Up next in 10
DJ Cassidy joins "Sway In The Morning" to discuss his monumental Valentine's Day "Pass the Mic" live show at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles! This once-in-a-lifetime event brings together legendary artists like Ashanti, Busta Rhymes, En Vogue, Ja Rule, Fabulous, Lil' Kim, Maya, and surprise guests for an unforgettable celebration of hip-hop and R&B. Cassidy reflects on his journey from DJing iconic parties to curating his global "Pass the Mic" series, honoring over 220 musical legends. Hear exclusive insights on his creative process, the impact of Run DMC, and his heartfelt tribute to the culture. Don't miss this deep dive into music history, passion, and legacy. Hit subscribe for more exclusive interviews and stay tuned to Sway's Universe for all things music and culture! #DJCassidy #PassTheMic #SwayInTheMorning #HipHop #RnB #ValentinesDayConcert
#djcassidy #valentine'sday #livemusic #hiphop #r&b
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:35 - DJ Cassidy's Signature Look and Run DMC Influence
06:57 - Impact of Run DMC’s “Sucker MCs” on Hip-Hop
12:05 - DJ Cassidy's Collaboration with Mtume and Emotional Moments
13:16 - Getting Mtume to Perform on Pass The Mic
18:55 - DJ Cassidy and the NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show
24:15 - Treating Every Pass The Mic as His Last Performance
27:55 - Curating Lineups for Pass The Mic Events
32:55 - Advice for DJs: Visibility and Burnout Solutions
37:14 - DJ Cassidy's Upcoming “Pass The Mic” Live Concert
38:36 - Invitation to DJ Cassidy's “Pass The Mic” Live Concert
Subscribe Here! http://bit.ly/SubscribeSU
Watch the Best of Sway In The Morning! http://bit.ly/BestOfSITM
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Ladies and gentlemen, we watched this
0:02
grow from the time when it was just this
0:05
concept was a vision
0:08
>> in this man. Keep the applause going,
0:10
George.
0:12
This man
0:14
had 100% confidence and faith in that
0:17
vision. At a time when doors would not
0:19
open,
0:22
at a time when phone calls would not be
0:25
returned,
0:27
>> this man was marching and taking this
0:29
concept of past the mic to bring all
0:31
genres of all music for that goes back
0:34
over five decades, over 220 artists to
0:38
date and counting to the world. At a
0:41
time when the world needed healing, get
0:43
this man a round of applause. He's a
0:45
contributor. He's not just a customer.
0:48
You have to understand that. He's a
0:50
producer. He's a cultural curator.
0:53
He's brought us into the new year. He's
0:56
got us through the pandemic.
0:58
He's brought back to the surface some of
1:00
the greatest artists of all time with
1:04
his concept of Pastor Mike. And the next
1:07
one, which you do not want to miss, he
1:10
came to the hottest c the hottest city
1:13
in the country when it comes to music
1:14
culture. He's bringing it to Los Angeles
1:17
at the Kia Forum Arena February 14th.
1:21
Tickets available at ticketmaster.com
1:24
in Vogue, Fabulous, Ja Rule, Lil Kim,
1:28
Maya, Buster Rhymes, Ashanti, and many
1:32
more.
1:34
The one and only DJ Cassidy is in the
1:37
building. Give it up for DJ Cassidy.
1:40
>> I'm at a loss I'm at a loss of words
1:43
from that introduction.
1:45
twotime Grammy nominee,
1:49
number one R&B hit, We just played it,
1:51
Still Believe in Love, gold certified
1:53
single, Kill the Lights. Ladies and
1:55
gentlemen, DJ Cassidy
1:59
>> way, I'm rarely at a loss for words, but
2:04
that was quite an introduction. I feel
2:06
very unworthy.
2:08
>> You and Heather, come on. hip hop icons.
2:12
Always an honor to be in your presence
2:15
to speak to you. Uh the ultimate
2:20
cultural voice. So everything you said
2:23
means the world to me and I'm truly
2:26
honored to be sitting here once again as
2:28
you've been here throughout my entire
2:30
journey, not just the journey of Pastor
2:33
the Mic over the past five years. So
2:35
thank you. Thank you Heather. I
2:37
appreciate you both so much.
2:38
>> Oh absolutely man. Um, number one
2:40
Billboard dance club record. Over five
2:44
half a billion digital views. Now,
2:48
>> yo, I'm so proud of this dude, man. I
2:50
used to go to your parties, man. You
2:52
know, I used to be in the clubs with
2:53
you.
2:54
>> Yep.
2:54
>> And and then watch you navigate your way
2:57
through the Jay-Z and Beyonce parties
3:00
from
3:01
>> where there's nobody that that's well
3:03
known in the clubs to now you're you've
3:06
created this global platform. um pass
3:09
the mic and one of the things you did it
3:12
you that you held consistent and I think
3:15
it's very important is you always had
3:17
your hat and your gold microphone
3:20
citizens that's his signature right
3:22
there why the most important thing about
3:24
him
3:24
>> well you know I always looked up to run
3:28
DMC and Jam Master J
3:29
>> right
3:30
>> since I was a young young child and I
3:36
always wanted to
3:38
look like the superstars that they were.
3:43
>> Mhm.
3:44
>> And when you looked at Run DMC and Jam
3:47
Master J and of course my nonhip hip hop
3:50
hero Michael Jackson, you could
3:53
recognize these four guys by their
3:55
silhouette.
3:56
>> Yeah, this is true. with no facial
3:58
features,
4:00
>> with an outline of their body, from
4:04
their hat, from their glasses,
4:07
from the length of their pants, from
4:10
their gold chain. Run DJ J Michael,
4:14
their silhouettes were iconic. And they
4:18
walked and talked and performed and held
4:22
themselves
4:24
like superstars.
4:26
And at the same time, it felt
4:28
effortless.
4:29
>> Yeah.
4:30
>> And I always admired that. And so a lot
4:33
of the things you see,
4:35
>> like my signature boater hat, the gold
4:37
microphone, and the list goes on, came
4:40
from those early inspirations as a
4:43
child.
4:44
>> Same here. For me, it was Run DMC. It
4:48
was LL Cool J,
4:50
>> right?
4:51
>> Rock Kim. there were certain people um
4:54
that I even took cues from because
4:57
self-branding was always important is
5:00
how you identified yourself and then
5:02
that's also um which encourages radical
5:05
differentiation right and so wherever
5:08
you go even if I didn't know you were
5:10
there oh it's Cass that's Cassidy over
5:13
there Cassid's here who in your opinion
5:16
what artists in this modern day era have
5:19
that same effect that same impact back
5:22
that run DMC, Jam Master J, and Michael
5:24
Jackson has.
5:26
>> Wow. It's a really great question and
5:28
it's not an easy answer.
5:30
>> Yeah.
5:30
>> I actually have to think there's not one
5:32
person that comes to immediate minds
5:36
>> Mhm.
5:37
>> who
5:38
silhouette
5:41
um comes close to theirs, you know, in
5:43
in in
5:44
>> in an interesting way.
5:48
I still believe that. I've said this
5:51
many times. That's why I say still
5:52
believe. If an alien came from outer
5:55
space and said to me, "What is hip-hop?"
6:00
>> I would still show them a picture of Run
6:03
DMC and play sucker MC's.
6:05
>> Absolutely. All these years later,
6:08
>> I don't think anything's come close to
6:12
embodying
6:14
the image and the sound, even though the
6:16
image and sound has evolved in so many
6:19
ways,
6:21
but I think nothing has touched that
6:24
level of perfect
6:28
iconic symbolism.
6:30
>> Uhhuh. Ask Rand, what do you think, HB?
6:34
I would have to agree.
6:35
>> Okay.
6:36
>> Um I I think
6:40
it's it's it's I mean it's run DMC, but
6:43
it's always been Run DMC for me. And
6:45
it's hard because we don't want to
6:46
compare. I mean it it's tough to do
6:49
that.
6:50
>> But um for me the entryway the the goal
6:53
always is run DMC. Yeah. 100%. And I
6:57
mean this song right here was the
6:59
separator at a time when hip-hop
7:02
>> there was a pattern going on and this
7:03
shifted everything.
7:05
>> Take a listen.
7:11
So I said this about the
7:15
way took a test
7:18
and what happened
7:24
and we never came back. Dave got the
7:26
record down to the bone. Now they got me
7:29
rocking on the microphone talking
7:34
bubble bath and see that's the life that
7:37
I lead and you suck MC's hook and be
7:40
back catch a heart attack because
7:42
there's nothing in the world
7:45
party
7:50
like a dove. I come from up above.
7:51
You're rocking on the mic. Call me one
7:53
love to the beat one time. Come on. I
7:56
said bounce to the beat two time. Come
7:58
on,
8:00
>> Sway. Did I mean with us being East
8:04
Coasters, did that song have the same
8:08
impact on the West Coast? I know you
8:11
remember the day it dropped.
8:12
>> Oh my gosh.
8:13
>> I know you remember how your body felt.
8:16
It wanted to jump out of your skin when
8:18
you that beat dropped and you heard the
8:20
command in their voices and then I'm DMC
8:24
is the place to be. I went to St. John
8:27
University since kindergarten I acquired
8:29
the knowledge and after 12th grade I
8:31
went straight TO COLLEGE.
8:33
>> I'M LIGHTKINNED AND I live in Queens. I
8:36
mean what was happening on the West
8:38
Coast when that dropped?
8:39
>> Uh man u
8:42
the shout out to my brother T. Callaway
8:44
Cassidy. I got an older brother and
8:46
older sister and my brother
8:48
>> and I used to share rooms in my mother's
8:50
house in East Oakland. So he's my older
8:52
brother. So he ran the jukebox. So
8:54
anything we listen I had to listen to
8:56
what T. Callaway listened to. And so it
8:59
was, you know, Criminal Minded. It was,
9:02
you know, early rappers Delight. It was
9:05
Sequence. It was groups like Treacherous
9:07
Three.
9:08
>> Um, first time we heard Sucker MC's, we
9:11
were that I heard I was at my cousin,
9:13
our cousin Chuck. Chuck's out
9:14
>> Chuck. Okay.
9:15
>> And Chuck had a nice little stereo
9:17
system at that time. And um the energy
9:21
that was encapsulated by the confidence
9:24
and the just audacity of Run DMC
9:30
>> with all of that identity that they
9:32
possess. Like when you looked at them,
9:34
you knew it. This has a history. They
9:37
didn't fall on these outfits. Like
9:39
there's a movement or something
9:41
happening somewhere where they wear
9:43
Adidas with no shorings on. There's a
9:45
movement happening somewhere where they
9:47
wear these hats a certain way and they
9:49
wear this leather and and they walk a
9:51
certain way. Like Run was the persona,
9:54
right? And so when we heard that, it
9:57
just felt like something fell out of the
9:59
sky
10:00
>> that talked to us that we could relate
10:02
to it. It it just landed on our hearts.
10:05
I stopped listening almost to other
10:08
genres of music for a while because of
10:10
rap, right? You know, I I knew soul and
10:14
R&B because of the household I grew up
10:16
in, but nothing else mattered. And the
10:19
attitude that they had,
10:21
>> we would carry I would listen to suck
10:23
MC's before I went into job interviews
10:26
>> to hype you up.
10:27
>> To hype me up.
10:28
>> To hype you up.
10:31
>> Yeah. I listen to sucker to remember the
10:33
attitude, the mindset I want to walk in
10:36
every room with was sucking MC. So,
10:39
>> and the crazy thing is
10:43
it's so perfect
10:45
>> and at the same time so effortless.
10:48
Yeah.
10:48
>> You know, they stripped it all down to
10:51
the core. Mhm.
10:52
>> And that's why I still feel to this day
10:55
that that song and their imagery is so
10:59
representative
11:01
of hip-hop.
11:03
>> Mhm.
11:04
>> They're the ultimate they're my ultimate
11:06
heroes.
11:07
>> Yeah.
11:07
>> Yeah.
11:08
>> And um you know when I produced Pass the
11:11
Mic volume two
11:14
>> there was only one
11:16
group
11:18
that could set that off. You know,
11:21
volume one was set off by Earth, Wind,
11:23
and Fire,
11:24
>> man. But that's my favorite.
11:27
That's my favorite of all time is Earth,
11:29
Wind, and Fire. But go ahead.
11:30
>> The greatest. Well, we should talk about
11:31
Earth, Wind, and Fire.
11:32
>> Yeah.
11:33
>> Um, but yeah. No. So, so, so volume two.
11:37
How do you,
11:38
>> how do you, um, how do you match that?
11:41
Where do you go from there? If your
11:44
first episode is a celebration
11:47
of soul music and you start with Earth,
11:49
Wind, and Fire, and your second episode
11:50
is a celebration of hip-hop,
11:53
>> there there's only one phone call to
11:55
make. Or should I say only two phone
11:57
calls to make.
11:57
>> That's right. Yeah, cuz you got to make
11:59
two. Uh
12:01
I love it. DJ Cassidy is here. We're
12:03
talking about Pass the Mic that's
12:05
happening February 14th. Tickets are
12:07
available at ticketmaster.com.
12:10
Um, we were
12:12
talking about Intum, uh, when I played
12:15
the Still Believe in Love song. In Tume,
12:18
>> if you will, um, is, uh, who rest in
12:22
power. Yeah.
12:23
>> Um, is one of those music juggernauts
12:26
that was in that has been one of the
12:28
most sampled artists in hip-hop culture
12:31
of all time. And, you know, you got a
12:35
chance to work with his music, which
12:37
isn't easy to do. you got to get
12:38
clearance from his family. Shout out to
12:40
FA. Shout out to Damu and Tume who
12:42
passed as well.
12:43
>> Um, what was your experience like
12:46
working with Intune?
12:48
And then I got a second part to that
12:50
question. Having worked with so many
12:51
different legendary artists, what has
12:53
been some of the most emotional moments
12:56
you experience with Pastor Mike?
13:01
>> So many emotional moments. Mhm.
13:04
>> Um, Mtu,
13:07
um, the word legend doesn't do him
13:09
justice.
13:11
R&B, funk, soul, New Yorker.
13:16
>> Yeah.
13:16
>> Um, my first experience
13:20
with Mtu was on my Mother's Day edition
13:26
of Pass the Mic that I produced that
13:29
aired on BET.
13:30
>> Yeah.
13:32
And that show featured the greatest
13:36
quiet storm records of all time.
13:40
>> So for those listening who might not be
13:42
familiar with the term quiet storm,
13:46
it's a term that
13:50
was created to describe a type of R&B
13:53
and soul music and a genre of R&B radio.
13:58
down tempmpo R&B
14:01
ballads
14:02
um kind of R&B rare grooves. Am I
14:05
describing that how you would describe
14:07
it?
14:08
>> And so that episode featured
14:13
Patty Leel on the front end.
14:16
>> Yeah.
14:16
>> Glattis Knight as the closer,
14:19
>> right?
14:20
>> Valerie Simpson,
14:22
>> Shirley Jones of the Jones.
14:25
Um Karen White,
14:28
um Albi Shore,
14:31
>> um
14:33
the list goes on and on. Vanessa
14:35
Williams,
14:37
>> um the Force MDs.
14:39
>> Yeah,
14:40
>> love.
14:42
>> I so wanted Mtum
14:45
to do Juicy Fruit.
14:47
>> Mhm.
14:48
>> On this episode.
14:50
So, um, Bow-legged Lou, a full Force,
14:54
>> who's a dear friend and became a partner
14:56
in crime, um, in past the mic, helped me
14:59
reach out to so many artists whom I
15:01
didn't know.
15:02
>> He introduced me to, um, Mtum's son, FA,
15:07
who's an amazing guy, and he knew all
15:10
about the show and he said he would run
15:13
it by his father, but that he was
15:15
skeptical because it didn't it didn't
15:17
feel like something his father would
15:19
typically do. Yeah.
15:20
>> Um his father was a um instrumentalist.
15:24
His father was a musician. Not so much a
15:27
vocalist.
15:28
>> And my show really needed you to be
15:30
vocal.
15:32
>> Although I did have Redine White play
15:33
bass and Marcus Miller play bass and Nia
15:35
Rogers play guitar.
15:37
>> So he said, "You know what?
15:39
>> That that that was that a stunt right
15:41
there?
15:43
Did he just
15:44
>> It wasn't It wasn't trying to be.
15:47
>> It wasn't trying to be. Mike Muse,
15:48
hello. I see you. What's up, Cass?
15:51
>> Hey, Mike. Old friend Mike Muse. Love
15:54
you, Mike. So, um, I said to FA, "Is
15:57
there any way you could get me on the
15:59
phone with your father?"
16:01
>> So, I end up on the phone, James Mume.
16:04
>> And
16:06
I don't go right into the episode. I
16:08
tell him about me.
16:09
>> Yeah.
16:10
>> About my journey as a DJ, how hip-hop
16:14
led me to soul music, and how soul music
16:16
got me hot in hip-hop. Okay. Yeah. Isn't
16:20
that something?
16:21
>> All right.
16:22
>> And
16:24
I spent 90% of the phone call telling
16:26
him about that journey and 10% of the
16:28
phone call telling him about how it all
16:30
foreshadowed past the mic and how much
16:33
his music, particularly Juicy,
16:37
um is so important to hiphop and how
16:41
I
16:43
I um I had this mission with Pass the
16:46
Mic. many missions, but one mission of
16:48
course to celebrate our musical heroes.
16:50
Another mission to bridge the gaps
16:53
between generations.
16:55
>> And I said, if I'm producing an episode
16:57
of all Quiet Storm classics,
17:00
>> I want some of these classics to speak
17:03
to the hip-hop generation. And what more
17:06
perfect song than Juicy?
17:08
>> Juicy. There it is. Mhm.
17:10
>> And he was sold and they said, "Well, we
17:13
need one person to take part with us."
17:15
Tawwatha AG.
17:17
>> Mhm.
17:17
>> So, Tawatha is the voice.
17:19
>> Mhm.
17:20
>> Of the Mumi song,
17:22
>> Juicy Fruit.
17:23
>> Okay. All right.
17:24
>> Yeah. Okay. And you better
17:27
>> and and so I met Tawatha and next thing
17:29
you know, we're filming the show with
17:31
Toatha and Mtum and the rest is history.
17:34
And a couple years later, I'm producing
17:36
a body of work for Mary J. Blah. I'm
17:39
sampling Cood by Mtu. Song needs to be
17:42
cleared. They don't clear much. Call
17:45
Back Fa.
17:46
>> Um his father um had passed away not too
17:49
long before.
17:50
>> Yeah.
17:50
>> And they cleared the sample. It became
17:53
Mary's first number one hit in I'm
17:57
forgetting exactly how many years. And
17:59
uh Still Believe in Love was a number
18:01
one R&B record.
18:03
>> There you go. See, relationships,
18:05
history, passion. Shout out to Far F.
18:10
You remember the timeout? We was hanging
18:12
out at Damu's apartment in Jersey. Fa,
18:15
and I took you down in video games. Wow.
18:17
>> FA remembers that.
18:18
>> Wow.
18:19
>> Let me tell you something.
18:20
>> Like my little brother. I got it. I got
18:22
it.
18:22
>> I thought and and um and FA um holds
18:26
down his father's legacy.
18:28
>> Absolutely.
18:29
>> In in in a way like I've never seen
18:32
before from a family member. He he um
18:35
holds his father on a pedestal.
18:37
Absolutely.
18:38
>> And does a tremendous job to not only
18:41
keep the legacy alive, but to grow the
18:43
legacy of Mtu and the music he created.
18:48
>> DJ Cassidy is here. Uh we're going to
18:50
come back to the emotional moments that
18:53
that has taken place with Pastor Mike. I
18:55
want to I want to um hear some of those
18:58
moments. We got Chrissy B, Mike Muse,
19:00
Tracy G, Heather here. Everybody ask
19:02
questions. citizens. Um, Pastor Mike is
19:04
happening February 14th. Fabulous. Ja
19:06
Ru, Lil Kil, Maya, uh, Shanti Buster
19:09
Rhymes. Uh, special guest,
19:13
>> surprise guest.
19:14
>> Surprise guests that going to be there.
19:17
Tickets on sale. Ticketmaster.com.
19:19
And I can't forget one of the greatest
19:21
vocal groups of all time from one of the
19:24
greatest places in the world,
19:26
>> the Bay.
19:27
>> The Bay in Vogue. If you want to talk to
19:30
DJ Cassidy, 8887423345.
19:36
Call us now.
19:37
>> Listen to them girls sing, man. They
19:38
must be from some place.
19:41
>> Well, they must breed them like this. It
19:43
must be from a very talented location.
19:46
>> Tracy, to sing like that, that it's in
19:48
the air over there.
19:49
>> Yeah, man. It's in the air. That's in
19:51
vogue. They'll be performing
19:54
uh February 14th at Pastor Mike at the
19:56
Key Forum Arena. But also remember the
19:59
Pastor Mike Bay Area tribute that was
20:01
done at the Allstar game.
20:03
>> Yes.
20:04
>> Curated by this one right here, our
20:06
guest today, DJ Cassidy.
20:08
>> Yes.
20:09
>> You must have felt special to get too
20:10
short, to get E40, to get involved and
20:13
all those folks to
20:15
>> last year, right around now, almost
20:17
exactly a year ago, the fires were
20:20
burning in LA.
20:22
>> Mhm. And I left my home to stay in a
20:26
hotel for a couple days because they
20:28
said my area was at risk. And I got a
20:32
call from the producers of the NBA
20:36
All-Star game very quickly asking me if
20:40
I would be interested in producing a
20:45
pass the mic halftime performance in
20:48
Tribute to the Bay.
20:51
And
20:53
I didn't quite understand it at first. I
20:56
said on TV and they say yeah. And I said
21:01
on the court and they say yeah. And I
21:05
say live and they say yeah. And I say in
21:10
four weeks and they say yeah.
21:14
And I said do you have any artists in
21:17
mind? and and they said um you know we
21:19
defer to you that's why we're calling.
21:23
So 48 hours later we had two short
21:26
committed E40 committed sidi committed
21:30
and envog committed.
21:31
>> Wow.
21:32
>> And I produced that six minutes like it
21:35
was the last six minutes of my life.
21:38
>> Yeah.
21:39
>> And I didn't sleep or stop for four
21:44
weeks. every second of the music
21:47
meticulously reproduced
21:50
and edited and assembled and every
21:53
second of the visuals and every single
21:57
person's coordinating outfits
22:00
and the um 24 dancers and their
22:05
choreography and outfits and I was a
22:09
part of every single detail and it was
22:11
the first time we did anything with past
22:14
the mic on live television.
22:16
>> There of course had been the 10 episodes
22:18
of the show.
22:20
>> There had been Dick Clark's New Year's
22:23
Rock and Eve. Um, this was the first
22:26
time we were without one second of delay
22:30
on live television.
22:32
>> Yeah.
22:33
>> I don't think I've ever been so nervous
22:35
in my life.
22:36
>> Yeah, man. But I was so pleased
22:39
with the sixinute product when I watched
22:43
it back in my trailer five minutes after
22:47
it ended. And such an honor, such an
22:49
honor to be called by the NBA. Such an
22:52
honor to be a part of Allstar Weekend,
22:55
which is such an important weekend in
22:58
sports, but in hip-hop culture, too. All
23:00
the hip-hop always comes out for Allstar
23:02
Weekend. And
23:03
>> you know, I always said to share a
23:05
stage. In this case, it was to share a
23:06
court, but
23:08
>> to share a stage with musical icons will
23:12
always be the greatest gift of my life.
23:16
Um, and it's really like a level two
23:18
greatest gift. Level one was
23:21
>> um the greatest artist knowing my name,
23:23
you know, that's
23:25
>> that's all I ever wanted, you know, as a
23:28
10-year-old DJ. My parents bought me
23:30
turntables and a mixer for my 10th
23:31
birthday. As a 10-year-old DJ, there
23:35
were no dreams of
23:38
anything I'm doing now.
23:40
>> And most of the things I've done in my
23:42
career were not dreamt of. I didn't
23:44
really think that big. The only dream I
23:47
would have ever told you that I had at
23:49
age 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 was from my
23:52
favorite rappers to know my name.
23:54
>> Yeah.
23:55
>> For Run to know my name, for DMC to know
23:57
my name, for Tre to know my name, for
24:00
Q-Tip to know my name. That was it. So
24:04
for me to share a stage Yeah.
24:07
>> with my favorite artists, for me to have
24:09
friendships with my favorite artists is
24:12
is is is the greatest gift that I could
24:15
ask for.
24:16
>> Let me ask you this. You've done now
24:18
many stages. At one point he was walking
24:21
around neighborhoods like a used car
24:23
salesman just trying to get anybody to
24:25
open the door to let him in with this
24:27
vision. And now you've hit all of these
24:28
stages. And still yet, when you talk
24:30
about the all-star performance, you said
24:32
I treated that six minutes like it was
24:34
the last 6 minutes. Off Mike, you told
24:37
me every pass the mic I do, I treat it
24:41
like it could be my last one, right? And
24:44
everyone I've done, I understand how
24:47
important and how blessed I am to have
24:48
done it. Why at this stage in your
24:51
career do you still treat each one or
24:53
these magical moments like it could be
24:56
your last?
24:59
Well,
25:02
I don't feel like my name deserves to be
25:05
on the marquee of the key of Form. My
25:08
name is on the marquee of the key of
25:10
Form because I'm sharing a stage with
25:13
icons. Mhm.
25:15
>> And I give all the praise and all the
25:18
credit for Pastor Mike to the hundreds
25:23
of legendary hiphop and R&B superstars
25:25
that have taken part. 220 icons on the
25:29
TV series and over 150 and counting in
25:34
the live show.
25:36
And you know, when I brought Pass the
25:40
Mic to Radio City Music Hall in my
25:43
hometown
25:45
for HipHop's 50th anniversary,
25:48
it was the second Pass the Mic Live
25:51
concert,
25:52
July 21st, 2023.
25:56
And it was the first time that out of
26:00
the two that I was able to get all the
26:02
performers in a huddle before we took
26:04
the stage. So, this show featured 20 New
26:09
York native hiphop icons of the golden
26:12
era. Slick Rick, Douggee Fresh, KRS1,
26:17
Rock Kim, Big Daddy Kane, the list goes
26:20
on.
26:20
>> They all came out. And I got everyone in
26:23
a huddle and we held hands and
26:27
I had to tell everyone how I felt
26:31
and I said, "My name might be
26:36
on that marquee, but they're here
26:38
because of you."
26:39
>> Yeah.
26:41
>> They're here to see you. And that's
26:44
really how I feel. So I I walk on those
26:48
stages treating it like it's my first
26:52
and it's my last to bring past the mic
26:56
to LA for the first time where I now
26:58
live for the past decade
27:02
to the city's most iconic venue
27:05
is something that I have trouble
27:08
comprehending. You know, I'm from New
27:10
York City.
27:11
>> Yeah.
27:11
>> Home of Madison Square Garden. But I was
27:15
never into sports. I was into hip-hop.
27:19
>> The only thing about sports that ever
27:22
really captivated me as a child was the
27:26
Showtime Lakers.
27:29
>> So when I took past the mic on the road,
27:32
I dreamt of playing the forum.
27:36
>> And now February 14th,
27:40
he's playing the forum. Give it up for
27:42
DJ Cassidy. Let me let the crew get in.
27:45
cuz we only got so much time. Chrissy B
27:47
is here from Sways Universe.
27:49
>> Chrissy B. Chrissy B even know I was
27:51
going to put her on the mic. She came up
27:52
and I was taking show notes, you know.
27:54
>> Okay. Okay.
27:56
>> Well, congratulations. I love that you
27:59
stated, you know, you talked about the
28:00
form. You know, I'm from LA. I'm born
28:03
and raised. So, that is such a
28:05
historical place to perform for the
28:07
first time. So, I just want to say
28:09
congratulations on that. as a LA native.
28:11
That's I'm I'mma be there now that I
28:13
know it's and it's on Valentine's Day,
28:15
too.
28:15
>> You guys there. It's on Valentine's Day
28:17
NBA All-Star weekend, which is so
28:19
serendipitous because of last year's
28:21
show.
28:22
>> Yeah.
28:22
>> Yeah. That's amazing, by the way. So,
28:24
congratulations.
28:24
>> Thank you so much. Means the world.
28:26
>> Yes.
28:27
>> Okay. So, I'm going to let Mike jump in
28:28
that, too. Uh, you got a question for
28:30
your good long time buddy friend? I know
28:32
Mike was dancing on many tables at your
28:34
parties, Cassidy. No, Mike's been to
28:36
many
28:38
>> many DJ Cassidy dance floors. Oh, yeah.
28:41
>> As you have, Sway.
28:43
>> Over the decades.
28:44
>> Absolutely.
28:45
>> From New York to LA and beyond.
28:48
>> Yeah. Me and Mike was in the same same
28:51
club. Seen, Mike.
28:53
>> We were talking about spot.
28:54
>> We were talking about clubs earlier,
28:55
Cassidy. So, man, it's so good to see
28:57
you. So good to see your career and your
28:58
journey and your trajectory. I'm always
29:00
so very proud of you, my friend. Um, the
29:03
question I have though, I'm always
29:04
curious about how you curate your your
29:08
lineup. Uh, I always feel like there
29:10
seems to be like a theme. I feel like
29:12
every artist kind of just represents it
29:13
so well. So, I'm just curious about how
29:15
you think about uh your lineups.
29:20
Well, I think uh there's many factors
29:22
that goes into the curation, whether
29:27
we're talking about the homegrown
29:30
episodes of Past the Mic or the
29:32
television episodes of Past the Mic or
29:35
the live arena shows or Dick Clark's New
29:38
Year's Rock and Eve or NBA All-Star
29:42
Weekend or Valentine's Day at the Kia
29:46
Form for this upcoming show on
29:49
Valentine's Day featuring Jaw Rule,
29:52
Ashanti, Bust the Rhymes, Little Cam,
29:56
Fabulous, Maya, Envogue, and of course,
29:59
always special surprise guests.
30:01
>> That's right. I really I really wanted
30:04
to call artists that had been a part of
30:07
the journey, you know, first time here,
30:11
>> artists that had been a part, whether it
30:12
was the homegrown shows or the TV shows,
30:15
artists who had really been a part of
30:17
the journey. Uh because that really
30:20
takes the synergy
30:22
>> and the collaborative energy and the
30:24
camaraderie
30:26
to a whole other stratosphere.
30:29
I also wanted
30:32
uh the show to represent hiphop and R&B.
30:36
>> That cross-section, that beautiful
30:38
cross-section that has been so important
30:40
to pop culture over the past 30 plus
30:46
years. Mhm.
30:47
>> Um, I wanted the music, whether hip-hop
30:50
or R&B, to exude feelings of love,
30:54
particularly not only because love is at
30:57
the heart of Pass the Mic and the
30:59
celebration, but because it's
31:01
Valentine's Day. And what I learned
31:03
early on in the curation of Pass the Mic
31:06
is you start with a vision. You start
31:10
curating and the vision evolves. The
31:12
vision is never what it was on day one.
31:14
division evolves and you have to be open
31:17
to follow the universe.
31:20
>> And it took me a minute at the beginning
31:22
to realize that and and and that really
31:25
became part of of the beauty and the fun
31:29
of the process.
31:33
>> It constantly changes. You don't know
31:35
where it's going to go, right? And then
31:37
what you end up with turns out to be
31:39
perfect.
31:40
>> I'll tell you something. The 10th
31:42
episode of the show
31:43
>> Yeah. the the the grand finale on BET in
31:47
2023. I I had decided before the show
31:50
aired that it was going to be my last. I
31:53
wanted to go out with a bang and it was
31:54
time to take it on the road.
31:56
>> Yeah.
31:56
>> Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine
31:59
that Ice Cube would ever take part in a
32:01
show.
32:02
>> I had never met Ice Cube. I didn't think
32:04
Ice Cube knew my name. Mhm.
32:07
>> And one thing led to another and Ice
32:10
Cube was the last artist that I filmed
32:13
to be on the last episode of the series.
32:19
And that's the best representation of
32:22
you go where the universe takes you. Cuz
32:24
I didn't even think when I started that
32:26
episode that I would have the audacity
32:28
to reach out.
32:31
>> And he closed it in the most perfect
32:34
way. Couldn't have scripted it if I
32:36
tried.
32:37
>> Yeah, man. Salute the cube, too.
32:39
>> Yay.
32:39
>> To the neck, gang.
32:41
>> How was that, though?
32:42
>> That was good. That was a good
32:44
impression.
32:45
>> YOU MEAN THERE'S SNAKES IN THAT there
32:47
pond?
32:47
>> Oh my gosh. Stop.
32:51
>> It's Friday. Yo, it's about to be a
32:53
snowstorm.
32:55
>> Hold on. One last question. One last
32:57
question. All right, Tracy, take us
32:59
away. One last question. Well, Cassidy,
33:02
everybody knows your name. Okay, bro.
33:05
You're trusted by legends. I don't know
33:07
everybody.
33:07
>> You're trusted by presidents.
33:10
>> I feel like when you become Barack
33:12
Obama's personal DJ
33:14
>> through all the years, um, it just puts
33:18
you on a completely different level.
33:19
You're one of the most respected
33:20
selectors in the game. So, I definitely
33:23
want to honor you in that way. So, let's
33:25
say, Cassidy, that you have two DJs in
33:28
front of you. One DJ is immensely
33:30
talented, but they're struggling with
33:32
visibility. The other DJ also has
33:35
immense talent, also has their branding
33:37
down, but because there are so many
33:40
opportunities coming that DJ's way,
33:43
they're experiencing burnout. What
33:46
advice would you give to both of them?
33:49
>> Wow. Okay. Amazing question. So, the
33:52
first DJ extremely talented
33:56
um but feeling like they're not
33:58
receiving the exposure that they want or
34:01
need,
34:02
>> right?
34:02
>> Their marketing is a little wobbly,
34:04
>> right?
34:07
I would advise that DJ to be as true to
34:13
themselves as possible.
34:16
drop all
34:19
um
34:21
um innate tendencies
34:24
to cater to others and in that moment
34:28
try to find what is most unique about
34:31
yourself.
34:32
>> Is it a certain type of music that you
34:35
love that not everyone loves but because
34:38
you love it more you will play it better
34:41
than anyone else?
34:43
>> Is it a sense of fashion? Is it
34:45
something you love to wear that you
34:47
might be afraid to wear when you're in
34:49
the booth that you can channel? What is
34:52
it about you in an isolated vacuum just
34:57
for one minute that is most unique? And
35:00
is there a way to harness that when
35:03
you're behind the turntables in front of
35:05
people? And that might be the one thing
35:09
that draws people to you and gains the
35:12
attention that you were looking for.
35:15
Uh the second DJ, extremely talented,
35:19
getting a lot of exposure but getting a
35:22
little um burnt out, overworked. How do
35:25
you keep it special? Um, I think how do
35:29
you keep something you love that is also
35:32
your job special is a challenge that all
35:35
entertainers probably feel at some point
35:38
or another, right? You're doing well.
35:40
You're getting booked. You're killing
35:42
it, but you're feeling like it's
35:44
suddenly a job. How do you keep it
35:47
special? How do you keep the fun alive?
35:50
I think it's important to find that
35:53
thing. It could be a once a week. It
35:55
could be a once a month. It could be a
35:57
once a year. What's that party you're
35:59
going to DJ? What's that podcast you're
36:02
going to do and not care if anyone
36:03
listens?
36:04
>> Um, what's that one mix you're going to
36:07
put on Soundcloud and tweet it and post
36:09
it on Instagram and not really care if
36:10
it gets a million views? What's that one
36:13
thing you're going to do on a regular
36:15
basis, no matter how often or how um or
36:19
or or how seldom you do it, that's gonna
36:21
that's going to relight that fire.
36:23
>> Yeah.
36:24
So that you can keep going, keep your
36:27
exposure going, keep the job going, keep
36:29
the hustle going, but still wake up
36:31
feeling that burn that you felt when you
36:34
were a kid and got no money for your
36:38
passion and got no recognition. You
36:41
know, I always channel the, you know,
36:43
the 10-year-old me in my bedroom at my
36:46
father's house with my crates of records
36:50
and my dusty t-shirts.
36:52
And um every weekend my dad would take
36:55
me downtown to the record stores in New
36:57
York to go vinyl shopping. Those were
36:59
the greatest days of my DJing when there
37:02
was no responsibility, when there was no
37:04
audience, when there was no one you were
37:07
trying to impress.
37:11
That's what you would tell him.
37:12
>> That's what I would tell him.
37:13
>> Great prescription,
37:14
>> DJ Cassidy. Man, give this man a big
37:16
round of applause. It's always a joy to
37:18
have him come up. Every time he comes
37:19
up, Mike, I got to add a add about four
37:22
or five things to his list of
37:23
accomplishments, man.
37:25
>> That part, man,
37:26
>> that the intro takes up half the
37:29
interview. Now,
37:29
>> I want to thank you all. I want to thank
37:32
you all, Sway, Heather, Mike, everyone
37:34
on this team for having me. Um, there's
37:38
really nowhere else that captures the
37:41
essence of what I do quite like this.
37:45
And um, forget about feeling loved. It's
37:48
it's um, I feel like you guys appreciate
37:53
what I do in such a special way. And
37:55
it's important to tell you all that I
37:57
appreciate what you do in a special way.
38:00
And I don't take sitting here lightly.
38:03
>> Yeah.
38:03
>> I was up early this morning. came very
38:06
early.
38:06
>> Exercising my vocal cords,
38:10
taking a shower, getting dressed,
38:12
putting on my Lakers jacket because I'm
38:15
in the spirit of this upcoming show. I
38:18
wanted to be ready and prepared to be
38:20
here cuz, you know, not just shows,
38:23
interviews, too.
38:24
>> I treat everyone like it's the first and
38:27
last. You might never have another
38:29
opportunity to speak to a global
38:31
audience about hiphop and R&B culture.
38:35
So, I take it all very seriously. Um, I
38:38
invite you all to come see the show on
38:40
Valentine's Day, Saturday, February
38:42
14th,
38:44
>> at the Kia Form, formerly the Fabulous
38:46
Form.
38:47
>> That's right.
38:47
>> Uh, it couldn't be a more legendary
38:50
place
38:51
>> to be bringing past the mic. The lineup
38:53
is epic. The show will be epic. Three
38:55
hours of continuous cohesive
38:58
music and a a a roller coaster ride of
39:03
the soundtrack of your life that you
39:05
will never quite experience in this way
39:07
anywhere else. So be there Valentine's
39:09
Day Kia form pass the mic live
39:11
>> Ashanti Buster Rhymes Infog Fabulous
39:13
Jaru Lil Kim Maya special guest Chrissy
39:16
B will be there with my date. All right.
39:20
Okay.
#Arts & Entertainment