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 this idea would go.
“It’s been quite a surreal journey over the past 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 knee-deep in filming what became Pass the Mic Vol. 1, I had no expectation it would become a hit viral digital series, no idea it would become a TV series, no idea it would become a tour of live concerts, and certainly no idea it would become a Las Vegas residency.
“I’d like to say it’s a dream come true, but I certainly wasn’t dreaming that 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 amazing opportunity to experience one of the greatest soul ballads of all time in this very unique and personal way,” Cassidy says, and he immediately began brainstorming how he could replicate this experience for audiences.
He created Pass the Mic to bring legendary artists onscreen to perform their classic tracks in a virtual way, and it transcended pandemic-era entertainment with a TV deal. “Someone told me the other day—and I can’t substantiate this, but I hope it’s true—that Pass the Mic is the only COVID-born musical entity that went from an at-home digital series to a television series,” Cassidy says. “I knew it was special … and one-of-a-kind, but I did not think it would garner such a widespread emotional response.”
The Vegas version of the show will elaborate on the concert tour, which included a Radio City Hall show paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop last July. Cassidy’s main collaborators are Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, with rotating special guests like Public Enemy, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang Clan, Jermaine Dupri, Too Short and Warren G stepping into the fun and fresh format that rolls through hip-hop hits from all these artists and more with some storytelling and interactivity splashed around. That’s the plan for these six Vegas shows, and the hope is there will be many more.
“The Vegas show is an extension of everything we’ve described but with enhanced theatrics, showmanship, interaction, collaboration and sophistication,” Cassidy says. “The Rat Pack ended up being the greatest source of inspiration for us, the core five of this residency … and Ja Rule has ended up coining us the Rap Pack. We are inspired by that sophistication and class and the old-world fashion of Las Vegas, and we’re encouraging everyone to come fly, to 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 6, 13 & 20, $26-$250, Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com.
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