Cassidy:
Split Personality

Release Date: 22 March 2004

Reviewed By: Usman Sajjad

1. My Interpretation

2. Hotel - feat, R Kelly

3. Lipstick

4. Get No Better - feat, Mashonda

5. Make U Scream - feat, Snoop Dogg

6. Skit: Tha Problem

7. Tha Problem

8. Pop That Cannon - feat, Styles P

9. Blood Pressure

10. Can I Talk To You - feat Jadakiss

11. Skit: Real Talk

12. Real Talk

13. Husslin'

14. I'm Hungry

15. Around Tha World

16. Hotel - feat R Kelly, Trina (Remix)

Lloyd Banks - Hunger For More
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Twenty-one-year-old Cassidy made his way through the ranks the old fashioned way - raw acapella battling. From the talented town of Philadelphia, Cass battled his way through the streets and eventually wrapped a deal with Clive Davis of J Records.

The album is arranged under three headings: ‘Cassidy’, ‘Tha Problem’ and ‘B.Reese’, while production comes solely from Swizz Beats (who was previously the in-house producer at Ruff Ryders, producing tracks for DMX). From hearing Cass freestyle on the Radio 1 Rap Show, I was impressed with his energetic and witty rhymes, but one question still remained - could he cut it on a full-length album?

Even though he was swarming successfully around the mixtape circuit, Cassidy was really introduced to the rap game commercially with his sweetly orientated single ‘Hotel’, giving both an R&B and hip hop flavor to the record. With R. Kelly on the hook, the single went straight in at No.2 on the US Billboard charts. The remix of this track is an adequate effort, featuring the aggressive rhymes of Trina, together with the ‘Pied Piper of R&B’, who still sings the chorus, “Girl ya wanna come to my hotel/ Baby I’ma give ya my room key.”

The same fever is felt on ‘Get No Better’, the second release from the album, which features the incredible vocals of Mashonda. This shows elements of Cassidy’s versatility, as he rhymes well on a more R&B rhythm. ‘Lipstick’ however, is the complete opposite. With a below-par beat from Swizz Beats and horrible vocals from Jazze Pha, I was put completely off this record. All in all, the ‘Cassidy’ section is not an incredible side of the album, with the only stand out tracks being the aforementioned ‘Hotel’ and ‘Get No Better’.

‘Tha Problem’ is the first time Cassidy steps up with a harder stance and he manages to hold up, finally showing his worth and witty rhymes. An appearance by The Lox help Cassidy bring back his freestyle abilities on ‘Pop That Cannon’ and ‘Can I Talk To You’, a track possessing a ’70s brass baseline and a heavy drum beat, with Jadakiss’ smooth rhymes and versatile delivery. Here, Cassidy gives us a perfect example of the type of lyrics that got him signed to J Records.

One other track that would make for an excellent single is ‘Around the World’. It has a great Pop/R&B beat, is radio-friendly, and is an equally suitable club record. Yet, cuts such as ‘I’m Hungry’ and ‘Make You Scream’ are simply terrible with out-of-tune choruses, and rhymes from Cassidy which get lazier and lazier as the songs progress.

The album is far from what I expected after hearing his unique efforts on various mixtapes. The production is average, although on some tracks the beats are too unusual and not catchy enough. Potential oozes within this Philly rapper, but I feel he has wasted a hot opportunity to give a street-orientated album, which I feel could have sold a million in its first week of release. In terms of art and its homage to hip-hop, Cassidy fails, but he passes with flying colours in delivering a “sing-a-long”, clubbing-type LP.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Top 3 Tracks:
2) Hotel
4) Get No Better
8) Pop that Cannon

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