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Cassidy Biography
Review The Artist (48)
Source: http://felixgh556@yahoo.com
The overindulgence of pop music sensibilities has forced Hip Hop music to once again turn to its youth for a regeneration of skills and street music values. Cassidy, a.k.a. "Da Problem," is the solution to the dilemma, but a major problem for all acts who rely on smoke and mirrors to mask their lack of microphone mastery. These qualities and respect for art are the reason Swizz Beats has knighted Cassidy as the debut act on his new label Full Surface Records.
As a pure lyricist cut from the same cloth as Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Nas, the 20-year old Cassidy (Barry Reese) honed his abilities in ciphers and battles all over his native Philadelphia and New York. He has yet to lose.
"I've been rhyming all my life," states Cassidy. "Rhyming for me was just like how some people play basketball for the fun of it. It's an everyday activity."
"He's just young and hungry," adds Swizz Beats. "He can freestyle for hours, but he also has a large vocabulary. He knows how to blend words for effect in battles or songs. I have all the faith in the world in him."
Faith is what Cassidy has been living on since he started taking rap music seriously in 1996. In junior high school, Cassidy battled for fun while turning to the streets to economically keep himself afloat. After being challenged by a friend to take rapping seriously, Cassidy assigned himself to battling the champion of "The Cipher" show on Philadelphia station 103.9 FM. Cipher host Zulu soon crowned Cassidy the new champion. "I was winning the battles week after week," states Cassidy. There was goodcompetition, but being challenged is exciting to me. And when callers would cheer me on that's when I started taking this thing [recording rap music] serious."
Cassidy's victories on the Cipher caught the attention of Delfonics founder and lead singer William Hart, who wanted to break into the rap game. "We recorded a few songs for a demo," Cassidy remembers, "but it didn't amount to anything as far as getting a deal. It did give me studio experience however."
One year later, a chance meeting in a Philly barbershop with Swizz's father, Terrance Dean; who was working with his brothers' Dee and Wah Ruff Ryders label, brought Cassidy to the Ruff Ryder family. "I was 16," remembers Cassidy, "and this dude came in talking about he worked with Ruff Ryders and wanted to hear me rap, so after the shop closed I spit a verse. Then I just started spitting for an hour and some change. He took my number down and said he would get with me. Two days later, I was in class and my mom paged me and asked me if I met someone for Ruff Ryders because they wanted me to come out to New York today. I was in 11th grade." Cassidy made the trip to New York with fellow rhymers Shizz Lansky and Cal Akbar and were signed to Ruff Ryders together as a group, Larsiny.
Though not really a group, the trio recorded almost twenty songs before being put on the shelf because of the large roster Ruff Ryders had accumulated. For two years, Cassidy watched from the sidelines while occasionally performing ghostwriting duties or making guest appearances on mix tapes and songs for Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Compilation 2 and 3, and Nas remix of "The General" featuring Fat Joe. When Swizz Beats got the green light for Full Surface, he wanted Cassidy down with his team. "I knew he had talent," says Swizz. "I just want to give him his shot to show everybody what he can do. This guy is incredible."
While working on his album, Cassidy made a huge waves in the underground when word got out that he and fellow Philly native Freeway had a battle in the studio. That battle was recorded for prosperity, and Cassidy emerged victorious. "That wasn't just about me and Freeway. It was real Hip Hop," states Cassidy. "That's how you sharpen skills. Battling is a part of the culture for MCs."
So far Cassidy and Swizz Beats have recorded about 25 songs for the as-yet-untitled debut from Cassidy. The album will include tracks from Rockwilder, Battlecat, Drop, Neo and a few upcoming producers from Swizz stable of beat-makers.
Many have called Cassidy a battle rapper or a punch line rapper, which disturbs him and Swizz to no end. All those stereotypes will be laid to rest once the album drops, "I made my reputation by battling, but there is more to me than that," Cassidy relates. "I knew how to rhyme to a beat, but I wasn't really used to rhyming in a rhythm and pocket and chorus. Swizz taught me a lot about riding different beats and different grooves. I was used to riding a basic knock or simple drum tracks. He taught me how to use different flows on various tracks; like bouncy beats, hard-edged beats, beats that include more horns or keyboards than say a guitar or drum. He helped refine the way I hear music, in order to record songs differently. I'm a lyricist, so that helped me with flows and coming up with hooks for the different types of songs. It wasn't hard at all, but it was an adjustment."
"I also understood the need for stories and how to write them to music. I can bring more emotion across when I'm telling stories - but it's all in the wording. For instance, when you are in 6th grade and the teacher asks you to read a story, you just read the words. Later as your skills improve you understand the emotion and punctuation and begin reading the story like it should be told. The delivery, the expression, enunciation and emphasis on words make it clear what the situation is with the characters or plot twists."
Fully prepared to initiate the changing of the guard, Cassidy represents the embracing of MC culture, at the same time modernizing those values to fit in the industry of recording.
Really, I just have to think longer than before, but I think the whole process of working with Swizz and learning more about music has only made me better at what I do. Where rap music has become commercial in abandoning artistry for mass replication of the latest trend, Cassidy can lead the movement to right the wrongs of his predecessors by simply being the raw, arrogant street cat that he is.
Swizz has a lot of faith in me to make my album the debut on his label. So like any player in their rookie season, you have to earn your starting spot on the team. I'm coming out scoring."
Thanks to felixgh556@yahoo.com for submitting the biography. |
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Review about Cassidy
cassidy cant beat canibus | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/21/09
cassidy lyrics are wack as hell he didnt finish school of course no body does no more canibus will rip you and smah like pilers. go head battle him pussy he would kill you rapping dizere and thats slang dizare you know what i mean right? Wrong your fake you mase looking mutha fucker i've seen you on the streets recently still battling. I thought you was gonna get serious. You the see 50 cent or jay-z battling. No cuz they already have made punk
word | Reviewer: Anonymous | 7/17/09
cass is the best battle rapper dead or alive, no joke. I was locked up for a year and the first thing i did was write down every verse i could remember.
I spit em for all the dudes who havn't been out long enough to know your shit. I told em all the shit to hear when they get out too. And on some no dick ridin shit, I been reppin you since the first day i heard you spit.
Best Rapper Alive.... | Reviewer: Joe | 1/30/09
Wts up cass !.. ive been listenin 2 your mixtapes and albums over da past years and dey R immense ive got ya newest mixtape Cassidy-Wer Cass At da freestylin on da r sick ! u probaly wnt read but if do just lettin ya now u r da best rapper alive !!!
pls read this as i really like your song and dieing about it | Reviewer: cassidy | 9/10/08
hello cassidy,as am black and from Ghana,but the way i like your song,i have chnge my nameto your name,please keep it up and i want you to bring a new album. as i realy like your song very much. i feel like been with you and be the best musician like you,as you are the only musician i like. so keep it up,
my main influence | Reviewer: the R.S | 8/16/08
sup cass* what it do! dis ya boi the r.s a.k.a 6shotz holding down the northside of brisbane / australia, hip hop aint really supported over here but aye, just letn ya know that i love you shit, and basically the way i spit was birthd from the style i hear from you, if you can or anyone period, check out www.myspace.com/thers2. jus a lil something but aye peace out, love your shit kuzz* hola atcha boy!
cassidy | Reviewer: tj allen | 8/18/08
man cassidy i feel yo music so much kid. i been on your music way b4 wayne ever thought about bein hott. in my mind and there is other ppl that feel the same but u the best rapper alive and aint no1 touchin u son. im from the a in anderson south cak that is bt keep philly and me i yo heart and music. keep doin wat u do and keep the block hott.
CASSIDY I KNO U PROLLY WON'T READ DIS BUT I REALLY WISH U COULD BABII | Reviewer: Brittney Monahan | 7/14/08
OK CASS LETME TALK 2 U 4 A SECOND LOLZ..I LUVVVV UR MUSIC SOO MUCH..I'M FROM PHILLY BUT I'M LIVIN IN WACK ASS OHIO AN ALMOST EVERY1 OUT HERE LUVEZZZ WEEZY BUT UR A WAYY BETTER FREESTYLER THAN HE CULD EVER BE IN HIS LIFE LOLZ..WANYE SHULD LOOK UP 2 U LOLZ..U JUS NEED 2 PUT OUT MORE SINGLEZ BABE OK LOLZ..WELL I REALLY HOPE U WRITE ME BAK BCUZ I AM TRULY UR BIGGEST FAN I KNO EVERY1 OF UR SONGZ AN I KNO ALOT BOUT U KK LETME DROP ONE OF YA VERSES RIT3 QUICK SO U CAN HIT MEH UP IIGHT..MWUAHZZ
Yea yea yea here we go
All my girls round the world I do it for yall
I love you babygirl I do it for yall
Da kid Cas got love I do it for yall
When you see me get a hug I do it for yall
I'll sign an autograph I do it for yall
All around the world I do it for yall
Got love for my girls I do it for yall
It's all rite baby girl I do it for yall yeah
Philly I do it for yall
Full Surface J Records we do it for yall
My man Swissy you know the boy do it for yall
Cassidy the problem man I do it for yall
Split Personalities cummin soon yall
SOO PLEASE DO IT 4 ME AN WRITE ME BAK KK LUV YA
The best | Reviewer: Devon aka yungnelly | 5/23/08
whats good. I got my lil brother and he can rap and freedstyle real good. Can't nobody beat him in Michigan city Indiana. Plus i got the 219 Boyz and they is hot also. If you want to i have my lil brother mixtape. Check it out. I think you will like it. Just give me your address and i will send it to you.
i want to be a star like you | Reviewer: Abigail | 5/26/08
cassidy am a big fan of you i want to be a star and i want to work with you your music is so cool i love your songs i think you are one of the best rappers in the world i hope you and your family are doing very wellamd i hpe you make a new songs and i hope i can sing with you.PS you are the best.
Comment/suggestions | Reviewer: Jeaniene Canada | 2/20/08
I personally know Cassidy before he began rapper. I used to live right around the corner from him on 79th Ave. in Philadelphia. I now live in Pasadena, Ca.and I still try to keep up w/ him. My son T.J. is a huge fan. Barry, I just wanted you to know I pray that you career keeps on blossoming. I am friends w/ a female artist that he knows Theresa. Barry if you need a extra for a video some song ideas I have a few that no one has attempted to duplicate yet. Barry or Cassidy this is J-9 (shorty) from 79th Ave. just saying keep up the good work. If you are ever in L.A. or Pasadena look a sister up. I hope he gets this message, this is from the hood and back again.
Jeaniene Canada
240 W.Pepper St. #5
Pasadena, Ca. 91103
626-808-0259
Come to our hood. OGZ. has nothing on Pasadena. From the East to the West and back again we are bi-coastal
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Review the Artist Cassidy
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