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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
3'5 - A New Cassidy, November 5, 2007
Cassidy AKA Barry Adrian Reese was a young prominent freestyle rapper. In 2004 Swizz Beatz was impressed by his talent and signed him to his label Full Surface. He released "Split Personality" and mish mish of diffrent styles where the Pop-Rap singles got into focus. The overrated single "Hotel" became a top 10 hit but it wasn't a very good album and neither was Pop-Rap what people had expected from him, but the label wanted otherwise and it became the song most associated with him. Sophmore album from 2005 "I'm a Hustla" was considerably tougher but it lacked hit singles and was quickly forgotten for the mainstream. At the time of it's release Cassidy also got charged for murder. Eventually it was changed to manslaughter and he only served 8 months before getting released. One year later he miraculously survived from a car accident that could have been fatal. These things have been major factors on how Cassidy see things today and he valuate family and faith higher then anything else. He's a changed man and that is obvious on this very personal album, kind of like Tupac's Me Against the World
Still at Swizzy's label, the production is mostly handed my him and his associates Neo Da Matrix and Nottz, but only a 3-4 songs are uptempo. The intro (B.A.R.S. vs. The Hustla) that sound like taken from a boxing match is actually very long and shows how Cassidy changed from his last album, he also sais he never lost a battle and how god is the only one he fears. As serious as this album is, there are unfortunately some major missteps, "My Drink N My 2 Step" which is the first single and trademark repetitive club song from Swizz Beatz (although Cassidy talks about his near fatal car crash here) ditto with "I Give My Paper" and "Cash Rules" the second single which is another repetitive uptempo about money from Hi-Tek with Bones and Eve as guests. An Interesting production on the violent "Where My N*ggas At" but it's no highlight. Things get more interesting on "Will Never Tell" About his trial and the hip hop ballad "Pray" where he talks about the best way to get away from trouble and how his faith helped him. This is defenitely proves that he changed during these 2 years. "Innocent Man" is an absolute standout though, it's a dancehall influenced song for the radio with British R&B singer Mark Morrison who also got locked up and had his career ruined. Fortunately this isn't the case with Cassidy but he still feels he's an innocent man and explains that he did what he had to do during the shootout. Another standout is Gospel-Soulish "Leaning on the Lord" with the wonderful Angie Stone. Here Cassidy will tell poignant life stories of others and then compare them with his own. Some simularities between this one and "Order My Steps" from Bone Thugz N Harmony's last album Strength & Loyalty can be seen. "Damn I Miss the Game" yet another standout, where he appologize for the demise if hip hop and how he was also guilty for the fall. He mentiones Public Enemy, Run DMC and other original artists that had something to say and not just the rappers of today that all sound the same. "Done for Me" is another song about how he's blessed to still be alive and how he's a changed man. A song for the ladies called "Take a Trip" with Mashonda is alright but obligatory. Kanye West stand for the next standout "Celebrate" with John Legend. It's a mellow song that sounds alot like music from Legend's last album and here we got more proof that Cassidy changed his style. "My Old Style Died And Went To Punchline Heaven". Last song is called "All By Myself and it was written and produced by himself. It isn't the best song I heard but he talks about how he was betrayed by his friends and how he was forced to take care of himself with the help of god.
Overall, This came as quite a surprise if you compare it with his previous albums. But "B.A.R.S" is much better then anything else he released before and Cassidy follows plenty of other rappers (like Chamillionaire) that suddenly got tired of the commercial hip hop and wanted to keep it real. This one Is very personal and poignant and it does have some exellent songs like "Innocent Man", "Leanin On The Lord" and "Celebrate". Unfortunately, 3-4 songs are made for radio and cut down the overall rating a little and plenty of songs are about faith (not strange considering what he's been through). However, "B.A.R.S" is very good and this is defenitely a step in the right direction, I hope that people won't overlook it considering that Jay-Z album was released on the same day. This album gives major proof tht anyone can change, including the most commercial of artists. 3'5.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The Hustla" Is Back In The Building....., November 6, 2007
It's been 2 years since cassidy made an album which was "Da Hustla" back in 2005, And he's back to prove to make a great comeback with "Bars". For the past 2 years cassidy has been behind bars for 8 months, And the car accident that happened about a year ago sort of like what happened to Kanye many years ago. With this release he can prove that he can be mature, And truthful about his personal self with the trials that he's been going through. One of my favorite personal songs has to be "Damn I Miss The Game" in which he explains how Rap/Hip-Hop is dying down the core, for Example: Women, Clothes, Bragging what they have is getting watered down, Bumblegum rap is washed up with fake, foney, untalented cats, rented girl's in their videos, well you know the rest. Cash Rulez with Eve, And BTNH which is straight inferno with quick mic skills by everyone, and just basically they all stole the show. So overall Jigga Man might sell more with that weak American Gangster CD, but in overall, Cassidy showed that he has better skills then Jay Z now, Hova just needs to really retire cause 90% of his lyrics are bogus, like we know who he his since he basically introduced his personal self in "Reasonabble Doubt"
so why would claim he's a gangster, ha ha not anymore, your rich wih your own club, liqior, shoes, clothes, and your saying that your still in the Streets, Quit Jay Z Quit.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cassidy - B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story, January 28, 2008
Philadelphia Rapper Cassidy returns with his third solo album "B.A.R.S: The Barry Adrian Reese Story" (2007) a fourteen track release which features guest appearances from Swizz Beatz, Shizlansky, Mark Morrison, Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony, Eve, Angie Stone, K'Sharee, Mashonda & John Legend. Cassidy A.K.A. Barry Adrian Reese has been through a lot of drama since his last album, I remember when that one came out he was up on Murder charges, which were later reduced to involuntary manslaughter & aggravated assault charges. Cassidy served his time, and sometime after his release was involved in a near fatal car accident. The lead single on this release is the Swizz Beatz produced "My Drink n My 2 Step" where Cassidy celebrates being out and talks about recent events in his life. The poorly produced "Where My ****** At" follows, with Cassidy dropping some grimy lyrics. Cassidy drops a track about never snitching on "I Will Never Tell (Uh Uh)" then teams up with Shiz Lansky on the slow "I Pray" praying for better days. Cassidy does his own rendition of "Innocent Man" (Misunderstood) Feat. Mark Morrison, talking about the drama he went through. Hi-Tek produced "Cash Rules" follows and features appearances from Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony & Eve, Bone uses the famous Wu chorus with limited success. "Leanin On The Lord" is one of the track's that standouts on this release for me, Cassidy backed by some soulful vocals from Angie Stone, puts his storytelling skills to work delivering a quality track. Cassidy addresses the state of the Rap Game remembering better times on "Damn I Miss the Game" referencing various artists and providing his own chorus. On the Dready produced upbeat standout "Done 4 Me", Cassidy celebrates being alive, thanks god, and talks about being a father. Swizz Beatz other contribution on this release is ""I Get My Paper", I did not think much of the lead single, same can be said for this one. "Take A Trip" is a laidback collaboration with female R & B singer Mashonda. John Legend appears on "Celebrate" another mellow joint & then Cassidy closes the album off with "All By Myself" a track he produced, an introspective creation where Cassidy rhymes about being on solo and not needing anyone but god. "B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story" is a decent release.
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