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Pawns in the Game
Pawns in the Game
Studio album by Professor Griff and the Last Asiatic Disciples
Released	March 27, 1990
Recorded	1989–1990
Studio	Skyywalker Recording Studio (Liberty City, FL)
Genre	Political hip hop
Label	Luke/Atlantic Records;
Producer	Luke Skyywalker (exec.); Beatmaster Clay D; Jim "Obie" O'Brien; Kerwin "Sleek" Young; Professor Griff;
Professor Griff chronology
Singles from Pawns in the Game
	"Pawns in the Game"; Released: 1990; "The Verdict"; Released: 1990;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	C^[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[3]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	^[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[5]

Pawns in the Game is the only studio album by the American musician Professor Griff and the Last Asiatic Disciples, which included Life (Sean Peacock), Patrick X (Sean Smith), B-Wyze (Robert L. Harding, Jr.), Jim "Obie" O'Brien (John Michael O'Brian), and JXL (Jason Wicks). It was released in 1990 via Luke/Atlantic Records.^[6] The recording sessions took place at Skyywalker Recording Studio in Liberty City. The production was mainly handled by Griff, with co-producers O'Brien, Beatmaster Clay D (Clay Dixon) and Kerwin "Sleek" Young. Luke Skyywalker served as the executive producer.

The album peaked at number 127 on the Billboard 200 and number 24 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The title track and "The Verdict" were the only singles released. "Pawns in the Game" entered the Billboard rap singles chart at number 4.

Due to comments made by Griff prior to the album's recording, Pawns in the Game was not carried by every national record chain.^[7]

Critical reception

The Chicago Tribune wrote that "although the music is good, and Griff and his crew are proficient rappers, Pawns in the Game is missing the urgency and spunk that fuel Public Enemy`s recordings."^[8] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide called the album "morally irritating."^[4] Trouser Press wrote that "although its strong rhythm tracks are gripping enough, the baldly proselytic Pawns in the Game isn’t about entertainment."^[9] The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that there are "enough hard beats built into the backing tracks to cover for Griff's sometimes shaky delivery."^[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Richard Griffin, Sean Peacock, Sean Smith, Robert Harding, John Michael O'Brian and Jason Wicks

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Pawns In The Game"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young	2:27
2.	"The Verdict"	Professor Griff Beat Master Clay D.	4:28
3.	"Suzi Wants To Be A Rock Star"	Professor Griff Beat Master Clay D.	5:17
4.	"Real African People 'Rap' Part 1"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young	3:44
5.	"Pass The Ammo"	Professor Griff Beat Master Clay D.	4:28
6.	"Real African People 'Rap' Part 2"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young	1:21
7.	"Love Thy Enemy"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young	3:59
8.	"Rap Terrorist"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young Jim "Obie" O'Brien	2:33
9.	"1-900 Ste Oreo Type"	Professor Griff Beat Master Clay D.	4:08
10.	"Last Asiatic Disciples"	Professor Griff Beat Master Clay D.	4:13
11.	"The Word Of God Griff On Duty"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young	3:15
12.	"The V Amendment"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young Jim "Obie" O'Brien	3:50
13.	"The Interview"	Professor Griff Kerwin "Sleek" Young Jim "Obie" O'Brien	4:06
14.	"It's A Blax Thanx"	Professor Griff	3:15