{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = I'm a Hustla | type = studio | artist = Cassidy | cover = Cassidy_i'm_a_hustla_album_cover.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2005|6|28}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Hip hop | length = 59:59 | label = {{hlist|Full Surface|J}} | producer = {{hlist|Swizz Beatz|Shatek|Neo da Matrix|Needlz|DJ Scratch|L.E.S.|Chris & Drop|Nerve & Surreal|Hotrunner}} | prev_title = Split Personality | prev_year = 2004 | next_title = B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story | next_year = 2007 | misc = {{Singles | name = I'm a Hustla | type = studio | single1 = I'm a Hustla | single1date = February 28, 2005<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1595|page=23|date=February 25, 2005}}</ref> | single2 = B-Boy Stance | single2date = June 20, 2005 }} }}
'''''I'm a Hustla''''' is the second studio album by American rapper Cassidy. It was released on June 28, 2005, by Full Surface Records and J Records. The album includes production from Bink, Devo Springsteen, Hi-Tek, Neo da Matrix, Nottz, L.E.S., The Individualz and Swizz Beatz, the latter of whom also executive produced the album. It features guest appearances from Nas, Quan, Mario, Mashonda, Raekwon, Lil Wayne, Fabolous and Mary J. Blige.
The album debuted at number 5 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, with 93,000 copies sold in the first week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/anthony-hamilton/news/george-strait-somewhere-at-top-of-us-charts--21573906 |title=Anthony Hamilton News - Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref> It was supported by the singles "I'm a Hustla" and "B-Boy Stance". The album's title-track features a sample from Jay-Z's "Dirt off Your Shoulder" and the song was nominated for a ''Vibe Award'' in the category ''Street Anthem''.<ref>[http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/vibe-awards.htm Vibe Awards 2005, News, Nominees & Winners, TV Schedule] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622192901/http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/vibe-awards.htm |date=June 22, 2007 }} Chiff.com, November 12, 2005</ref> A remix featuring Mary J. Blige followed soon after. In 2006, the ringtone version of "I'm a Hustla" was one of the first-ever ringtones to be certified platinum.<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/061406.asp RIAA Launches New Gold And Platinum Award For Ringtones] RIAA.com, June 14, 2006</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r738681|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref> |rev2 = ''PopMatters'' |rev2score = {{Rating|7|10}}<ref name="PopMatters">[https://www.popmatters.com/cassidy-imahustla-2495867029.html PopMatters review]</ref> |rev3 = ''Rolling Stone'' |rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071109012343/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/cassidy/albums/album/7416480/review/7482989/im_a_hustla Rolling Stone review]</ref> |rev4 = ''RapReviews'' |rev4score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref>[http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2005_07_imahustla.html RapReviews review]</ref> |rev5 = ''Vibe'' |rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tower.com/im-hustla-cassidy-cd/wapi/105911820 |title=VIBE review |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-date=April 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423104757/http://www.tower.com/im-hustla-cassidy-cd/wapi/105911820 |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
AllMusic editor Andy Kellman found that ''I'm a Hustla'' was "certainly harder overall than ''Split Personality''; the seductive tracks are fewer in number and not nearly as melodic [...] Despite the concerted attempt to come off differently, ''I'm a Hustla'' isn't much more effective than ''Split Personality''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''PopMatters'' critic Matt Cibula wrote: "Some might think Cassidy hurts his arguments by playing all sides of the fence, but I would refer them to the original American rapper, Walt Whitman, and that dope line about contradicting oneself and containing multitudes. Cassidy is no Walt Whitman yet, but he might get there eventually, especially if he keeps trying to push the flow forward in his own weird visionary way. This is what I’m hoping happens. If he backslides and just goes for the cheddar, that will be a wiser business move, but a loss to American music."<ref name="PopMatters"/>
==Track listing== {{track listing | headline = ''I'm a Hustla'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 59:59
| title1 = The Problem vs. the Hustla | writer1 = {{hlist|Barry Reese|Shatek King|Vince DiCola}} | extra1 = Shatek | length1 = 4:11
| title2 = I'm a Hustla | note2 = | writer2 = {{hlist|Reese|Kasseem Dean|Shawn Carter|Tim Mosley}} | extra2 = Swizz Beatz | length2 = 4:19
| title3 = On the Grind | writer3 = {{hlist|Reese|Quaadir Atkinson}} | extra3 = Neo Da Matrix | length3 = 4:58
| title4 = Crack | writer4 = {{hlist|Reese|Khari Cain}} | extra4 = Needlz | length4 = 4:42
| title5 = B-Boy Stance | note5 = featuring Swizz Beatz | writer5 = {{hlist|Reese|Dean}} | extra5 = Swizz Beatz | length5 = 4:00
| title6 = A.M. to P.M. | writer6 = {{hlist|Reese|Atkinson}} | extra6 = Neo Da Matrix | length6 = 3:40
| title7 = Can't Fade Me | note7 = featuring Nas and Quan | writer7 = {{hlist|Reese|George Spivey|Nasir Jones|Clifford Peacock|Oscar Brown, Jr.}} | extra7 = DJ Scratch | length7 = 4:13
| title8 = Kick It wit You | note8 = featuring Mario | writer8 = {{hlist|Reese|Leshan Lewis|Malcolm Shabazz Flythe|Shaffer Smith}} | extra8 = L.E.S. | length8 = 4:01
| title9 = C-Bonics | writer9 = {{hlist|Reese|Dean}} | extra9 = Swizz Beatz | length9 = 4:09
| title10 = Bellybutton | writer10 = {{hlist|Reese|Dean}} | extra10 = Swizz Beatz | length10 = 4:08
| title11 = Get 'Em | note11 = featuring Swizz Beatz | writer11 = {{hlist|Reese|Shroom Thompson|Chad Simon|Peter Cor|Beloyd Taylor}} | extra11 = Nerve & Surreal | length11 = 2:52
| title12 = So Long | note12 = featuring Mashonda and Raekwon | writer12 = {{hlist|Reese|Mashonda Trifrere|Brian Holland|Eddie Holland|Richard J. Davis|Melvin Miller}} | extra12 = Drop | length12 = 3:36
| title13 = 6 Minutes | note13 = featuring Lil Wayne and Fabolous | writer13 = {{hlist|Reese|Atkinson|Dwayne Carter|Bill Kelly|Fran Boenza|Gerry Hludzik|Chris Hanlon|Carl Siracuse}} | extra13 = Neo Da Matrix | length13 = 6:26
| title14 = The Message | writer14 = {{hlist|Reese|Terrance Lorlace|Syl Johnson|Glenn Watts|Jimmy Jones}} | extra14 = {{hlist|Hot Runner|Rampage {{small|({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}}} | length14 = 6:34
| title15 = I'm a Hustla (Remix) | note15 = featuring Mary J. Blige) (Bonus track | writer15 = {{hlist|Reese|Dean|Mary J. Blige|S. Carter|Mosley}} | extra15 = Swizz Beatz | length15 = 4:10 }}
'''Sample credits''' * "The Problem vs. The Hustla" contains a sample from "War", written and performed by Vince DiCola. * "I'm a Hustla" contains a sample from "Dirt off Your Shoulder", written by Shawn Carter and Tim Mosley, as performed by Jay-Z. * "On the Grind" contains a sample from "Wildflower", performed by New Birth. * "Can't Fade Me" contains a sample from "Brown Baby", written by Oscar Brown, Jr.. * "Get 'Em" contains a sample from "Getaway", written by Peter Cor & Beloyd Taylor. * "So Long" contains a sample from "Ain't It Good Feeling Good"; written by Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, Richard J. Davis, and Melvin Miller; as performed by Eloise Laws. * "6 Minutes" contains a sample from "Castles"; written by Bill Kelly, Fran Bozena, Gerry Hludzik, Chris Hanlon, and Carl Siracuse; as performed by The Buoys. * "The Message" contains a sample from: ** "Is It Because I'm Black"; written by Syl Johnson, Glenn Watts, and Jimmy Jones; as performed by Syl Johnson. ** ''Tupac: Resurrection'', written and performed by Tupac Shakur.
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''I'm a Hustla'' |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2005) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html|title=Albums : Top 100|website=Jam!|date=July 7, 2005|access-date=November 28, 2025|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20050710023146/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html|archive-date=July 10, 2005}}</ref> | 94 |- {{album chart|Germany|45|id=21915|artist=Cassidy|album=I'm a Hustla|rowheader=true|access-date=September 18, 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cassidy/chart-history/tlp/|title=Cassidy Chart History (''Billboard'' 200)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 18, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117212420/https://www.billboard.com/artist/cassidy/chart-history/tlp/|archive-date=November 17, 2021}}</ref> | 5 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cassidy/chart-history/blp/|title=Cassidy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 18, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117210845/https://www.billboard.com/artist/cassidy/chart-history/blp/|archive-date=November 17, 2021}}</ref> | 2 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Rap Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cassidy/chart-history/rlp/|title=Cassidy Chart History (Top Rap Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 18, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117175419/https://www.billboard.com/artist/cassidy/chart-history/rlp/|archive-date=November 17, 2021}}</ref> | 2 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''I'm a Hustla'' |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2005) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2005/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2005|work=Billboard|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref> | 85 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Cassidy}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2005 albums Category:Cassidy (rapper) albums Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch Category:Albums produced by L.E.S. (record producer) Category:Albums produced by Needlz Category:Full Surface Records albums Category:J Records albums Category:Ruff Ryders Entertainment albums Category:Albums produced by Neo da Matrix