"Don't get me wrong I put songs that was conscious out / But I'll still grab the Thompson and blow your conscious out" Cassidy was involved in a murder case between recording his previous album, 'I'm a Hustla', and this project which plays a large part in the topics on hand. Where the previous two albums featured a lot of brag rap, battle rap like punchline bars, and some tracks for the ladies, here there are many more introspective, religious, and conscious moments. He would've been stupid not to use what he'd experienced throughout the trial and behind bars as lyrics for the album and the variety of songs means he isn't just making the same album again. 1. Intro (B.A.R.S. Vs. Da Hustla) 64/100 Cassidy starts this album in a similar way to his previous one, battling an alter ego that includes some self-deprecating bars. The production isn't as bangin' but it works okay. 2. My Drink N My 2 Step 31 Swizz Beatz is back to his worst here. There is nothing good about this one. 3. Where My Niggaz At 44 Again, the production isn't very likeable on this attempt at a hard, gritty gangsta rap type of track. 4. I Will Never Tell (Uh Uh) 62 One of the many anti-snitching songs within the hip hop genre. The change up from the bridge to the chorus is likeable. 5. I Pray 60 Another decent song, this time about the power of prayer, but it doesn't go beyond decent. The production just needs something else. 6. Innocent 89 After building through some okay moments, this is the first song that hits. Cassidy raps about his murder case: "They showed up to the crib that my mother was at / My son, my baby mother, and my brother was at / And they was strapped, actin tough and start bustin the gat / To protect my family I started bustin it back." 'Innocent Man' by Mark Morrison is sampled and it all comes together nicely with the interesting lyrics. Swizz Beatz redeems himself from 'My Drink N My 2 Step'. 7. Cash Rulez 43 More repetitive production that doesn't work well enough. 8. Leanin' on the Lord 80 Cass is back on the gospel tip and Swizz again provides a beat that works. Lyrically, this feels a little like R. Kelly's 'Pray Changes', where Cassidy begins each verse with "Here's a story" and tells a different tale about the subject turning to God, including the third verse that is autobiographical. 9. Damn I Miss the Game 93 Catchy hook, dope production and relatable lyrics about missing what hip hop used to be. 10. Done 4 Me 83 More enjoyable jazz rap/soul production backed by lyrics about Cassidy being thankful for what he has and what God has done for him. 11. I Get My Paper 53 I don't love the chorus of this one 12. Take a Trip 52 On 'I'm a Hustla', Swizz was 1 from 4, producing most of the worst songs, and here I'd give him 2/4. This is the one love/girl track from the album. 13. Celebrate 74 "Get the obituary ready, get the Reverend / My old style died, and went to punchline Heaven / You cats know that that's my flow, I'm a legend" This one is thematically similar to 'Done 4 Me'. 14. All By Myself 80 As the title suggests, Cassidy created this song all by himself. More introspection, being thankful for God, and a lack of trust in others are the themes. "I wanna thank my fans, good looking for the mail / Cause I was going through it when they put me in the jail / They put me in the cell, just me and the rats / And my relationship with God is what kept me relaxed." I don't know how much else Cassidy self-produced, but if he actually did produce this all by himself, he should've kept going. The production is really nice. There are some strong moments, but the production isn't good enough on too many songs to make this album stand out from the crowd. With some of the content, where he was, coming out of such a life changing moment, it's a shame the production isn't to a more consistent high standard. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Innocent, Leanin' on the Lord. Damn I Miss the Game, Done 4 Me