Cassidy rose to prominence as a battle rapper and started appearing on mixtapes. Producer Swizz Beatz signed him to his Full Surface label distributed through J Records and featured him on Swizz's 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 the year 2003. The record is divided into three parts: The first is credited to Cassidy and reflects his pop side, the second, credited as "Tha Problem," aims at fans of his mixtapes. The third is credited to B. Reese from fans from his early days. [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 also reached the Australian top 40 in late May 2004.
Split Personality was released on March 16, 2004 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album charts and at #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums charts. The second single, "Get No Better", featured a contribution from labelmate Mashonda but did not do as well on the singles charts, reaching #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cassidy released his second album, I'm A Hustla, on Swizz Beatz's label, Full Surface. The album features a sample from Jay-Z's "Dirt off your Shoulders" on the first single, "I'm a Hustla". A remix featuring Mary J. Blige followed soon after. It was released on June 28, 2005 and it reached #5 on the Billboard in the United States.
Cassidy is known for his freestyling ability. He first came into national attention after spiking the Roc-a-Fella rapper and fellow Philadelphian, Freeway. The studio session made its way to the streets and the internet, where interest in Cassidy grew.
Different styles and flows
Tha Problem/The Hustla - His first style, very aggressive and street smart. Many people compared him with Papoose, Fabolous, D-Block, Jay-Z, and Big L. It's based on his Battle-Rapper past.
Cassidy - This style came up after his success with "Hotel", it's basically for his female fans, most similar to the style of Nelly.
B. Reese/Mr. Reese - His original style, which is more political. In this style, he talks about Life and the president and also similar subjects, similar to Nas, Quan, 2Pac, Beanie Sigel and DMX.
His third studio album, B.A.R.S. (The Barry Adrian Reese Story) was originally entitled "It Is What It Is". It was #10 on XXL magazine's top 10 most anticipated albums in 2007. B.A.R.S. was released on November 7, 2007, and his lead single was "My Drink N' My 2 Step,". He also created a B.A.R.S. Competition Freestyle Battle on October 10, 2007 live on MTV's Sucker Free show. The second single is "Cash Rules", featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony & Eve.
Cassidy is also working on a group album with Larsiny. The first single is rumored to be "Boyz Iz Back".
Cassidy confirmed in an interview with Allhiphop.com that his fourth album will be eponymously titled Cassidy.
Cash is the Name of his Album with the hit single "Drummer Bass"
Who Am I
Cassidy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
my soul mate
your my bestfriend
part of me let breathing
now half of me is left
i dont know anything, at all
who am i to say, you love me..
i dont know anything, at all
color me blue, im lost in you
dont know why im still waiting
many moods have come and gone
dont know why im still searching
dont know anything at all..
and who am i to say you love me..
dont know anything, at all
and who am i to say you need me
hmmm..... hmm.. hmmm... uh oh yaa...
huhh... oohh...
now your a song i loved to sing
never thought it would feel so free
now i know whats meant to be
and thats okay with me
but who am i to say you love me
and who am i to say you need me
and who am i to say you would love me
hmm... hm
dont know anything, at all.
and who am i to say you love me
dont know anything, at all.
and who am i to say you need me
dont know anything, at all.
i dont know anything, at all.
i dont know anything at all.
i dont know anything at all
In Cassidy's song "Who Am I," the lyrics explore the theme of identity and the struggle to find oneself. The clown motif in the song represents the idea of putting on a facade or hiding true emotions, as clowns are known for their painted smiles and exaggerated expressions. The lyrics suggest that the clown is a performer whose job is to entertain others, but he is not allowed to show his true emotions. He is expected to be funny and playful all the time, but his feelings are often ignored or dismissed. The lyrics "I am a clown, I am a clown, You'll always see me smile, You'll never see me frown" convey the idea that the clown feels pressure to keep up the act and never reveal his true emotions.
The lines "Sometimes my scenes are good, Sometimes their bad, Not funny ha-ha, funny sad" reflect the idea that although the clown's job is to entertain, sometimes the reality is not as happy-go-lucky as it seems. The clown may be going through personal struggles that are not visible to the audience. The lyrics "Sometimes I think the world is a circus town, Sometimes I feel I belong in a side show" suggest that the clown feels disconnected from society and that he sees the world as a chaotic place. The chorus repeats the phrase "I am a clown," emphasizing the identity crisis the clown is facing.
Overall, "Who Am I" is a poignant song that delves into the complexities of identity and the struggle to find oneself. It encourages listeners to question the image they present to the world and to think about the emotions they may be concealing.
Line by Line Meaning
See the funny little clown
Observe the amusing, peculiar performer in costume
See the puppet on a string
Notice the marionette being controlled by external forces
Wind him up and he will sing
Activate the mechanism and it will produce a musical sound
Give him candy...he will dance
Offer sweets...it will induce him to move rhythmically
But be certain not to feel
Make sure not to experience emotions
If his funny face is real
If his comical expression is genuine
Stop right up and see him folks
Come closer and witness the spectacle, ladies and gentlemen
Couldn't you die at all his jokes?
Don't his jests make you laugh so hard you could faint?
Couldn't you cry at all his tricks
Don't his illusions make you sob uncontrollably?
He'll come up with in a fix?
He'll find a solution in a difficult situation?
But be certain not to stray
Ensure not to deviate from the expected behavior
He will steal your heart away
He'll charm you so much that you'll become enamored
I am a clown, I am a clown
I'm a performer who dresses up in costume and applies make-up
You'll always see me smile
You'll never see me without a grin on my face
You'll never see me frown
You'll never see me with a sad or disappointed expression
Sometimes my scenes are good
Occasionally my acts are enjoyable
Sometimes their bad
Sometimes they're unpleasant
Not funny ha-ha, funny sad
Not amusing in a positive sense, but in a melancholic one
I am a clown, look at the clown
I am a performer who dresses up in costume and applies make-up, observe me
Always the laughing face
Always the visage that conveys amusement
Whenever you're around
Every time you are present
Always the same routine
Unvarying in the performances I execute
I never change
I remain constant and consistent
Not funny ho-ho, funny strange
Not amusing in a traditional way, but in an unusual one
Sometimes I think the world is a circus town
Occasionally I perceive the world as an absurd, chaotic place
Sometimes I feel I belong in a side show
Occasionally I sense that I fit in a marginalized, unconventional group
That man on the flying trapeze
The individual who performs acrobatics suspended in the air
He ain't never coming down
He will never return to the ground
He know's what I know...
He understands what I comprehend...
If you look inside
If you inspect internally
If I didn't hide, you might decide
If I didn't conceal, you might conclude
You don't want me
You don't desire me
I am a clown, that's why I'm a clown
I'm a performer who dresses up in costume and applies make-up, that's why I'm a performer who dresses up in costume and applies make-up
Just like the fool on the hill
Similar to the jester on the mountaintop
Begging to come down
Begging to descend
I want to live again
I desire to experience life anew
I want to feel
I desire to have emotions
Tell me you love me, make me real
Express affection for me, allow me to be authentic
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elijahmeadows68
i miss this era of music and music videos
@sloppygirlz
me too aww
@deljean
Elijah Meadows i swear
@keairralee286
Elijah Meadows word, I don't watch videos anymore and don't even know if 106 and park still come on but don't even care cuz it's whack music now
@caydenm.1469
When xxxtencion came in the rap game was dead
@neox9369
Keairra Lee The show was canceled in 2012/2013. From 2010 on it was garbage at that point. 2000-2007👌🏾
@breianafrance8634
This man is a lyrical monster👑💎 His wordplay with syllables, his cadence and flow !
@ezzylafaith1100
Definitely
@PhoenixRise0101
It's 2023 and it's safe to say this song is still 100% 🔥🔥🔥🔥.
@lawrenceblack322
That BE true.