Very few rappers embody the true essence of hardcore hip-hop the way Sheek Louch does so effortlessly. "I'm in the best shape of my life," he says confidently. "Stronger, faster, like, 'Bionic Man'!" Having earned his stripes as 1/3 of the LOX, as well as a proven solo artist, the Yonkers-native is respected as one of the best to ever do it when it comes to consistently making quality, street-approved music. Whether spitting alongside the Notorious B.I.G. on classics like "The Benjamins," ripping infinite mixtape instrumentals with Kiss and Styles, or breaking into radio with hit records like "Good Love," Sheek always sounds as confident as a veteran, and as hungry as the underdog.

Growing up an only child in Yonkers, NY, a young Sheek learned to grind watching his mother work hard to earn a masters degree, while still making time to help him with his math homework. He was inspired to rhyme around the age of 12, by his man Jada. "Me and Kiss used to always stay at our grandmothers' houses in Yonkers, and Kiss was always rappin, and I just tried it and we became like a group. Then Styles came… and that's how it started." Thanks to a powerful plug from up-n-coming queen of R&B soul Mary J. Blige, the trio would soon find themselves a part of a then burgeoning Bad Boy Records. The group became instant hood favorites with the release of the album Money, Power, Respect.

After that, they parted ways [less than amicably] with Puff, and joined fellow Y-O family member DMX with the Ruff Ryders camp. Causing a frenzy with their next album, We Are the Streets, the group solidified their hardcore image and both Jada and Styles broke out as critically-respected soloists. Meanwhile, Sheek, an aspiring entrepreneur, began working on their D-Block brand, building a studio, and looking for fresh, hungry young talent. "I've always been had artist slash entrepeneur role," he explains proudly. "I built a studio. I done opened a D-Block car wash, a D-Block Fitteds…all in Yonkers."

All that hard work eventually paid off, and Sheek finally released his own solo debut Walk Witt Me independently through their newly founded D-Block Records. Showing off a good head for business, and an even better ear for beats, Sheek surprised fans and critics alike with his solid effort. The dedicated lyricist would continue to go hard on mixtapes, on the internet, and even the radio, slowly and steadily building his up his brand.

Then, while rumors of the Lox resigning with Diddy circulated the internet, Sheek announced via Twitter, that he would be ending his impressive indie run and signing with Def Jam. Now that he's got the hip-hop powerhouse label behind him, the D-Block representer is excited as a kid at Christmas, to see what he can do with a little push for his as of yet untitled new album. "I'm like a new artist right now," he says proudly. "I'm still an indie type grind nigga. I just knew it could be bigger if I just had the tools and the machine to take it there."

Set for a late November release, Sheek's new album promises fans more of the gritty music they've come to expect from him, just on a higher level. The buzz is already heating up thanks to a mixtape with Green Lantern, "Donny Def Jam - Gorilla Warfare Vol. 1", led by records like the Jungle Brother's inspired "Gorilla Music" and the Green-produced "Cocaine Trafficking." "From back then, all you heard was Styles and Kiss," Sheek explains. "And now its like, 'That dude Sheek, Donny G… Who the fuck?! What the fuck?!' So, I feel great! Def Jam really feeling the energy, so I'm ecstatic, man, I'm excited! Everything I got out on the radio they goin' crazy off of... And that's strictly off of mixtape shit! They aint even hear the stuff I got for the album…the big, BIG records!"

Saigon is currently signed to Suburban Noize Records and Just Blaze's Fort Knocks Entertainment record label. After years of delay due to former record label interference, his album The Greatest Story Never Told is available now on Suburban Noize Records. He is also known for his street album Warning Shots and Moral of the Story along with appearances in the HBO television series Entourage.