Meek Mill vs. Cassidy: The Philly Rap Beef That Shaped Their Careers

Meek Mill and Cassidy are two of the most prominent rappers to emerge from Philadelphia, a city known for its rich hip-hop culture. While both have achieved success in their own right, their careers were marked by a longstanding feud that captivated fans and defined a significant chapter in their respective musical journeys. This battle between the two began not out of the blue but from a series of misunderstandings, disappointments, and diss tracks that turned personal and professional lines into a complicated mess.

The Origins: From Battle Rappers to Superstars

The roots of the Meek Mill and Cassidy feud lie in their shared origins as battle rappers. Cassidy, long regarded as one of Philadelphia’s finest battle rappers, gained fame for his sharp lyricism and freestyle abilities. Meek Mill, on the other hand, made a name for himself through his mixtapes and his signature gritty street anthems, eventually securing a record deal with Maybach Music Group under Rick Ross. However, despite their different routes to success, both artists shared a history of freestyling and battling their way to prominence in the rap scene.

Meek and Cassidy’s relationship began in their early days in Philly, when they were both rising stars on the underground battle rap scene. Cassidy, being the more established artist at the time, took Meek under his wing. He helped him hone his craft, offering advice on how to improve his lyricism and songwriting. However, as Meek began to rise in the mainstream and his fame skyrocketed, their relationship started to show signs of strain.

In an interview with Report Card Radio in 2020, Cassidy opened up about his feelings on the matter. He recalled that when Meek first found success, he reached out to collaborate on music, only to be met with disinterest from the younger rapper. Cassidy expressed that although he had always been supportive of Meek, things changed once Meek became more successful. Meek’s new image, one of a superstar in the rap game, didn’t seem to mesh with Cassidy’s expectations.

Cassidy wasn’t the only one to notice the shift. In a 2012 Breakfast Club interview, Cassidy expressed his frustration with Meek’s behavior after achieving mainstream success. He mentioned that, despite their past camaraderie, Meek seemed to have switched up and was now acting distant. Cassidy attributed this to either Meek’s newfound fame or simply a change in attitude that came with it. However, Cassidy was still trying to maintain their relationship, even when Meek started making indirect comments on Twitter.

The Beef: Diss Tracks and Social Media Drama

The tension between Meek Mill and Cassidy eventually boiled over into public view with a series of diss tracks and comments on social media. Cassidy, being a battle rapper at heart, was not one to back down from a challenge. His frustrations with Meek’s behavior led to the release of a diss track aimed directly at the rising star. In his track, Cassidy referred to Meek as someone who had once looked up to him for guidance, only to later disrespect him when the tables turned.

One of the most notable lines from Cassidy’s diss track was: “You should’ve took your own advice, you know you not with me / I used to help you write your raps, give you tips on how to get better.” This line not only expressed Cassidy’s anger but also revealed the mentorship dynamic that once existed between the two. The diss track painted a picture of Meek as ungrateful and disrespectful to the person who had helped shape his career in its early stages.

Meek, however, didn’t immediately respond with a diss track of his own. Instead, he took to Twitter, where he expressed his disdain for the situation. Meek tweeted that he had no interest in engaging in a rap battle with Cassidy, but the tension between the two continued to grow. The tweets and public comments on social media only fueled the flames of their rivalry, leading to a back-and-forth that would become a key chapter in both of their careers.

While Meek’s response was more indirect, Cassidy didn’t hold back in interviews, making it clear that he believed Meek’s success had changed him. In multiple interviews, he lamented how Meek seemed to have forgotten their past and how the rapper’s newfound fame led to a shift in their relationship.

The Battle: A Clash of Ego and Timing

Given their shared background in battle rap, the natural progression for both Meek and Cassidy was for the feud to escalate into a rap battle. Discussions about the possibility of them facing off in a battle with a $100,000 payout surfaced, but despite the interest from fans and the potential for a high-profile matchup, neither artist seemed fully committed to the idea. Cassidy, in particular, seemed uninterested in battling Meek, noting that while Meek had participated in battles early in his career, his focus had since shifted toward making mainstream music. Cassidy himself was more focused on his own career and didn’t see the value in engaging in a battle rap showdown.

Despite the back-and-forth, the feud between Meek and Cassidy didn’t culminate in a traditional rap battle. Instead, it took another route—through song. In 2013, Cassidy released a track titled Condom Style, a parody of the viral hit Gangnam Style, which was meant to raise awareness about AIDS prevention. The song was humorous yet informative, but Meek took to social media and called it “the worst song in the history of rap.” This comment reignited the tensions between the two, leading to another round of insults and back-and-forth banter.

The Aftermath: Moving Forward

As time went on, the beef between Meek Mill and Cassidy eventually simmered down, with both artists continuing their careers in different directions. Meek went on to achieve even greater success with his music, notably with the release of his album Dreams and Nightmares, while Cassidy’s career took a more niche direction, focusing on battle rap and mixtapes. Despite the public fallout, both rappers maintained a level of respect for the culture and the city of Philadelphia that had birthed them.

Looking back, the Meek Mill vs. Cassidy rivalry is a significant part of their careers. It was a defining moment that showcased the complexities of fame, mentorship, and ego within the hip-hop world. While the battle may have been personal at times, it ultimately contributed to shaping both artists’ public personas and their legacy in the rap game. As the years pass, the feud between Meek Mill and Cassidy remains a fascinating chapter in the history of Philly rap, one that fans and critics alike continue to dissect and reflect upon.