Split Personality (Cassidy album)

Split Personality is the debut studio album by American rapper Cassidy. It was released on March 16, 2004, by Full Surface, with manufacturing and distribution from J. The album debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200, selling 118,000 copies in its first week.[1] To date, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.[2]

Split Personality
Studio album by Cassidy
Released	March 16, 2004
Recorded	2003
Genre	East Coast hip hop
Label	Full Surface, J
Producer	Swizz Beatz, J. Brown, Felli Fel, Nottz, V. Flowers, Neo Da Matrix, Rockwilder
Cassidy chronology
Split Personality (2004) I'm a Hustla (2005)
Singles from Split Personality
"Hotel" Released: September 23, 2003 "Get No Better"

Background and recording

Recording sessions for the album began in 2003. The album was broken down into three parts. The first part of the record (credited as "Cassidy") was more pop and radio friendly, with records such as "Get No Better" and the R. Kelly assisted lead single "Hotel". The second part of the record (credited as "The Problem") was targeted directly towards Cassidy's fans, who began to support him following his appearances on various mixtapes, with songs such as "Blood pressure" and "The Problem". The third and final part of the record (credited to "B. Reese") was more introspective and aimed towards his fans who have supported him since his early days of his rap career with "Husslin" and "Real talk".[3]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Hotel" (which is a reference to the song "Housewife", from Dr. Dre's album 2001) featuring American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly, was created during recording sessions at Kelly's Chicago studio "The Chocolate Factory". R. Kelly also appears on the official remix to "Hotel", with guest vocals from American rapper Trina. The song was a hit and reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, as of February 2004. The song was also nominated for a Vibe Award for the "Coolest Collabo" in 2004.[4] The album's second single, "Get No Better", features guest appearances from then label-mate R&B singer Mashonda, as well as vocals from label owner and mentor Swizz Beatz. While the song did not do as well on the singles charts as "Hotel", it did reach number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was followed up by a music video, which features Vida Guerra as the lead female. songs "Take It" and "Make You Scream Pt.2" were also recorded during the Split Personality sessions but were eventually scrapped and later used only as official promotional singles from the album.[5][6]

Critical response

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
RapReviews	[8]
Vibe	[9]
USA Today	[10]

AllMusic described the album as "a minor disappointment while simultaneously showing promise". Its review considered the first third of the album as the disappointing section and the best tracks to be "Hotel", "Can I Talk to You" and "Real Talk".

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"My Interpretation"	Swizz Beatz	3:08
2.	"Hotel" (featuring R. Kelly)	Swizz Beatz	4:06
3.	"Lipstick" (featuring Jazze Pha)	Swizz Beatz	3:45
4.	"Get No Better" (featuring Mashonda)	Swizz Beatz	3:54
5.	"Make U Scream" (featuring Snoop Dogg)	Swizz Beatz	4:03
6.	"Tha Problem" (skit)		1:18
7.	"Tha Problem"	Swizz Beatz	3:50
8.	"Pop That Cannon" (featuring Styles P)	Swizz Beatz	4:10
9.	"Blood Pressure"	J. Brown	3:32
10.	"Can I Talk to You" (featuring Jadakiss)	Swizz Beatz	4:26
11.	"Real Talk / Skit" (featuring Swizz Beatz)		1:05
12.	"Real Talk"	Nottz	4:36
13.	"Husslin'"	Swizz Beatz	3:13
14.	"I'm Hungry"	Rockwilder	3:53
15.	"Around tha World"	Neo da Matrix	4:13
16.	"Hotel" (Vacation Remix (bonus track), featuring R. Kelly and Trina)	Swizz Beatz	5:46
Total length:			58:58

Chart positions

Chart (2004)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	2
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	1

References

1. http://new.music.yahoo.com/anthony-hamilton/news/george-strait-somewhere-at-top-of-us-charts--21573906%5B%5D
2. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
3. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1485966/03242004/cassidy.jhtml/%5B%5D
4. "Vibe Awards". Archived from the original on November 10, 2007.
5. http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/155108-01.htm%5B%5D
6. "Cassidy Take It" – via YouTube.
7. AllMusic review
8. "RapReviews.com Feature for March 16, 2004 – Cassidy's "Split Personality"". rapreviews.com.
9. Group, Vibe Media (March 23, 2004). "Vibe" – via Google Books.
10. "USATODAY.com – Cassidy raps; Van Hunt riffs". USA Today.