According to Philadelphia rapper Cassidy, the rise of battle rap is a direct result of the lack of lyricists in today’s Hip Hop. The wordsmith spoke on the matter after being asked if he feels there are enough lyricists in Hip Hop, during an interview with Vlad TV.
He added that lyricism is the main reason he loves Hip Hop and suggested that artists “step it up and start bringing more bars to the table.”
“Hell no,” Cassidy said when asked if there are enough lyricists in Hip Hop. “Of course not. It’s definitely not. And, you know, that’s the main thing I love about Hip Hop. You know what I’m saying? Some people like Hip Hop for flows. Some people like Hip Hop for beats. I mean, I like that part too, but what overrules all that is lyrics, bars. That’s what I like more than anything. And I feel as though it ain’t enough of that. When I was younger I used to hear niggas saying shit that I had to rewind or lines that I’m like ‘Damn, that shit crazy.’ That it’ll work your mind and make you think. I don’t hear that like a lot now. And then when I do hear it it’s like every so often. It’s not like consistent. So, I feel as though we need more than that. That’s why the Smack battles and all these battles that people doing. Like URL, all these battles. That’s why they winning and the ratings going up on them jawns all the time because those artists are the only ones that’s really focusing on bars.”
Prior to speaking on lyricism and battle rap, Cassidy was questioned about his relationship with fellow rapper Jay Z. He revealed that while he has been around Jay a few times, primarily during his rap battle with Freeway, which he says Jay Z set up, the two don’t have much of a relationship.
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“We don’t have a relationship like that,” he said. “I mean, I wouldn’t consider him my homie or my friend, but we met a few times. We talked a few times, but I don’t got a relationship with him like that. The most time me and Jay Z spent around each other talking was the Freeway battle. He the one that set it up. It was me, him, and Swizz in the studio before it all went down. So, that was the time I really spent the most time around him. And really talked to him and all that shit. Was that time.”
