Assassin aka Agent Sasco: "I try and speak to the hardcore authentic dancehall and reggae massive!"

Oh man, it was great out there. Hot, very hot but great!

Does the heat affect you ?

The heat not really but the smoke well. The smoke gets trapped in the tent and it burns the throat and the eyes. But it's work so we get it done and not complaining.

Did you play some shows before Reggae Geel ?

Yes, last weekend was a holiday weekend in Jamaica so I had different shows, in Negril and in "Lucy" in Hannover. But that's my first show in Europe for the summer. I just came for a weekend, doing a show tomorrow in Germany and then one in Switzerland. Then I'll fly back to Jamaica because I have to be in Florida next weekend. It was good to be in Belgium. I came one time with Buju Banton, but didn't perform by then, I was just at the show. This festival was my first performance in Belgium ever. It was good to be here in front of the youths and carrying forward the work of our forerunners in the music.

It seems the young dancehall artists don't get much bookings in Europe lastly.

I guess it has a lot to do with the work they are putting in at the Jamaican side. Over the last years, we have seen a sort of shift in the energy of the tracks. There's now a lot of hip hop influence in the music. And I am not sure that the world at large is really accepting that feeling. Personally I try and speak to the hardcore authentic dancehall and reggae massive. I know the massive in Europe really appreciate that. Tonight I saw that a song on the Diwali riddim, that's almost a decade old, was really moving the people. So it's that type of energy people love here. So we the younger artists, and all the artists in JA in general, we need to continue focusing and doing authentic dancehall and reggae music.

So you don't perform on this crossover r'n'b/dancehall riddims ?

No, (laugh) I try and preserve the authenticity of the art form. I really love dancehall, that's what I fell in love with. I appreciate and respect hip hop but I'm not a rapper.

Same things applies to the vocoder and autotune thing?

Definitely. Some trends are not worth picking up. I Believe in keeping it real. I understand selectors in Europe are still using a lot of vinyl records. So I guess we are on the same page, we appreciate the real art stuff. So no auto-tune, I stay natural!

Which artists inspired you in the music and influenced your style?

I was born in the 80's and from very early I loved dancehall music. In those days there was Professor Nuts, Papa San, Lt Stitchie, Admiral Bailey. Those were the first I listened to. Then came Shabba Ranks, then Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Spragga Benz, Capleton… I particularly appreciated Baby Wayne also. I love the music first and I appreciate those artists for the level they reach in the music and I guess there's a little bit of influence from everybody in me. A lot of people contributed to dancehall music and contributed to my formation. I just want to send my respects to each and every one of them because I have learned from all of them.

The names that you called are names of artists who deal with a lot of reality.

Reality is also something I try and maintain in my songs. I try and maintain a certain level of integrity. Once again I understand that the massive in Europe really listen and pay attention to the content. It's not about making noise but really about what you are saying. Of course, sometimes you want to spice it up a bit and have a vibe, something lighter. But at the end of the day, you have to slow it down and think about what you are doing.

Social commentary is important to you ?

Yes of course, because without substance then the music has no use. There's a time for everyone when you have to look at life and manage a way to go through it. As a musician, it's my responsibility to produce material that inspire people and motivate and encourage them. Music is powerful and as an artist I have to be aware of that aspect. It's entertainment of course but it's much more than that.
In your first years, Buju Banton did a lot to give you some exposure. How did you meet him and work with him?

We were put in touch because we had the same management, Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records. He was my manager for about 6 years. When I was fresh from High School, I also got in touch with Buju and went to record for his label Gargamel Music. Actually my first record was produced by Buju Banton. The first ever vinyl with my name on it! It was a track called "Revamp". Later on we had a long tour in 2006 in the US and then in 2007 in Europe.

That was at the time of your second album already?

Yes the first album "Infiltration" was released in 2005 and it's with the second album "Gully Sitting" that I was then on tour.

Why didn't you release any album since then ?

I was with VP Records at the time. After "Gully Sittin", we had a few projects that came up but we couldn't agree on how we wanted to work on them so it didn't go further. Now I'm off the label. Since 2010, we really turn up the intensity and we are running things and it's going well. We are thinking about an album but right now, with the new format of music, the business has changed. We really have to consider if doing a real hard copy, a CD copy, is the way to go or if we will carry on by just doing a digital release of an album. We're looking into that for next year. In the meantime, the massive will have access to all the singles. It's easy for them to get their favorite tracks, you can just go and search them on iTunes or so. you can even put your own album together!

With the loss of music sales, touring has been more and more important?

You know what? Touring has always been the ultimate to me. I don't think that record sales has ever been the main stay of our business model in dancehall and reggae music. It's just a part of it. You are right indeed when you say that the importance of playing live shows is getting more and more apparent for an artist. But as for me I've always believed in getting the music directly to the audience.

Can you tell us about the change in your name to Agent Sasco?

Basically it's an addition. After being an artist for 10 years, I wanted to rejuvenate my profile. Some people say "re-invent" but I don't like the word. Re-invent means like scrapping all of what you were for something new. I didn't want that. I just wanted an addition. Sasco is derived from the name Assassin. It's an abbreviation. People could just greet me "Wha gwaan Sasco?". The "agent" came in 2006. I had a very rough year in 2005. I lost my mother that, year, then released my first album that year, I became a father that year too. It was like an emotional roller coaster year. So I wanted to rejuvenate my spirit, and I said it would be the mission of Agent 006 to do that. Then 2007 came and I couldn't keep the name. So I blended it with Sasco, making it Agent Sasco.

How do you position yourself in the rivalry between Gully and Gaza?

The Gully and Gaza war is a kind of yesterday thing now. It's all broken up now. I believe we all have to put our differences aside and realize we are part of a thing that's much greater than ourselves. So I focus on doing what I can to help this music. Separation and division is not good. If you remember, a few years ago, in my career there was a supposed to be a conflict between me and the Gaza faction. I wasn't about that at all. I continue to represent for the music well and satisfy the massive.

Do you think that some artists are acting too local, hence music should be global?

Yes definitely, we are too caught up in what I believe are trivialities and in ego and things that shouldn't matter. And some lose sight of the big picture. We have a duty towards the fans and that's the mission I keep focusing on.

What do you think on the many songs targeting Vybz Kartel and his bleaching habits?

I don't think it's a target on him per sé. It's more the lifestyle that's criticized and it's something that he seems to be endorsing. And to be honest, these things are not something that were once OK and that it was now decided that artists would be persecuting this man… Bleaching has never been cool in the dancehall culture. (Singing a famous Nardo Ranks tune) "Dem a bleach, dem a bleach out their skin". (Singing another track of Bounty Killer from 1999) "I can't believe the shottas dem a bleach out dem skin…" Come on, that's been a topic for ages. I also had a song on that, about ten years ago. The very Vybz Kartel had a song talking about it "Wha di bleaching fah?" No one is attacking him, it's the same bleaching that we, and him too, have always been attacking. It's because Kartel is now doing things that dancehall music has always been against that he gets so many opponents, it's not him personally.

How do you react on the Buju case, you must be very touched by his situation ?

Well, I've always maintained my silence in this matter. When it is a legal matter, when it is as serious as it is, and as you mentioned as sensitive as it is, I leave it alone. I just want to say I have an immense respect for Buju and his talent and the type of mentor he has been to me. I just want to wish him the best still and hope the best for him.