Season of the Assassin


Season of the Assassin is the debut studio album by American rapper Vinnie Paz. It was released on June 21, 2010, by Enemy Soil Entertainment and The Orchard. Initially entitled Assassin's Creed, it was renamed due to legal issues with Ubisoft.
Production was handled by C-Lance, Shuko, 4th Disciple, Bronze Nazareth, Da Beatminerz, Davel "Bo" McKenzie, DC The Midi Alien, DJ Kwestion, DJ Muggs, Fizzy Womack, Lord Finesse, Madlib, ManyBeats, MoSS, MTK, Scott "Supe" Stallone, Sicknature and Stu Bangas.
It features contributions from Block McCloud, Amalie Bruun, Beanie Sigel, Black Plague, Clipse, Demoz, Freeway, Ill Bill, Jakk Frost, Lawrence Arnell, Liz Fullerton, Paul Wall, R.A. the Rugged Man, Shara Nova and Sick Jacken.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 44 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 25 on the Top Rap Albums and number 12 on the Heatseekers Albums charts.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the album was reissued as 'Diamante Edition' with six remixed songs on August 28, 2020.

Critical reception

Season of the Assassin was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Chris Faraone of The Boston Phoenix praised the album, stating: "fortunately, his first official solo project finds the Philly flamethrower punching the outer limits of his range without breaking character". Sean Ryon of HipHopDX called it "an exciting break from the usual JMT formula, with Paz hitting his stride as a lyricist and showing a different and more fully-rounded side to his craft". Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews summed up: "if you've liked anything Paz has done before now to date Season of the Assassin will be right up your alley, and if he's just too savage and guttural for your taste nothing here will change your opinion. This is uncut unfiltered malice". AllMusic's Matt Rinaldi wrote: "one unexpected surprise of Season of the Assassin is that even Paz's brand of brutal, hardcore hip-hop can't resist the lure of compressed vocal harmonizing and, unlike his Jedi Mind Tricks and Army of the Pharaohs albums, this record has a fair share of R&B-tinged choruses". MF DiBella of Urb resumed: "this is a solid album especially if you're in an angry-at-the-world mood".

Track listing

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