Cassidy Listening Session Hip-Hop is about struggle. Its humble beginnings were manifested by kids who lived in the then rundown Bronx and made something out of nothing. Although it has become a worldwide phenomenon and sometimes can be a bit Hollywood, that same raw emotion and element remains; however, it's captured by few in the game -- Cassidy is among that elite.

His third album, B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story, drops Tuesday (November 6) and he wants the world to know that through his struggles, hardships and pain, he has triumphed. His first single, "My Drink 'N My 2 Step" (featuring Swizz Beatz) is a party anthem (the remix will be hitting airwaves soon), but it could have easily been replaced by a somber tale of beating a murder and two attempted murder charges where he could have received a life sentence or death, or even a tale of his involvement in a near fatal car crash where he suffered severe brain damage, was placed in a medically induced coma, and woke up with amnesia. But he didn't want his first single to go there.

"I brought out my first single, which is considered to be a big party song or a club song, because I wanted to tell my story," Cassidy said during a private press listening session. "But, I wanted people to have fun with it and not be depressed and sad like 'Aw, he got such a bad life.' I want people to be happy like 'Yo, he made it through it, he's back; he's better than ever,' so it's celebration time."

Beyond the celebration aspect is the real story of Barry Adrian Reese. The album's intro, which is more of a song, features his three personalities, Barry Reese, Cassidy, and The Problem, where he's battling himself because he feels that there is currently no one in the game who is worthy enough.

In addition to partying and battling (what he's known for), he gets spiritual on "I Pray" and "Leanin' on The Lord," featuring Angie Stone, without being a Bible Beater, and of course there's the typical song for the ladies. "Take a Trip," featuring Mashonda is what Cassidy says is him being a "grown man who wants to do something more interesting than taking a chick to the hotel." Some people may sigh at the thought of a cheesy hip-hop ballad, but Cassidy keeps the album balanced with "Where my N----s At," a song he describes as "one of the hardest songs he ever heard," and "Cash Rulez," featuring Eve and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, with a dope bounce flow. The album, of course, features stellar production by Swizz Beatz amongst others, but even Cassidy got down on the production tip on "All By Myself." It sounded like a novice producer made the track, but it wasn't bad.

Overall, Cassidy managed to make a solid and balanced album void of gimmicks and trying too hard, maybe that's what happens when drastic experiences in life humble a person.

"This is not 'OZ,' this is not TV -- this is real life," explained the rapper. "I'm back and better than ever. I got a lot of stories about my whole life and all the things that I experienced that made me into who I am and that's why I call this album Barry Adrian Reese Story. Not only do I have a hot album or a hot remix to the single that I got out now, but I got a hot album from beginning to end."