Assassin inks with VP/Atlantic Records

Penthouse recording artiste Jeffrey 'Assassin' Campbell has signed a three-album deal with VP/Atlantic Records. The deal was recently brokered by his manager, Donovan Germaine, and VP Records head honcho, Chris Chin.

In commenting on the feat that was accomplished for his latest charge, Germaine said, "Assassin is one of the younger acts, best equipped to handle a situation like this. Intellectually, his talent is unquestionable."

At 21 years old, Assassin ranks among the top toasters in the dancehall today. His signing with VP/Atlantic is the latest in a deal brokered between the New York-based independent company and the WEA conglomerate two years ago, which saw Atlantic working closely with VP in terms of promoting and marketing major dancehall and reggae releases.

So far, VP's pet project Reggae Gold, Sean Paul's Dutty Rock, Buju Banton's Friends for Life and Wayne Wonder's No Holding Back have been among the beneficiaries of this deal.

Ironically, Banton is also managed by Germaine. Banton was 19 years of age in 1992 when he signed with Mercury Records.

Germaine said that the time is now right for Assassin to make greater strides on the international scene. "He has four songs on the charts right now, and people's eyes are opening up to him. Given all the tools for a major record company to work with, I think Assassin will be a major success," he said. "Two things are essential in making the process: presenting a good viable record and the commitment of a record company."
Assassin, a former student of Camperdown High School, began his tenure at Penthouse Records three years ago. "He had written a song for Spragga Benz while he was in fifth form at Camperdown, and Spragga brought him to me. I encouraged him to finish his high school education and he went on to sixth form. After he was finished with school, I started to work with him," said Germaine.

Known for songs including To Make Money, Dedicated to the World (with Sugar Slick), Wah Gwaan, Lock off the Dance, Roughest and Toughest, Bad Mind, Let Me Through and On a Mission, Assassin is presently riding the charts with a handful of singles. Over on the Choice FM Top 20 Chart in London, his H20 hit Girls Alone We Care Fah is at number 12, while his combination with Bounty Killer Dem Ting Deh on the Tunda Clap rhythm peaked at number 11 on the South Florida reggae chart. Girls Alone and Girls Gone Wild are also charting locally, so too is the combination Nobody Else featuring fellow Penthouse stable mate Nicky Burt.