Cassidy (rapper)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Cassidy
Debut Album Cover
Debut Album Cover
Background information
Birth name Barry Adrian Reese
Also known as Cass, Tha Problem, The Hustla, B. Reese, Mr. Reese, Barry, Killa Cass
Born July 07, 1982 (age 24)
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre(s) Hip Hop/Rap
Occupation(s) Rapper, Producer, Songwriter, Actor
Instrument(s) Rapping
Years active 1997 - 1999 (Underground)
2000 - present (Professionally)
Label(s) Full Surface
J Records
Ruff Ryders
TD ENT-MGMT
The Saltmine
Interscope
Arista
Larsiny
Associated
acts		 Ruff Ryders
T.I.
Swizz Beatz
Mashonda
Beanie Sigel
Freeway
Website cassidymusic.com
Notable instrument(s)
Vocals

Barry Adrian Reese (born July 7, 1982), better known by his rap name Cassidy (a.k.a. B. Cassidy a.k.a. Tha Problem & The Hustla), is an American rapper of African American descent from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born in North Philadelphia and raised in West Oak Lane. His 2004 album Split Personality reached #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. He won BET's Rap City Best Booth.[1]

Contents

[edit] Beginning and first album

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cassidy attended Central High School, Philadelphia. He started to rap when he was 13 years old and rose to prominence by appearing on mix tapes. He was also a member of the crew Larsiny together with his home-town-friends Cal Akbar and Shiz Lansky. Producer Swizz Beatz signed him up to his Full Surface label distributed through J Records and featured him on Swizz Beatz 2002 album Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories. He was the champion on Philadelphia based radio show "The Cypher".[citation needed]

Cassidy recorded the Split Personality album in 2003. The record is divided into three parts: The first is credited to Cassidy and reflects his pop side, the second, credited as "Tha Problem," aims at fans of his mix tapes and the third is credited to B. Reese from fans from his early days.[2]

Cassidy recorded the lead single "Hotel" in R. Kelly's Chicago studios with a vocal contribution by Kelly - there is also a remix featuring vocals by Trina. The song became a hit, reaching the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2004 and being nominated for a Vibe Award in the category Coolest Collabo that year.[3] It also reached the top 5 of the UK chart and the top 40 of the Australian chart in May 2004. May 2004 was also the month Cassidy featured on the cover of The Source magazine, alongside Lil' Flip, Young Gunz and J-Kwon.[4]

Split Personality was released on March 16, 2004 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album charts and at #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums charts. The second single, "Get No Better", featured a contribution from labelmate Mashonda but did not do as well on the singles charts, reaching #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In September of 2004, Cassidy was nominated for "Lyricist of the Year" at the Source Awards.[5]

[edit] Sophomore album

Cassidy released his second album, I'm a Hustla on June 28, 2005, through Swizz Beatz's label, Full Surface. It achieved a highest chart position of #5 in the United States. The album's title track features a sample from Jay-Z's "Dirt off Your Shoulder" and the song was nominated for a Vibe Award in the category Street Anthem.[6] A remix featuring Mary J. Blige followed soon after. In 2006, the ringtone version of his track I'm a Hustla was one of the first-ever ringtones to be certified platinum.[7]

Another track off the album, The Message was released as a charity single, promoting Cassidy's involvement with the Millions More Movement.

[edit] Legal issues

On June 8, 2005, police issued a warrant for Cassidy's arrest, for the murder of a 22-year-old man during an April 15, 2005 shooting.

MTV News reported that according to police, three men, including Cassidy, armed with .45 and .40 caliber handguns, 9 mm pistols, and an AK47 variant, fired on three other men during an argument that occurred in the rapper's West Oak Lane neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia just before 1 a.m. on April 15, 2005.[8]

Cassidy's murder case took a turn when the primary witness admitted under oath initially lying to police and that he had not seen Cassidy firing a weapon.[9] This resulted in Municipal Judge Marsha Neifield stating that Cassidy would only have to stand trial for third-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons violation charges. This was later overturned to the original, first degree charge - negating the possibility of parole.[10]

On January 24, 2006 Cassidy was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to eleven-and-a-half to 23 months in jail and was credited with the 7 months he had already served. [11][12] Cassidy was released from Pennsylvania's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on March 2, 2006 after serving eight months.[13] He is now on parole for an unspecified length of time and is now working on his third album with Swizz Beatz.

[edit] 2006 car accident

Cassidy was critically injured in a motor vehicle accident on the night of October 5 2006, when a commercial truck, the size of a U-Haul truck, collided with Cassidy who was in his SUV. He suffered a fractured skull and broke several bones on the left side of his face.[14]


After being released from jail, Cassidy made an appearance at a Dipset concert. Jim Jones, Juelz, Hell Rell, Max B, J.R. Writer in attendance. (video)

On March 23, 2007, MTV NEWS interviewed Swizz Beatz who said his protégé (Cassidy) has been working with Scott Storch lately, and the Philly rapper also recently appeared onstage with the Roots during one of their tour stops.[citation needed]

Cassidy is currently expected to make a guest appearance on the debut album of Cory Gunz.[15]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

[edit] Compilation albums/Mixtapes

  • Back On The Block (The Real Best Of Cassidy)
  • The Best Of Cassidy
  • Cassidy The Problem
  • Cassidy Vs Beanie Sigel (Who is the King of Philly?)
  • Cassidy Vs Papoose Pt.1
  • Cassidy Vs Papoose Pt.2
  • Dirty Money Presents: The Main Event - Gravy Vs. Cassidy
  • DJ Clue - The Professional, Pt. 3
  • DJ Clue - Where Ya Hood At Part 1
  • DJ Kool Kid Presents Cassidy: The Answer
  • DJ L - Comin' For The Crown Part 2 (Hosted By Cassidy)
  • DJ L & Cassidy - Money On My Mind Part 2
  • DJ L Presents: Dangerously Gifted (Hosted By Cassidy)
  • DJ Lazy K - The Hustla Mixtape (Hosted by Cassidy)
  • DJ On Point - The Problem (Best Of Cassidy Part 2)
  • DJ S&S Ghetto Royalty (Mixtape)
  • DJ Thoro - New Year, New Money (Hosted By Cassidy)
  • DJ Thoro - New Year, New Money Part 2
  • DJ Thoro & Cassidy Present: The Problem Mixtape
  • DJ Thoro Presents: Big Bizness (Hosted By Cassidy)
  • DNA - Industry Xposure (Featuring Cassidy)
  • The Hustla's Home (TBR)
  • A Hustla's Manual
  • Keyz: Swizz Beatz - Full Surface
  • Larsiny - The Larsiny Family
  • The Larsiny Family Presents: The Best Of Cassidy
  • Lloyd Banks vs Cassidy Round 1
  • Lloyd Banks vs Cassidy Round 2
  • Lloyd Banks vs Cassidy Round 3
  • Nothin But The Freestyles
  • Philly's Most Wanted (feat. Beanie Sigel, Cassidy & Gillie Da Kid)
  • The Problem (Best Of Cassidy Part 1)
  • The Problem (Best Of Cassidy Part 2)
  • Ruff Ryders - Ryde or Die Vol. 2
  • Ruff Ryders - Ryde or Die Vol. 3
  • Ruff Ryders - The Redemption Vol. 4
  • Ruff Ryders - We In Here
  • A Tribute To Cassidy

[edit] Guest appearances

[edit] Music Videography

  • "Take It"
  • "Hotel" (directed by Little X)
  • "Get No Better" (directed by Jessy Terrero)
  • "I'm A Hustla" (directed by Benny Boom)
  • "Making of I'm A Hustla"
  • "I'm A Hustla Remix"
  • "B-Boy Stance" (directed by Cassidy and R. Malcolm Jones)
  • "Aim 4 Ya Gunz"
  • "Wow"
  • "Don't Care Who Knows"
  • "Bigger Business" By Swizz Beatz
  • "Down 2 Ride"
  • "How Could You"
  • "Get It On The Floor" By DMX

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
1989 Sesame Street as himself reciting the alphabet
2003 2 Raw For The Streets - Starilto's Way as himself Guest/Performer
2004 Back2BasicsRealRapsTV-Pistolvania as himself Performer
2004 Rap City as himself Performer
2004 TRL as himself Performer/Guest
2005 TRL as himself Performer/Guest
2004 Room Raiders as himself Performer
2005 Smack DVD as himself Performer
2005 Rap City as himself Performer
2005 Wild 'N Out as himself Performer/Debut as an Actor
2006 TRL as himself Performer/Guest
2006 SOHH Focused as himself Guest
2006 BET as himself Guest
2006 Raw N Uncut "Street Justice 2" as himself Guest

[edit] DVD

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Best Of The Booth Bow Wow And Cassidy
  2. ^ Cassidy Says R. Kelly Was Unplanned Guest In His 'Hotel' Shaheem Reid, March 24, 2004
  3. ^ Vibe Awards
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Kanye West Leads Source Award Nominees Clarence Burke Jr., September 9, 2004
  6. ^ Vibe Awards 2005, News, Nominees & Winners, TV Schedule Chiff.com, November 12, 2005
  7. ^ RIAA Launches New Gold And Platinum Award For Ringtones RIAA.com, June 14, 2006
  8. ^ Cassidy Wanted For Murder MTV News, June 16, 2005
  9. ^ Murder Charges Against Cassidy Lowered Nolan Strong, August 16, 2005
  10. ^ Cassidy's Murder Rap Reinstated Carl Chery, September 15, 2005
  11. ^ US rapper jailed for manslaughter BBC News, January 25, 2006
  12. ^ Cassidy Convicted Of Involuntary Manslaughter — Will Be Eligible For Parole Soon MTV News, January 24, 2006
  13. ^ Cassidy Home From Jail Roman Wolfe, March 3, 2006
  14. ^ Rapper Cassidy In Critical Condition After Car Accident MTV News, October 5, 2006
  15. ^ Bronx Stand Up: Cory Gunz Speaks With SOHH NYC SOHH Reckless, July 21, 2006
  16. ^ [2]

[edit] External links

[edit] Interviews

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/a/s/Cassidy_%28rapper%29.html"
In other languages