The B.A.R.S. of Cassidy's Life (#2)

As Cassidy readies his third album B.A.R.S. for next month, the North Philadelphia rapper continues his three-part series with HipHopDX, about the three bars in his own life that hes had to overcome. After the first entry, 2005s murder charge, Cassidy speaks about his October 5, 2006 near-fatal car accident and its effect on his art and work ethic.

I dont remember too much about the day of my car accident. It was a regular day; I was planning on going to the studio. I was just waking up and doing the regular things I do every day. I just jumped in the truck, and on the way to the studio, I got into a near-fatal accident. Its not like it was a different day or that there was anything in my mind that stuck out that I can even remember.

It happened in New Jersey on the turnpike, the highway. When the car hit me, I went into a coma. When I came out of my coma, I had amnesia. So I really dont remember too much about it. I dont even remember getting in the truck that night, really. I dont remember what car spun out or how it hit me. It took six months for me to get back on my feet again. Thats what mattered. That's what I remember.

I've always taken my art seriously. I was always serious about my writing. But the accident gave me more to talk about. It also gave me something to talk about that the fans actually know is the truth not like youve got to convince them that a story is the truth. I could tell you stuff that happened to me when I was 13 years old. You can believe me or you cant believe me, but wheres the proof to it? Its not like I can actually show you it. When people actually know that I went to jail for a murder or that I was in a life-threatening accident, they know its the truth, so when I go to talk about it, or when I go to put it in my music, they know that its the most truthful thing that they can hear at the time more truthful than when other rappers talk about what other people have been through, not what theyve really been through.

I always wanted to go hard and truthful with my lyrics, ever since I started. Thats why I never lost a battle; thats how I made it to the level that Im at now, and still be coming out with albums. I didnt go diamond, I didnt sell a bunch of records yet, but thats the reason why people still believe in me and know that Im gonna take it over, because of the work that Ive already put in from the past. You still have to learn. I didnt know a lot about making songs or flowing to the beat the right way, the right bars at the right time youve got to learn those things. I always knew how to write a hot line, but I didnt know all the other things that go along with it. I had to grow and learn, plus Swizz Beatz taught me a lot. Practice makes perfect. With my third album thats about to come out, Im more experienced, more mature, and just smarter making music, period. These situations and bars of my life things that Ive went through didnt make me better, they just made me focus more and realize that any given moment, a situation can get taken away from you, so youve got to take advantage of the opportunity youve got in your time to make music and make history. Now I work harder in the studio, more writing, more songs, a faster rate, I produce records, I A&Rd my own project [B.A.R.S.] this time around, Im a CEO now I do a lot more than I ever did.