud with Prodigy On the night of September 19, 2007, after an impromptu performance by Saigon during a Mobb Deep show, words were exchanged between Saigon and Prodigy of Mobb Deep. This escalated into an argument, which resulted with Saigon punching Prodigy twice in the face. Two video versions of the events have since emerged. One version with slow motion footage shows a clear look of Saigon punching Prodigy, while another video being endorsed by Mobb Deep shows Saigon being chased and running out of the club. The feud has apparently died down, since Saigon had expressed happiness that Prodigy was coming home, in an interview two months before the rappers release. However Saigon kept the animosity going through his Facebook page, commenting on the recent situation between Mobb Deep (one half of Mobb Deep, Havoc, had allegedly spoke of Prodigy in a hostile manner through Twitter. However, he has since denied that he did so, and stated that his Twitter account was hacked at the time).

Discography

Studio albums The Greatest Story Never Told (2011) The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2: Bread and Circuses (2012) G.S.N.T. 3: The Troubled Times of Brian Carenard (2014) Pain, Peace & Prosperity (2021)

Collaborative albums The Jordan Era (with Fredro) (2024) Paint the World Black (with Buckwild) (2025)

Extended plays 777: The Resurrection (2020)

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes2006 Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops Himself Documentary Bring That Year Back 2006: Laugh Now, Cry Later TV movie 2015 Entourage

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 2005–2006 Entourage Himself 4 episodes 2013–2014 Love & Hip Hop: New York 10 episodes 2014 Iyanla: Fix My Life Episode: "Fix My Celebrity Parenting Nightmare"