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Production

The album was produced by KRS-One, at the suggestion of Island; it was KRS's desire to make a "commercial" rap album.³⁴⁵ Queen Latifah and Young M.C., among others, make guest appearances on Silent Assassin.⁶

Critical reception

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."¹⁷ The Globe and Mail deemed the album "a tough, articulate, rhythmically powerful blend of modern reggae and rap and hip hop."¹⁸ The St. Petersburg Times considered "Dance Hall" "arguably the best rap track of 1989."¹⁹ 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."²⁰

Trouser Press called it "an ambitious undertaking," writing that "Latifah rules the mic on 'Woman for the Job'."²¹ 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."²²

Track listing

Personnel

• Sly Dunbar - drums
• Robbie Shakespeare - bass
• KRS-One - production, vocals
• Queen Latifah - vocals
• Young M.C. - vocals
• Shah of Brooklyn - vocals

References

1. "Sly & Robbie | Biography & History". AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sly-robbie-mn0000751592/biography ↩

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. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/arts/pop-jazz-rap-leads-to-respectability-and-academia-for-krs-one.html ↩

5. "Sly & Robbie Et Al". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 June 2021. https://trouserpress.com/reviews/sly-robbie-et-al/ ↩

6. "Records". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/01/10/records/775b96d2-b856-4f6e-98f0-870cc3a7576a/ ↩

7. "Silent Assassin - Sly & Robbie | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com. https://www.allmusic.com/album/silent-assassin-mw0000654271 ↩

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. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-23-8903120468-story.html ↩

10. "Robert Christgau: CG: Sly and Robbie". www.robertchristgau.com. https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Sly+and+Robbie ↩

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. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 360–361. ↩

16. Hall, Ken (12 Jan 1990). "Sly and Robbie Silent Assassin (Island)". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17. ↩

17. "Records". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/01/10/records/775b96d2-b856-4f6e-98f0-870cc3a7576a/ ↩

18. Dafoe, Chris (16 Nov 1989). "Silent Assassin Sly and Robbie". The Globe and Mail. p. C10. ↩

19. Hall, Ken (12 Jan 1990). "Sly and Robbie Silent Assassin (Island)". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17. ↩

20. Miller, Michael (November 17, 1989). "Sly & Robbie, 'Silent Assassin'". The State. p. 11D. ↩

21. "Sly & Robbie Et Al". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 June 2021. https://trouserpress.com/reviews/sly-robbie-et-al/ ↩

22. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 360–361. ↩