Jamaican dancehall star Agent Sasco is enjoying another international spotlight as his contribution to Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning and UK Platinum-certified album To Pimp A Butterfly reaches a new audience through Netflix. A remixed version of The Blacker the Berry, featuring Sasco’s distinctive vocals, appears in the streaming platform’s adult anime series Bass X Machina, which premiered on November 3. The song features during a dramatic train gunfight sequence, adding a fresh dimension to the decade-old collaboration.
The development comes less than two months after Agent Sasco was honoured at the Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd. Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026, held in collaboration with The Royalty Network Inc. in Jamaica on September 15. The recognition celebrated his contributions to internationally recognised projects, including To Pimp A Butterfly, which won Best Rap Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards and achieved Platinum certification in the United Kingdom. Sasco, formerly known as Assassin, appears on The Blacker the Berry, delivering the memorable hook alongside Kendrick’s powerful verses.
The Netflix placement also brings renewed attention to the song’s original message. Released as a single in February 2015, The Blacker the Berry explores race, identity and racial hypocrisy, with Agent Sasco’s Jamaican patois delivery providing a striking contrast and complement to Kendrick’s verses. The track became one of the standout moments on To Pimp A Butterfly, which also received an Album of the Year nomination at the 2016 Grammy Awards. Notably, the song’s appearance in Bass X Machina connects its themes to the series’ portrayal of Bass Reeves, the historical African-American lawman portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry.
Agent Sasco’s international crossover credentials extend beyond his work with Kendrick. In 2013, he appeared on Kanye West’s Yeezus, contributing to the track I’m In It. His continued presence in major international productions highlights the reach of Jamaican dancehall beyond its traditional boundaries. Meanwhile, Bass X Machina introduces The Blacker the Berry to another generation of viewers, demonstrating how influential recordings can find new relevance through film and television. For Sasco, the Netflix placement adds another notable chapter to a career that continues to connect Jamaican music with global audiences.
