Cassidy

Cassidy is the rap name of Barry Adrian Reese, a hip hop artist from Philadelphia, United States. He is also known as “The Problem” and “The Hustla”, and he is born in 1982. Raised in North Philadelphia, he first comes to attention as a battle rapper and then builds a recording career through mixtapes and label releases.

Career

He performs with Larsiny Family and is associated with the group Larsiny, which he forms with fellow Philadelphia artists Cal Akbar and Shiz Lansky. He gains wider notice after a battle with Freeway circulates beyond the studio and spreads through streets and the internet, increasing interest in his style and freestyling ability. He later appears on tracks by Snoop Dogg and Wyclef Jean.

Producer Swizz Beatz signs Cassidy to Full Surface, distributed through J Records, and features him on Swizz’s 2002 album Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories. His early recording output includes the album Split Personality, which presents three different identities: Cassidy, Tha Problem, and B. Reese. The album includes the single “Hotel”, recorded with R. Kelly in Chicago, with an additional version featuring Trina. “Hotel” becomes a major hit, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top ten, the UK top five, and the Australian top 40. The album also includes “Get No Better”, which features Mashonda.

His second album, I’m a Hustla, is also released on Full Surface. Its lead single, “I’m a Hustla”, uses a sample from Jay-Z’s “Dirt off your Shoulders”, and a remix follows with Mary J. Blige. His third album, B.A.R.S. (The Barry Adrian Reese Story), is first titled It Is What It Is. It includes the single “My Drink N’ My 2 Step” and later “Cash Rules”, featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Eve. He also creates the B.A.R.S. Competition Freestyle Battle on MTV’s Sucker Free show. He is also working on a group album with Larsiny, and he has referred to a fourth album titled Cassidy. Another album, Cash Is the Name, is linked with the single “Drummer Bass”.

Style

Cassidy is known for different lyrical styles and flows. One persona, Tha Problem or The Hustla, is aggressive and street-oriented, shaped by his battle-rap background. Cassidy is a more commercial style that emerges after the success of “Hotel” and is aimed at female listeners. B. Reese or Mr. Reese is his more political approach, dealing with life, presidents, and related subjects.