Cassidy

On his third album, Cassidy is conflicted. On the homicidal "Where My N*gg*s At?," he declares, "When it come to this gun sh*t I'm the man." However, the Philadelphia hot spitter can't help but be introspective considering he was incarcerated in 2006 for eight months because of an involuntary manslaughter conviction and suffered a near-fatal car accident soon after his release. He touches on troubled young'uns finding God on the gospel piano-driven "Leanin' on the Lord's Side" and recalls the ups and downs of his trial with "Innocent Man." It might be the realest stuff he's ever wrote.

Over the past few years, this Philly MC has exhibited a knack for both hook-filled,
high-gloss hip-hop — he scored a Top Ten hit in 2004 with the bouncy, girl-crazy R. Kelly
feature "Hotel" — and for tricky, hyperconfident rhymes, the kind he honed during his
years as a viciously funny battle rapper. His third album stays true to that mix of pop-wise
songcraft and serious skills. Production from Swizz Beatz and Hi-Tek helps, and ... More >