DJ Cassidy Brings His Vegas-Inspired ‘Rap Pack’ to the Strip for Pass the Mic Residency

When a pandemic check-in call with legendary Earth, Wind & Fire founding member Verdine White inspired DJ Cassidy to create the musical phenomenon known as Pass the Mic, the New York-born artist and producer was excited but had no idea where the idea would go.

“It’s been a pretty surreal ride over the last four years,” says Cassidy, who brings the hip-hop and R&B party to the Strip this holiday weekend at Planet Hollywood’s Bakkt Theater. “Even when I was immersed in filming what became Pass the Mic Vol. 1, I had no idea it would become a viral digital hit series, I had no idea it would become a TV series, no idea it would become a live concert tour, and certainly no idea it would become a Las Vegas residency.”

“I would like to say it’s a dream come true, but I certainly wasn’t dreaming this big four years ago when the world was at a standstill.”

Cassidy was Facetiming with his friend and mentor White from his living room when EWF’s “That’s the Way of the World” came on his system and White began singing along. “I had the incredible opportunity to experience one of the greatest soul ballads of all time in a unique and personal way,” Cassidy says, and he immediately began thinking about how he could replicate that experience for audiences.

He created Pass the Mic to bring legendary artists on-screen to perform their classic songs virtually, and he’s transcended pandemic-era entertainment with a TV deal. “Someone told me the other day—and I can’t prove it, but I hope it’s true—that Pass the Mic is the only musical entity born out of COVID that went from a digital, at-home series to a TV series,” Cassidy says. “I knew it was special…and one of a kind, but I didn’t think it would elicit such a widespread emotional response.”

The Vegas version of the show will draw inspiration from the concert tour, which included a show at Radio City Hall honoring hip-hop’s 50th anniversary last July. Cassidy’s main collaborators include Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, with rotating special guests including Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Jermaine Dupri, Too Short and Warren G, who take on a fun and fresh format that runs through hip-hop hits from all of those artists and more with a bit of narration and interactivity. That’s the plan for these six Vegas shows, and hopefully there will be many more.

“The Las Vegas show is an extension of everything we’ve been describing, but with enhanced theatricality, showmanship, interaction, collaboration and sophistication,” Cassidy explains. “The Rat Pack ended up being the biggest inspiration for us, the five core members of this residency… and Ja Rule ended up calling us the Rap Pack. We’re inspired by that sophistication, that class and that old-world fashion of Las Vegas, and we encourage everyone to come fly, dress the part and contribute to the overall musical and visual experience of the show.”

DJ CASSIDY’S PASS THE MIC LIVE 8 p.m., July 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, $26-$250, Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com.

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