Cassidy

Philly rapper Cassidy came up in the battle-rap scene before becoming a Swizz Beatz protégé and earning a string of hits in the ’00s. • His 2004 debut album,Split Personality, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The R. Kelly–assisted single “Hotel” showcased a pop versatility previously unheard in Cassidy’s music. • In the decade-long interim between his third and fourth albums—2010’s C.A.S.H. and 2020’s Da Science—Cassidy dropped a string of mixtapes, including the three-part Don’t Trust Anyone series hosted by DJ YJ. • This period also saw Cassidy return to his battle-rapping roots, as he responded to an open challenge from fellow Philly rapper Meek Mill. This resulted in diss tracks like the 10-minute assault “R.A.I.D.” before the feud was called off.