An MC who emerged from Philadelphia's notoriously brutal battle rap scene, Cassidy is a smooth talking fire-breather who signed to Swizz Beatz' Full Surface records in 2002. Charting with debut single "Hotel," Cass proved the transition from battle rapper to mainstream rapper could be seamless. Though he had to overcome a 2005 prison bid and a devastating car accident, Tha Hustla continues battling and releasing music to this day. His early '00s ascent marks a specific moment in hip-hop's shift at the turn of the millennium.