Cassidy (rapper)

Cassidy

Barry Adrian Reese better known by his stage name Cassidy, is an American rapper.

Music career

2004: Split Personality

Cassidy's first album, Split Personality, was released on March 16, 2004. There were two singles released from the album. The first single was "Hotel", which featured R. Kelly. The second single was "Get No Better", which featured Mashonda. Split Personality went gold in the first month it was released.

2005: I'm a Hustla

• Cassidy's second album, I'm a Hustla, was released on June 28, 2005 through Swizz Beatz's label, Full Surface. There were two singles released from the album. The first single was "I'm a Hustla". The second single was "B-Boy Stance", which featured Swizz Beatz.

2007: B.A.R.S

Cassidy's third album, B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story, was released on November 6, 2007. There was only one single released from the album. It was, "My Drink n My 2 Step" and it featured Swizz Beatz. The album features songs about his accident and his time in jail as well as his relationship with God.

2009: Signing with Kross Over

In late 2009 Cassidy signed with Carmelo Anthony's label Kross Over Entertainment. He Released mixtape series entitled Apply Pressure off the label.

2010-present: C.A.S.H. (Cass A Straight Hustla)

On August 24, 2010, Cassidy released a 5 song EP, Face 2 Face Ep. Cassidy's fourth album, C.A.S.H. (Cass A Straiht Hustla), is scheduled to be released November 2, 2010. "Face to Face" is the street single released from the album and "Drumma Bass" is the follow-up single. In 2010, cassidy released a song that's entitled " Gametime" which is featured on nba 2k11.

Acting career

Cassidy had a cameo appearance in the 2009 movie Next Day Air.

Personal life

Murder case

On April 15, 2005 three men, including Cassidy, armed with .45 and .40 caliber handguns, 9 mm pistols, and an AK-47 variant rifle, fired on three unarmed men during an argument that occurred in the West Oak Lane neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia. Desmond Hawkins was killed by a shot in the back. Hawkin's two other friends were treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds and released.

On June 8, a warrant was issued for Cassidy's arrest on charges of murder, attempted murder, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, conspiracy and weapons possession. Cassidy surrendered to Philadelphia police on the afternoon of June 17. At his arraignment on Saturday, June 18, he was denied bail, and sent to Philadelphia's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison, where he would serve his time during the trial and after he was sentenced.

Cassidy's murder case took a turn when the primary witness withdrew his confession. This resulted in the judge stating that Cassidy would stand trial for 3rd degree murder. On August 16, 2005, Municipal Judge Marsha Neifield ruled that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to charge Cassidy with third-degree murder, attempted murder charges, and weapons offenses. This was later overturned to the original, first degree charge - negating the possibility of parole. On January 25, 2006 Cassidy was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault and possession of an instrument of crime for his involvement in the shooting. He was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in jail plus probation and was credited with the 7 months he had already served.

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

Car accident

Cassidy was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident on the night of October 5, 2006 when a commercial truck collided with hisSUV 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..

"I was in a coma for about seven or eight days," he said. "And then they put me into a medicated coma, so that if I woke up I wouldn't be traumatized by what I went through. When I first woke up out of my coma, I had amnesia, so I couldn't really remember everything. I didn't have full amnesia; I could remember certain things. The only people I really knew were my mom, my son, people that's real close that you knew all your life. I knew their names but even certain experiences I couldn't remember at first. I couldn't remember none of my raps, even the songs I performed — 'Hotel,' 'I'm a Hustla,' none of that. The doctor told me that I suffered brain damage, but it was temporary, it wasn't permanent. So the same way it takes time for your body to heal, he said it's gonna take your brain time to heal."

Discography

Main article: Cassidy discography

Official studio albums

• Split Personality (2004)
• I'm a Hustla (2005)
• B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007)
• C.A.S.H. (Cass Always Stays Hard) (2010)

Official Eps

• Face 2 Face Ep (2010)

Official mixtapes

• Nothing But The Freestyles (2003)
• The Hustlas Home (2007)
• 07-07-07 (Happy Birthday) (2007)
• 07-07-08 (Happy Birthday Extended Edition) (2008)
• Philliy Renegade (2009)
• Apply Pressure (2009)
• Apply Pressure 2 (2010)

Filmography

• 2009: Next Day Air as Cass (Cameo)

External links

• Template:MySpace
• Cassidy's Youtube Page [1]