Boomshots

Tag: Agent Sasco

  • WATCH THIS: Agent Sasco ft. Bounty Killer & Kabaka Pyramid “Loco” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    WATCH THIS: Agent Sasco ft. Bounty Killer & Kabaka Pyramid “Loco” Official Music Video PREMIERE

    “New Generation A Come Up Now”

    Ever since Sasco linked up with TeflonZincFence to create “Loco,” it was clear that this was a special record. Teflon’s stripped-down beat hit like blunt force trauma, inspiring the artist formerly known as Assassin to serve up some of his hardest lyrics since Hope River. While speaking from a streetwise perspective, Sasco’s witty rhymes also expressed his concern for the youth—somewhere between Whitney’s “Greatest Love of All” and Slick Rick’s “Hey Young World.” The song took on a life of its own, as great songs do, and the streets demanded a remix. (One YouTube commenter suggested Sasco link up with Koffee and call the tune “Cocoa,” but I digress.) As fate would have it, Sasco recruited Killer and Kabaka for the remix, delivering a lyrical onslaught that was every bit as mad as the title suggests. Today Boomshots premieres the highly anticipated visuals for the remix—somewhat reminiscent of Biggie’s classic “Sky’s The Limit” video. “I’m very excited about the release of the ‘Loco Remix’ video,” says Sasco. “We went for a different concept which has my son, Joshua performing as me. He’s definitely excited for the release. It’s gonna be Loco!” How did Joshua do in his first starring role? As Sasco’s mentor dancehall legend Spragga Benz observed, “Weezy have di bounce.” Video After The Jump…
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  • Interview With Wayne Marshall Regarding His New Song, “Glory To God,” featuring Tessanne Chin and Ryan Mark

    Interview With Wayne Marshall Regarding His New Song, “Glory To God,” featuring Tessanne Chin and Ryan Mark

    Wayne Marshall Creates A Worship Song That Mirrors His Spirituality

    Widespread fans are connecting with the lyrics of a gospel infused dancehall track, entitled, “Glory to God” by Wayne Marshall featuring Songtress and Winner of The Voice, Season 5 Tessanne Chin and  Gospel Singer and Reverend of Pure Heart Ministries, Ryan Mark. We spoke to Wayne about the inspiration behind this influential song.  Interview After The Jump…

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  • Kick Out Yuh Foot: Assassin x Sam Spiegel x Ape Drums x Kenzo World “Mutant Brain” Ad Goes Viral

    Kick Out Yuh Foot: Assassin x Sam Spiegel x Ape Drums x Kenzo World “Mutant Brain” Ad Goes Viral

    Margaret Qualley Wilds Out To Agent Sasco Inna Parfum Commercial

    O.G. video director Spike Jonze has a long history with The Beastie Boys, whose appreciation for Jamaican music is well known. No surprise then that Jonze’s ad spot for “KENZO World,” a new fragrance (ahem, make that “Parfum”) created by Carol Lim & Humberto Leon, is powered by the maad vibes of dancehall star Agent Sasco aka Assassin. In the commercial, Margaret Qualley, who plays Jill Garvey on the HBO television series, The Leftovers, excuses herself from a fancy award ceremony and starts bugging out to the sounds of a wicked dancehall-dubstep fusion track called “Mutant Brain.” Don’t worry dancehall queens. The HBO star is not exactly ready for Weddy Weddy. When she isn’t kicking out her foot to Sasco’s flow, she’s uncontrollably licking statues and generally acting crazy, not unlike Darryl Hannah’s malfunctioning android sexbot in Blade Runner. The track was produced by Jonze’s brother, Sam Spiegel, in collaboration with Major Lazer affiliate Ape Drums. Spiegel and Jonze have collaborated on TV ads before, including the Adidas TV commercial “Hello Tomorrow.” Spiegel also wrote the popular score for Jonze’s 2010 short film  I’m Here. WWD has now declared the KenzoWorld ad a “viral hit” so basically we’re saying Sasco has racked up another major look. Brap! Brap! Video After The Jump…

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  • Sasco, Cham, Tanya, Jovi & Omari Shell Down SXSW 2016, Represent Reggae & Dancehall To The Fullest

    Sasco, Cham, Tanya, Jovi & Omari Shell Down SXSW 2016, Represent Reggae & Dancehall To The Fullest

    Irie Jam x Boomshots Make History at SXSW 2016

    With tens of thousands of performers, panels, and premieres packed into nine short days, SXSW is all about FOMO. Whether you’re in Austin or not, Fear Of Missing Out is simply inevitable. So fret not thyself if you didn’t get a chance to witness Irie Jam and Boomshots making history with the greatest reggae and dancehall showcase in SXSW history. We’ve got you covered.  Video & Photos After The Jump… (more…)

  • Assassin Talks “Theory of Reggaetivity”: “Roots Proponents See Me as a Baldhead Rasta”

    Assassin Talks “Theory of Reggaetivity”: “Roots Proponents See Me as a Baldhead Rasta”

    Agent Sasco Links Protoje & Chronixx, Returns To The Roots

    Yesterday Assassin aka Agent Sasco released Theory of Reggaetivity, his first album in over 10 years. The 14-song set shot straight toward the highest regions of the iTunes reggae chart, landing just below Bob Marley’s Legend, which is appropriate for the dancehall DJ’s first all-reggae project, which he describes as “my musical study of the principles of reggae music.” Conceived in Europe and recorded between Los Angeles, New York, and Kingston, JA, Theory of Reggaetivity features production by the likes of Sting International, Chimney Records, Silly Walks Discotek, Diggy British (aka Protoje), Niko Browne, The Drum Keyz, Theo Butler, MLMG, Sound Cheq, and W. Thompson. We first heard this gravelly-voiced lyricist ripping up the Diwali Riddim and trading bars with Spragga Benz and Vybz Kartel back in the early 2000s. More recently he’s become hip hop’s best kept secret weapon [LINK], making guest appearances on massive albums by Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. Boomshots caught up with him the night after Kendrick featured his voice in a live performance on the Grammy Awards broadcast, and chatted about why he decided the time was right to make this decisive move forward to the roots of Jamaican music. Interview After the Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kendrick Lamar ft. the voice of Assassin “The Blacker The Berry” Live pon The Grammys

    WATCH THIS: Kendrick Lamar ft. the voice of Assassin “The Blacker The Berry” Live pon The Grammys

    Agent Sasco Was Not In The Building For The Grammys, But His Words Rang In Our Ears

    Let’s start by saying that there were no losers at this years Grammys. Congratulations to Morgan Heritage on the Grammy they worked so hard for—for their entire lives. Big up The Weeknd and Kendrick and Adele and Lady Gaga and Alabama Shakes. We lovers of reggae respect all great music. (Wouldn’t be mad at some vicey versey love tho.) It was also a night when Rihanna canceled her performance due to bronchitis, Lauryn Hill didn’t turn up as expected for her “surprise” spot with The Weeknd, and Jah Cure wiped his Instagram clean shortly after coming up short in the voting for the Best Reggae Album. (Big up Iyacure said speed; just remember music alone shall live, and “we don’t need no visas to come thru your speakers.”) Still at the end of it all, we had Assassin’s voice, cutting through like a chainsaw while K-Dot released the chain.  Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: R. City ft. Adam Levine, Agent Sasco, Popcaan, Kardinal Offishall & Bunji Garlin “Locked Away” Dancehall Remix

    HEAR THIS: R. City ft. Adam Levine, Agent Sasco, Popcaan, Kardinal Offishall & Bunji Garlin “Locked Away” Dancehall Remix

    USVI x JA x TNT x TDot Link Up On This Mega Refix

    Over New Year’s weekend, Shaggy & Friends annual fundraiser went down in Kingston, Jamaica with the usual star-studded guest list—hailing from yard and abroad—all to raise funds for Jamaica’s Bustamante Hospital for Children. (That “one ticket = one life” slogan is no joke.) Amongst the headliners was R. City (formerly Rock City), the songwriting duo responsible for smash hits by the likes of Rihanna, Usher, and Chris Brown who now have some pretty big tunes of their own since dropping their debut album What Dreams Are Made Of last August. Although they’ve always been known as stars in their U.S. Virgin Islands homeland, Timothy and Theron Thomas only recently stepped in the international spotlight as performers and recording artists. Their Adam Levine–featuring single “Locked Away” had the pop charts on lock last year, and just in case you didn’t notice the tune’s dancehall drum pattern, they’ve dropped a remix featuring Assassin, Popcaan, Kardi and Bunji. The Thomas brothers stay repping the Caribbean all day long. Legal shot! Salute! Audio & Download Link After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning with Assassin aka Agent Sasco—Rap’s Best Kept Secret Weapon

    Reasoning with Assassin aka Agent Sasco—Rap’s Best Kept Secret Weapon

    First Kardinal, Then Kanye and Kendrick—Assassin Is the Go-To DJ for Dancehall Features.

    He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite dancehall artist. But chances are you’ve never heard his name. That’s because Assassin aka Agent Sasco — his secret-agent alter-ego — has basically gone undercover for his two biggest records: Kanye West’s “I’m In It” off the Yeezus album, and Kendrick Lamar‘s latest single, the lyrical tour-de-force “The Blacker The Berry,” Although Assassin was not properly credited for either feature, word gets around and the DJ is very much in demand. Boomshots caught up with him by telephone to hold a reasoning, and wrote a piece for NPR about it. The full transcript is right here. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • Quarantine Inna Dancehall: The Ebola Riddim Is So Sick

    Quarantine Inna Dancehall: The Ebola Riddim Is So Sick

    When Current Events Meets Dancehall: How important is the name of a riddim?

    The Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, claiming numerous lives since 1976. Just recently, two Americans died from the deadly virus, upon returning from Africa. Health care workers returning to the US from altruistic service in Africa, with viral symptoms have been quarantined in isolation. Luckily,  many received treatment which proved life saving, however, Africans continue to die  in alarming numbers from the deadly virus. Since its release in November 2014, the “Ebola” riddim has become a topic of controversy in dancehall.   The infectious riddim by renowned producer, Andrew “Anju Blax” Myrie of UIM  records, features a dozen top-rated dancehall artists. In the  riddim cover art, a micrograph of an Ebola virion appears superimposed over an animated image of  Anju Blax with supinated palms. Many on social media believe the riddim should be quarantined because of the “insensitivity,” in regards to its naming. Opposers refute this argument, stating that social commentary in dancehall is a norm, What’s in a name? While the jury is still out on this complex issue,  we present six songs featured on the Ebola riddim, because from a musical stand point,  the riddim itself is well produced.  Audio After The Jump…

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  • HEAR THIS: IBC (Island Boy Cartel) Feat. Kardinal, Assassin, And Raekwon “Pretty Paper (Primo mix)”

    HEAR THIS: IBC (Island Boy Cartel) Feat. Kardinal, Assassin, And Raekwon “Pretty Paper (Primo mix)”

    Some Will Kill Dem Neighbour For That Pretty Pretty Paper

    Kardinal Offishall taps Raekwon and Assassin (Agent Sasco) for “Pretty Paper.” The dancehall tune weaves in boom-bap where both Raekwon and Assassin flex their lyrical muscle over Premier’s signature blends. “Money talk, stop the bag a long chatting.” Tune After The Jump… (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Wayne Marshall ft. Assassin “Stupid Money”

    HEAR THIS: Wayne Marshall ft. Assassin “Stupid Money”

    Marsheezy & Sasco Dumbin’ Out Over Dollaz

    Remember when Snoop said he had his mind on his money and his money on his mind? Well that’s how Wayne Marshall and Assassin are feeling on this hard-hitting tune. It may be the root of all evil, but it sure is fun to spend. And rarely has filthy luchre inspired such eloquent expressions of enthusiasm. These two are all about their paper, so if it don’t make dollars it don’t make sense.   Audio After The Jump…

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  • FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Assassin “Wa Gwan”

    Unno Tell Me Wa Really A Gwan Starassassin

     

    Thrust upon the scene just before the turn of the new millennium, the artist formerly known as Assassin (now Agent Sasco for googlebility reasons) showed form early he was a force in the Dancehall realm. Boasting an unmistakable style and command for lyrics Assassin broke out with his 2000 hit “Wa Gwan” of the popular Bug Out Riddim. Sasco bad from long time, Tune After The Jump… (more…)