The 5-Track Project Fusing Dancehall and Afrobeats Features Sean Paul, Chronixx and Kranium
[KINGSTON, Jamaica] – Today, Agent Sasco, the lyrical titan strikes again on his outstanding EP, Sasco vs Assassin. It is his fifth release, consisting of five tracks—his most condensed work to date—that pays homage to the Jamaican musician’s past and present namesakes.
Assassin stormed onto the dancehall circuit in 2001, and evolved into Agent Sasco through his own personal maturation. The EP is his take on the hybrid sound of afrobeats and dancehall.
The guest list for Sasco vs Assassin reflects Agent Sasco’s revered reputation as a respected artist amongst his peers. The Caribbean island’s top artists like Sean Paul, Chronixx, and Kranium are featured guests on the jam-packed EP.
Nigerian producerP2J and Brazil’s Tropkillaz fuse together afrobeats and samba-style percussion on the Sean Paul-assisted “Do Mi Thing.”
Agent Sasco reunites with beatsmithRiffRaffKeyzon the Kranium-featured “No Stranger to Danger.” Chronixx and Agent Sasco juggle verses on “Represent,” a celebratory anthem for one’s heritage, produced by Fanatix.
The U.K.’s hitmaker Toddla T brings sleek keyboarding and battering snares to the title track, where Agent Sasco goes bar-for-bar switching from his younger persona, Assassin, to his current self, Sasco.
“Loco,” which started out as the EP’s lead single, took on a life of its own this year. Agent Sasco released the Teflonzincfence-produced track in May as a reaction to the off-center craziness in society, yet achieving greatness despite the confusion.
During Jamaica’s lockdown, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Agent Sasco posted up on a deserted street of Kingston to display his stream of consciousness in the video for “Loco.”
In October, Agent Sasco took “Loco” to the next level by adding new verses from Bounty Killer and Kabaka Pyramid.
An official remix video followed with kids taking on the likeness of each of the aforementioned artists.
This November, Agent Sasco released the remix as the first track on the Loco Riddim compilation, accompanied by new material by Elephant Man, Chronixx, Kelissa, Mr. Williamz, and I Waata over the Teflonzincfence instrumental.
For almost two decades, Agent Sasco has maintained an active presence in Jamaican music.
Through the pandemic, Agent Sasco has taken to Instagram Live to produce a weekly retrospective Riddim Classics series where he revisits classic dancehall rhythms through interviews with producers and the contemporary artists that appeared on the compilations with him back when he was most-known as Assassin (circa 2001).
The Diwali Riddim (2002), Good to Go Riddim (2003), and the Applause Riddim (2005) are featured in some of his many live broadcasts that take fans back to when his voracious word play put him on the map.
Agent Sasco’s talent for juggling his quick-witted rhymes in his fiery Jamaican-peppered voice opened doors for him as a guest vocalist alongsideKendrick Lamar (“The Blacker the Berry”) Kanye West (“I’m In It”), and Freddie Gibbs (“Bandana”). Internationally, he left his mark on 2015’s “Good Times” (Dre Skull Remix), the Jamie XX-produced 2015-summer banger in the U.K.
Under his Assassin alias, he stole the spotlight on the Cadenza remix of “Saturnz Barz” by Gorillaz. Last year, Sasco landed his highest streamed record (2M on Spotify plus 2M on Apple Music) with “Slow Down,” a suave, seductive jam session produced by Ghanaian-British beatsmith Juls.
Agent Sasco’sDiamond Studios has served as the headquarters for his most recent releases: Hope River (2018) and Sasco vs Assassin (2020). His home studio has also served as the backdrop for at-home concerts. In July, he performed “Loco” and “Hope River” as part of Live Nation Urban’s weekly Instagram Live series.
Agent Sasco also joined Chronixx and Bounty Killer for IrieJam Radio’s virtual concert. Also, keeping with tradition, the veteran artist delivered yet another electrifying Reggae Sumfest performance for this year’s virtual edition of Jamaica’s most-celebrated two-day concert.
Then in September, he rocked Essence Fest #EFSESSIONS.
