Cassidy
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Cassidy (real name Barry Reese) is a Philadelphia rapper. His 2004 album Split Personality has reached #2 on the Billboard 200 album charts and number 1 on the Billboard r&b/ hip hop chart.
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Career
Cassidy was born in the early 1980s in Philadelphia. He rose to prominence as a battle rapper and started appearing on mix tapes. He was also a member of the crew Larceny. 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. Cassidy has also appeared on tracks by Snoop Dogg and Wyclef Jean.
Cassidy recorded the Split Personality album in 2003. The record is divided into three parts. The first part is credited to Cassidy and reflects his pop side, the second part is credited to "Tha Problem" aims at fans of his mix tapes and the third is credited to B. Reese from fans from his early days. [1] (http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1485966/03242004/cassidy.jhtml/1)
Cassidy recorded the track and lead single "Hotel" with R. Kelly in Kelly's Chicago studios with a vocal contribution by Kelly - there is also a version featuring vocals by Trina. The song became a hit reaching the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2004 and the top 5 of the UK charts in May 2004. The song has also reached the Australian top 40 in late May 2004.
Split Personality was released on March 16 2004 and debuted at #2 of the Billboard 200 album charts and at number 1 in the r&b/hip hop albums charts. The second single "Get No Better" featured a contribution from labelmate Mashonda did not do as well on the singles charts reaching #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cassidy, will release his sophomore album, I'm a Hustla, on June 28 on Swizz Beatz's J-affiliated Full Service.
Discography
Albums
- Split Personality (2004)
- I'm a Hustla (2005)
Singles
- "Hotel" (feat. R. Kelly) (2004) #4 US, #3 UK
- "Get No Better" (feat. Mashonda) (2004) #79 US, #24 UK
- "I'm a Hustla" (2005) #39 US
Murder Investigation
On June 8, a warrent was issued for the murder of a 22-year-old man during an April 15 shooting. Cassidy's attorney has stated that he expects his client to surrender on the morning of June 17.
MTV News has reported that three men, including Cassidy, were armed with .45 and .40 caliber handguns, 9 mm pistols, AK47 assault rifles and 7.62 mm rifles, fired on three other men during an hostile argument that occured in the rapper's northwest Philadelphia neighborhood just before 1 a.m. on April 15.
External links
- MTV News report on murder investigation (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1504240/20050616/index.jhtml?headlines=true/)
- All Music Guide Cassidy profile (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311071654390588&sql=B81amqj6qojha/)
- VH1 Cassidy artist page (http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/cassidy/artist.jhtml/)nl:Cassidy