Assassin, or if you prefer Agent Sasco, is no ordinary dancehall artiste. His rare ability to to tackle sensitive social issues while being just as comfortable producing ‘girls tunes’ has made him a noted versatile act in contemporary dancehall.
That versatility will be on show on September 22 at the Arthur’s Day™ Live Concert which will be simulcast throughout the Caribbean. Assassin will share the bill with fellow dancehall act I-Octane and Trinidadian soca band, KES.
Like several other dancehall artistes, Assassin made his entry into the music business at an early age. Born Jeffrey Campbell in Kintyre, St. Andrew, Jamaica, he started his recording career while still a student at Camperdown High.
Assassin made his mark on the dancehall scene with the release of his original song, “Big Up All the Shotta Dem” in 1999, one year shy of his high school graduation. The song was recorded on the renowned producers, Steely and Clevie’s ‘Street Sweeper’ rhythm creating Assassin’s first big hit.
The then seventeen year old artiste continued to deliver hits, laced with thought-provoking lyrics, such as “Same Ting Again”, a well-know song which spoke to the economic climate of Jamaica at the time of its release; and the follow-up hit “Idiot Ting Dat”.
When asked what motivates his lyrical choice, Assassin responded with; “I wanted to do what I love and contribute positively to the industry”.
In 2005 he released his hit debut album, “Infiltration” with VP records and has moved to break the stereotypical view of dancehall musicians by pursuing a Business Management degree at the University of Sunderland in England.
“I always make a conscious effort to try to learn and improve, as opposed to feeling as though I already know everything and making my ego control my learning curve. So I try
to learn from people who are making a positive contribution to the music. And as I go along I try to pick up the right attitude and work ethic. I always believe in maximizing my potential. And whatever that potential is, it can only be realized through hard work,”Assassin shared.
Assassin’s attitude to his life and work signals why he was chosen to participate in the Arthur’s Day™ Live concert; a celebration of men with strength of character like Arthur Guinness, the founder of Guinness® beer.
Gareth Geddes, Guinness® Regional Brand Manager, sees Arthur’s Day™ Live as a “powerful music experience uniting the Caribbean through a regional live stream via the Facebook page and television simulcast”. It will be aired on Synergy TV in Trinidad & Tobago, ZIZTV in St Kitts, ZNS TV in Bahamas, Choice TV in Lucia, CVM TV in Jamaica and Caribbean TV in Antigua and IK TV in St. Vincent; as well as multiple TV stations in Guyana.
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