Cassidy (rapper)

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Cassidy

Background information
Birth name Barry Adrian Reese
Born July 7, 1982 (1982-07-07) (age 25)
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
Genre(s) Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, producer, songwriter, actor
Years active 2001 – present
Label(s) Full Surface, J Records, Ruff Ryders, Larsiny, Real Ill
Associated acts Ruff Ryders, Larsiny Family, Swizz Beatz, Mashonda, Mario, Freeway, Neo Da Matrix
Website cassidymusic.com

Barry Adrian Reese (born July 7, 1982) better known by his stage name Cassidy, is an American rapper.

His most successful work to date is his 2004 album Split Personality, which reached #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart.[1] He won BET's Rap City Best Booth.[2]

Contents

[edit] Musical career

[edit] Early music career

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cassidy attended Central High School, Philadelphia.[3]. He started to rap when he was 13 years old. He rose to prominence by appearing, and winning, on The Cypher, a radio competition on 103.9 The Beat[4]. He was also a member of the crew Larsiny with his home-town friends Cal Akbar & Shiz Lansky. Producer Swizz Beatz signed Cassidy to his Full Surface label and featured him on his 2002 album Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories.

Cassidy received some fame after he won a freestyle battle with Roc-A-Fella artist Freeway. Cassidy recorded his first album, Split Personality 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 mixtapes and the third is credited to B. Reese from fans from his early days.[5]

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 was nominated for a Vibe Award in the category Coolest Collabo that year.[6] It also reached the top 5 of the UK reggiechart 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.[7]

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.[1] 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 2004, Cassidy was nominated for "Lyricist of the Year" at the Source Awards.[8]

[edit] Second album

Cassidy released his second album, I'm a Hustla on June 28, 2005, through Swizz Beatz's label, Full Surface. It reached a chart position of #5 on Billboards Hot Rap Tracks in the United States.[1] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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

[edit] Third album

Cassidy's third album, B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story was released on November 7, 2007, featuring his lead single "My Drink N' My 2 Step," which had leaked to the radio and several internet sites[11]. He also created a B.A.R.S. Competition Freestyle Battle on October 10, 2007 live on MTV's Sucker Free. He will be featured on the AND1 Mixtape Tour 2007[12].

The second single from B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story is entitled, "Innocent (Misunderstood)". On January 26th 2008, the single placed #3 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under R&B/HipHop Singles chart.[13].

Cassidy will also be the new face of Lot 29, which featured other artists such as Juelz Santana.[14].

Cassidy is also working on a group album with Larsiny.[15]

[edit] Fourth album

Cassidy confirmed in an interview with Allhiphop.com that his fourth album will be eponymously titled Cassidy.[16]

[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 AK-47 variant, fired on three other men during an argument that occurred in the rapper's West Oak Lane neighborhood in the Olney/Oak Lane section of Philadelphia just before 1 a.m. on April 15, 2005.[17]

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.[18] 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.[19]

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. [20][21] Cassidy was released from Pennsylvania's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on March 2, 2006 after serving eight months.[22]

[edit] Car accident

Cassidy was seriously 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's SUV while he was a passenger. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull and several broken bones on the left side of his face. He still has visible scars from the accident.[23][24][25]

[edit] Personal life

Cassidy has a son whose name is Cassidy and a fiancee[26]. He has a stepfather named Tony and a brother named Terrence.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Cassidy discography

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Cassidy's Billboard albums chart positions at All Music Guide. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.
  2. ^ The Best Of The Booth Bow Wow And Cassidy
  3. ^ Cassidy Trivia - Cassidy Facts - Cassidy Notes
  4. ^ | Cassidy | Hip Hop Beef | Rap Beef | Hip Hop Beefs | Rap Beefs | HipHop Beef | Hip Hop Beefs 2007
  5. ^ Cassidy Says R. Kelly Was Unplanned Guest In His 'Hotel' Shaheem Reid, March 24, 2004
  6. ^ Vibe Awards
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Kanye West Leads Source Award Nominees Clarence Burke Jr., September 9, 2004
  9. ^ Vibe Awards 2005, News, Nominees & Winners, TV Schedule Chiff.com, November 12, 2005
  10. ^ RIAA Launches New Gold And Platinum Award For Ringtones RIAA.com, June 14, 2006
  11. ^ [Singles] Cassidy- My Drink And My 2 Step
  12. ^ XXLmag.com | Hip-Hop On A Higher Level | » Quick News on Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul and Cassidy
  13. ^ Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales
  14. ^ Cassidy Leans On The Lord For 'B.A.R.S.'
  15. ^ Mixtape Monday: Lil Wayne Plans His Own Leak; Cassidy's Live-From-Jail Rhymes | MTV NEWS
  16. ^ Features : Cassidy: Friend vs. Foe
  17. ^ Cassidy Wanted For Murder MTV News, June 16, 2005
  18. ^ Murder Charges Against Cassidy Lowered Nolan Strong, August 16, 2005
  19. ^ Cassidy's Murder Rap Reinstated Carl Chery, September 15, 2005
  20. ^ US rapper jailed for manslaughter BBC News, January 25, 2006
  21. ^ Cassidy Convicted Of Involuntary Manslaughter — Will Be Eligible For Parole Soon MTV News, January 24, 2006
  22. ^ Cassidy Home From Jail Roman Wolfe, March 3, 2006
  23. ^ Rapper Cassidy In Critical Condition After Car Accident MTV News, October 5 2006
  24. ^ Rapper injured in Jersey City crash Michaelangelo Conte and Jeff Theodore, October 9, 2006
  25. ^ [Update] Cassidy Suffering from Fractures, Scars Kenny Rodriguez, October 11, 2006
  26. ^ Cassidy 'On The Road To Recovery' After Crash - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

[edit] External links

Interviews

v • d • e
Cassidy
Albums
Singles
"Take It" · "Hotel" · "Get No Better" · "I'm a Hustla" · "B-Boy Stance" · "My Drink N My 2 Step" "Innocent Man(Misunderstood)"
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