Saigon Featuring Just Blaze - Gotta Believe It

When I first saw this video I was afraid it was going be like Young Jeezy's "My President" which is a horribly embarrassing song. However, even with the Auto-tune it turned out to be quite an introspective track, questioning "what is American" and what is "black American." It also deals with police brutality and dishonesty similar to Lupe's "handcuffs."

Saigon & Statik Selektah - Making Rap Real Again?

When you first visit their myspace page, the first song that starts playing is called "The Thrill is Gone" which is a commentary about the current state of the music industry, and challenging all those auto-tune addicted MCs to step their game up. The song really hits home (much like Sweatshop Union's "Broken Record") but the lyrics are off the hook, and the digs at all those hip hop idols leave a mark just like the song. The other tunes like "The Rules" further the damage to mainstream rap, calling out all those hip hop clowns like Soulja Boy, and all those rappers who rap about "prison don't even mention it/ if you never experience it." These guys can definitely hold their own on the mike, they don't need any crutches like auto-tune, or featured rappers (cough*Busta Rhymes*cough), its just sad that now these guys are considered the alternative to mainstream when 15 years ago they were the mainstream.

http://www.myspace.com/statikselektah