Cassidy (rapper)
Cassidy | |
|---|---|
 Cassidy in May 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Barry Adrian Reese |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States[1] |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, producer, songwriter, actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Ruff Ryders (2002-2009) Full Surface (2002-2009) J Records (2004-2008) Kross Over Ent. (2009-present) |
Barry Adrian Reese (born in Philadelphia, PA on July 7, 1982) better known by his stage name Cassidy, is an American rapper.[1]
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.
On August 24, 2010, Cassidy released a 5-track EP, Face 2 Face EP. Cassidy's fourth album, C.A.S.H., was released November 16, 2010. "Face to Face" is the street single released from the album and "Drumma Bass" is the first official single. In 2010, Cassidy released the song "Gametime", which is featured on NBA 2K11.[vague]
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.[2] 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.[3]
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 prison plus probation and was credited with the 7 months he had already served.[4][5]
Cassidy was released from Pennsylvania's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on March 2, 2006 after serving eight months.[6]
Cassidy talks about his arrest and time in prison in the 2011 film Rhyme and Punishment, which documents various Hip-Hop artists who have done county jail or state/federal prison time.
Car accident
Cassidy was seriously injured in a vehicle accident on the night of October 5, 2006 when a commercial truck collided with his 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.[7][8][9]
"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
- Studio albums
- 2004: Split Personality
- 2005: I'm a Hustla
- 2007: B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story
- 2010: C.A.S.H.
Mixtapes
- 2008: Apply Pressure
- 2009: Apply Pressure 2
- 2011: Apply Pressure 3
Filmography
- 2009: Next Day Air as Cass (cameo)
- 2011: Rhyme and Punishment as himself
References
- ^ a b "Cassidy's Billboard albums chart positions at Allmusic". Retrieved April 23, 2007.
- ^ Cassidy Turns Himself In On Murder, Weapons Charges
- ^ Cassidy Denied Bail, Booked Into Medium-Security Prison
- ^ Cassidy Denied Bail, Booked Into Medium-Security Prison
- ^ Judge Reinstates First-Degree Murder Charge Against Cassidy
- ^ Murder Case[dead link]
- ^ Rapper Cassidy In Critical Condition After Car Accident MTV News, October 5, 2006
- ^ Rapper injured in Jersey City crash Michaelangelo Conte and Jeff Theodore, October 9, 2006
- ^ [Update] Cassidy Suffering from Fractures, Scars Kenny Rodriguez, October 11, 2006
External links
- Template:MySpace
- Cassidy's Youtube Page [1]