Wikipedia

Silent Assassin

Silent Assassin is an album by the Jamaican musicians Sly and Robbie, released in 1989 via Island Records.[1][2]

Silent Assassin
Studio album by
Sly and Robbie
Released1989
GenreReggae, hip hop
LabelIsland
ProducerKRS-One
Sly and Robbie chronology
The Summit
(1988) 		Silent Assassin
(1989) 		Two Rhythms Clash
(1989)

Production edit

The album was produced by KRS-One, at the suggestion of Island; it was KRS's desire to make a "commercial" rap album.[3][4][5] Queen Latifah and Young M.C., among others, make guest appearances on Silent Assassin.[6]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
AudioB[8]
Chicago Tribune    [9]
Robert ChristgauB+[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [11]
Houston Chronicle    [12]
Ottawa Citizen     [13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [14]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[15]
St. Petersburg Times     [16]

The Washington Post wrote that "the rhythm grooves on Silent Assassin are deeper, sexier and more melodic than those on almost any other rap record."[6] The Globe and Mail deemed the album "a tough, articulate, rhythmically powerful blend of modern reggae and rap and hip hop."[17] The St. Petersburg Times considered "Dance Hall" "arguably the best rap track of 1989."[16] The State called the album "a powerful melding of reggae, funk and hip hop, and thanks to contributions from rap stars ... it's credible as well as accessible."[18]

Trouser Press called it "an ambitious undertaking," writing that "Latifah rules the mic on 'Woman for the Job'."[5] The Spin Alternative Record Guide thought that it "was scrupulously intelligent and involving, yet it was an '80s-style consolidation instead of a true fusion or '90s-style deconstruction."[15]

Track listing edit

No.TitleLength
1."Rebel"3:46
2."Adventures of a Bullet"3:50
3."Woman for the Job"4:07
4."Man on a Mission"3:30
5."Steppin'"3:08
6."Under Arrest"5:00
7."No One Can Top This Boy"3:35
8."Dance Hall"6:49
9."Party Together"5:22
10."Living a Lie"4:39
11."Come Again"2:40
12."Letters to the President"4:27
13."Ride the Riddim"4:28
14."It's Me"3:25

Personnel edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Sly & Robbie | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 270.
  3. ^ Darling, Cary (November 26, 1989). "Reggae, hip-hop fusion hot". Orange County Register. p. H20.
  4. ^ Keepnews, Peter (November 17, 1989). "Pop/Jazz; Rap Leads to Respectability and Academia for KRS-One". The New York Times.
  5. ^ a b "Sly & Robbie Et Al". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Records". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Silent Assassin - Sly & Robbie | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  8. ^ Borey, Susan (Mar 1990). "Rock/Pop Recordings: Silent Assassin by Sly & Robbie". Audio. Vol. 74, no. 3. p. 104.
  9. ^ "Sly & Robbie Silent Assassin". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Sly and Robbie". www.robertchristgau.com.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 535.
  12. ^ Mitchell, Rick (November 19, 1989). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
  13. ^ Erskine, Evelyn (2 Feb 1990). "Musical plea says it's time for rap, reggae to run together". Ottawa Citizen. p. C6.
  14. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 647.
  15. ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 360–361.
  16. ^ a b Hall, Ken (12 Jan 1990). "Sly and Robbie Silent Assassin (Island)". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17.
  17. ^ Dafoe, Chris (16 Nov 1989). "Silent Assassin Sly and Robbie". The Globe and Mail. p. C10.
  18. ^ Miller, Michael (November 17, 1989). "Sly & Robbie, 'Silent Assassin'". The State. p. 11D.
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