Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who is Cassidy?
Barry Adrian Reese, known widely as Cassidy, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He came into the spotlight in the late 1990s after gaining attention for his freestyle and rap battles.
He was already renowned as one of Philadelphia’s top battle rappers as a teen. He won a challenge hosted by the Philadelphia radio station “The Beat 103.5” at 15 years old.
As a rookie, He started a rap group called “The Larsiny Family” in the 2000s with two of his friends in the neighborhood. They achieved notable success together before they were dissolved.
By then, his mainstream career was already taking off. In 2002, he signed with Full surface records, presided over by Swizz Beatz, a record producer under Ruff Ryder records and J Records. Swizz said he was impressed with his battle rapping skills and saw potential in him.
In 2003, he released his first single, “Hotel,” featuring R.Kelly, and it was a smash hit. It hit the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, and following the momentum, he released his first album, “Split personality,” on March 16, 2004, with 16 tracks produced by Swizz Beatz.
The album, Split personality, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 118 thousand pure copies in the first week. It didn’t stop there; the album climbed to number 1 on the U.S. R.N.B. and Hip-hop charts, making it his first number one album.
Cassidy signed endorsement deals with multiple brands outside of rap, including Trojan, which was signed following his remix to the smash single Gangnam style by Korean artist Psy called “Condom style.” In 2009, he signed as the face of “Lot 29” clothing line, and in the same year, he was cast in the comedy film “Next Day Air.”
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Barry Adrian Reese |
| Popular Name: | Cassidy |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | July 7, 1982 |
| Age: | 40 years |
| Parents: | Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Cassidy |
| Siblings: | Shaun Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy, and Ryan Cassidy |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American |
| Education: | Central High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | N/A |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $1 Million |
| Source of Wealth: | American rapper and songwriter |
| Height: | 5ft8 (1.75m) |
| Weight: | 70kg (154lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Barry Adrian Reese was born in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1982, to his parents, Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Cassidy. As a young child, he had always wanted to be a rapper. He attended Central High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and decided to follow his rap dreams after.
In 2000, he formed a group called the Larsiny Family with his friends. They achieved success after signing with “Ruffryders record” and appearing on the compilation album Ride Or Die Vol 2. The group was then shelved afterward to focus on other major acts.
At that time, Cassidy was already rising to the limelight. He defeated Mc Freeway in a rap battle and was then noticed by Swizz Beats. He later featured on Swizz Beatz’s album Ghetto stories. Swizz Beatz was impressed with his skills and offered him a spot in his record company, Full Surface records.
In 2004, Cassidy released his first single, Hotel featuring R.Kelly, followed promptly by Split Personality, his debut album. This body of work is still his best-selling album to date.
The following year, he released his sophomore album, “I’m a Hustla” which peaked at number two on the hip-hop charts.
He released four full-length albums, seven music videos, twelve mixtapes, and fifteen singles in total for Full surface label. His most notable records include; “Get no better,” “I’m a Hustla,” “my drink and my 2-step,” and “B-Boy stance.”
Like many rappers, Cassidy had a catalog of collaborations, working with artists such as Swiss Beatz, Kendrick Lamar, The Game, DJ clues, and Alicia keys, to mention a few.
Despite his success, Cassidy also had his share of problems. In 2005, just after the release of his sophomore album, he was involved in a shooting incident that resulted in his arrest. He served only eight months in prison because the witness recanted his testimony.
Just a year after, in 2006, he was involved in a major car accident and was severely injured. He had a slow recovery, and by the summer of 2007, he was well enough to release his third album.
His third album, B.A.R.S., an acronym for his full name, had a somber tone. He mostly rapped about his accident, time in jail, and relationship with God. It was generally well-received because it showed his growth and maturity as an artist. Some notable tracks include; “Leaning on the Lord,” “Take a trip,” and “My paper.”
Cassidy kept most of his personal life private outside of his busy career. He is unmarried and without kids. His last public release was a digital download Mixtape in 2016, The Barbarian.
Cassidy’s Net Worth
Cassidy earned the majority of his wealth rapping. He was also the brand ambassador for Trojan, Lot 29, and appeared in a few movies, such as Next Day Air. Summing up all of this, Cassidy is worth $1 Million.
Lessons Learnt From The Life Of Cassidy
Chase Your Dreams
Cassidy always wanted to be a rapper, so he started rap battles in Philadelphia as a teenager and pursued his dreams until Swizz Beatz and the record label, “Full Surface Records” discovered him.
Take Time Off To Rest
“The same way it takes time for your body to heal, he said it’s gonna take your brain time to heal”~ Cassidy.
Cassidy took time off music after his traumatic accident in 2006. He also had temporary amnesia, and he took the time to heal mentally and physically. When he came back from his break, he expressed that his ideology had changed, and his growth was evident in his third album.
