*Since the pandemic, DJ Cassidy’s “Pass the Mic” series has been a regular pick-me-up in the eyes of music lovers.
And with that comes a new level of fame for the disc spinner, with after BET awards show specials and a loyal following on YouTube, not to mention gigs performing at Jay-Z and Beyonce’s wedding to the stage of the Democratic National Convention during the summer.
Needless to say, it’s good to be Cassidy, who has come a very long way since his first major gig at the age of 20, spinning at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ 2001 MTV VMA after party.
Without a doubt. “Pass the Mic” is all DJ Cassidy.. In the past four years, the genre staple has made noise in its own right, highlighting more than 200 hip-hop and R&B artists in a way that triggers thoughts of dancing and good times when Cassidy introduces the artists to perform a bit of a classic hit before figuratively passing the mic to the next music legend in a mixtape like fashion.
The concept has caught on in a big way, with its success resulting in Cassidy bringing the experience and feels of his creation to a live audience via “Pass the Mic Live! The Iconic Las Vegas Residency.” The Sin City event boasts a high-powered roster of core talent in the form of Cassidy, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh. The quintet also expands with icons such as Public Enemy, Raekwon, Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, Akon, Remy Ma, Vicious, Too $hort and Warren G joining Cassidy on various Saturdays as special guests.
Variety notes that Cassidy himself devised, worked on, and perfected the Vegas stage show for “Pass The Mic Live!” primarily from May 2023 to May 2024. The set for the show consists of a main stage, Cassidy and his DJ Booth slightly elevated in the middle of it, along with a second stage behind him that’s even more elevated with two sprawling staircases leading to the mainstage, which also boasted enormous LED screens.
The purpose behind the grand setup syncs with Cassidy’s plan to have a party running nonstop once the house lights go low and the spotlights illuminate the stage.
“It was very important that the artists and myself exuded showmanship in a very Vegas-like way,” the New York native told Variety of the three-hour extravaganza. “There is no intermission. There is no pause. There are no breaks. There is no host. It is all one curated, meticulously plotted, musical experience from beginning to end. The entire experience is made up of collaborative moments. One of the things that makes this show as a whole special, is that every artist at some point in the show interacts with the others. This show is almost like a musical, but with everyone performing their songs. Everyone passes the mic to each other in very collaborative ways.”
Putting his foot on the gas pedal, “Pass the Mic Live!” hits the ground running as Cassidy puts his DJ’ing on display, spinning hits, rarities, and his special mixes of artists ranging from Stevie Wonder and Prince to Michael Jackson and Crystal Waters.
“Nobody curates music better than him,” Loud Records founder and “Pass The Mic” partner Steve Rifkind said. “He’s not just playing R&B and hip-hop. He plays European music, all kinds of sh–. He’s a savant.”
Paying attention to Cassidy’s dedication and passion for what he does, Doug E. Fresh praised the DJ for his efforts in promoting the culture in the best way at “Pass the Mic Live!”
“I tell people that Cassidy is the new P.T. Barnum — lions and tigers and bears!,” Fresh laughs. “He has the tuxes on, he’s up there dancing, he’s in front for three hours. He’s out there longer than all of us. He’s bringing every possible aspect of hip-hop and R&B and just doing it with the love for the culture.”
“The fact that I’ve been allowed to share a stage — in some senses figuratively, and in some senses concretely — with my heroes has been the most surreal experience and the greatest honor of my life,” Cassidy expressed. “As a kid, I just wanted my favorite artist to know my name, and the fact that I get to share a stage with them because of this is truly a blessing.”
For more about DJ Cassidy and his “Pass the Mic” residency, click here.
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