Silent Assassin

The album was produced by KRS-One, at the suggestion of Island; it was KRS's desire to make a "commercial" rap album.{{cite news |last1=Darling |first1=Cary |title=Reggae, hip-hop fusion hot |work=Orange County Register |date=November 26, 1989 |page=H20}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/arts/pop-jazz-rap-leads-to-respectability-and-academia-for-krs-one.html|title=Pop/Jazz; Rap Leads to Respectability and Academia for KRS-One|first=Peter|last=Keepnews|date=November 17, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite web |title=Sly & Robbie Et Al. |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/sly-robbie-et-al/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=20 June 2021}} Queen Latifah and Young M.C., among others, make guest appearances on Silent Assassin.

{{music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/silent-assassin-mw0000654271|title=Silent Assassin Sly & Robbie|website=AllMusic}}

|rev2 = Audio

|rev2score = B{{cite magazine |last1=Borey |first1=Susan |title=Rock/Pop Recordings: Silent Assassin by Sly & Robbie |magazine=Audio |date=Mar 1990 |volume=74 |issue=3 |page=104}}

|rev3 = Chicago Tribune

|rev3score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |title=Sly & Robbie Silent Assassin |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-23-8903120468-story.html |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=21 June 2021}}

|rev4 = Robert Christgau

|rev4score = B+{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Sly+and+Robbie|title=Sly and Robbie|website=Robert Christgau}}

|rev5 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=7 |page=535}}

|rev6 = Houston Chronicle

|rev6score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rick |title=Records |work=Houston Chronicle |date=November 19, 1989 |department=Zest |page=8}}

|rev7 = Ottawa Citizen

|rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last1=Erskine |first1=Evelyn |title=Musical plea says it's time for rap, reggae to run together |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=2 Feb 1990 |page=C6}}

|rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev8score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=647}}

|rev9 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev9score = 8/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=360–361}}

|rev10 = St. Petersburg Times

|rev10score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Ken |title=Sly and Robbie Silent Assassin (Island) |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=12 Jan 1990 |department=Weekend |page=17}}

}}

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."{{cite news |title=Records |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/01/10/records/775b96d2-b856-4f6e-98f0-870cc3a7576a/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=20 June 2021}} The Globe and Mail deemed the album "a tough, articulate, rhythmically powerful blend of modern reggae and rap and hip hop."{{cite news |last1=Dafoe |first1=Chris |title=Silent Assassin Sly and Robbie |work=The Globe and Mail |date=16 Nov 1989 |page=C10}} The St. Petersburg Times considered "Dance Hall" "arguably the best rap track of 1989." 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."{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Michael |title=Sly & Robbie, 'Silent Assassin' |work=The State |date=November 17, 1989 |page=11D}}

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

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| title1 = Rebel

| length1 = 3:46

| title2 = Adventures of a Bullet

| length2 = 3:50

| title3 = Woman for the Job

| length3 = 4:07

| title4 = Man on a Mission

| length4 = 3:30

| title5 = Steppin'

| length5 = 3:08

| title6 = Under Arrest

| length6 = 5:00

| title7 = No One Can Top This Boy

| length7 = 3:35

| title8 = Dance Hall

| length8 = 6:49

| title9 = Party Together

| length9 = 5:22

| title10 = Living a Lie

| length10 = 4:39

| title11 = Come Again

| length11 = 2:40

| title12 = Letters to the President

| length12 = 4:27

| title13 = Ride the Riddim

| length13 = 4:28

| title14 = It's Me

| length14 = 3:25

| total_length =

}}

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

{{reflist}}

{{Sly and Robbie}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Sly and Robbie albums

Category:1989 albums

Category:Island Records albums