Cassie
Encyclopedia
Casandra Ventura known professionally as Cassie, is a American recording artist, model
, dance
r and actress. After being introduced to music producer Ryan Leslie
, she was signed to his music-media company, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. Leslie wrote and produced Cassie's first single, "Me & U", which became a major hit in 2006. He convinced Sean "Diddy" Combs
to partner his Bad Boy Records
with Leslie's NextSelection imprint for the release of her debut album, Cassie
, which was released in August 2006. Her second studio album will be released in 2012.
, Connecticut
. Her father is a of Filipino
ancestry, and her mother is of Mexican African American
, West Indian ancestry. She attended The Williams School
, a preparatory school
in New London. She trained as a singer and dancer, and took voice lessons. Cassie began modeling at the age of 14, and by the time she was 16, appeared in print ads for Seventeen
and the catalog for popular teen line, Delia's
,. When she graduated from high school in 2004, she decided to pursue her career in modeling and singing. After high school, Cassie moved to New York City
, and continued modeling, as well as attending classes at the Broadway Dance Center
. She is represented by Wilhelmina Models
and One Model Management in New York City.
Ryan Leslie
spotted her at clubs and parties in late 2004 frequently. The two wrote a duet called "Kiss Me
", and after recording the track, Leslie played the song for music executive Tommy Mottola
.
. Leslie wrote and produced Cassie's first single, "Me & U", in 2005. The song became a club hit in Germany. During this time, Diddy
heard "Me & U" in a club, and Leslie convinced him to partner his Bad Boy Records
with Leslie's NextSelection imprint for the release of Cassie's debut album.
The album, Cassie
, was released on August 8, 2006 and sold 321,000 copies in the US. Lead single "Me & U" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100
, selling more than 1 million digital downloads. To promote her album, Cassie performed on Total Request Live
and 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live. Her performances were described as "rocky" and "less-than-stellar", but Diddy said that it was due to her inexperience. He said that he would be "with her through her development", and that he has no "question on her ability [to sing]". Cassie addressed the events on her MySpace page, saying that she is aware that her performances were "pretty bad", and that she was "still getting over stage fright".
MTV News
reported in June 2007 that contrary to rumors, Cassie had not been dropped from Bad Boy Records after releasing two singles from her self-titled debut album
. Diddy said that she was in the studio working with producers Kanye West
and Pharrell Williams
on her second album. It was also reported that Cassie was no longer collaborating with Ryan Leslie
, who had produced the majority of her debut album. However, the singer later stated that she was open to collaborating with Leslie again. According to Bad Boy A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell, rather than largely relying on the one songwriter-producer, the new album's mix of writers and producers, as well as her own co-write input, makes it a more personal record for her.
Additional production on the album came from Seven and LV, as well as Diddy himself. Cassie said that she had also collaborated with Akon
, The Neptunes
, Danja, Eric Hudson
, The Surf Club and Rob Holiday, although she was not sure which tracks were going to be included on the album. Commenting on the number of producers on the album, Cassie said that she "collaborated with a lot of different producers and a lot of different writers, which was an amazing opportunity for me, because on my first album, one producer [Ryan Leslie] straight through…which was fun, but it was nice to experience other people."
In July 2006, Cassie announced that the album's title would be Electro Love. The idea was given to her by DJ Cassidy; Cassie explained by saying that "it's basically the sound of the album. It's not supposed to be taken so literal. 'Electro' could be like house and techno, but that's not what it is, but it's definitely a dance album. I just wanted it to be a reflection of that and the vibe of the music. It has that love song feel to it, but accompanied by that specific beat." Cassie said that her new album will demonstrate more "independence"; there will be a "difference in vocals, a little bit more personality. And it's definitely a sensual album."
Three singles have been released from the album; "Official Girl" featuring Lil Wayne
in August 2008, "Must Be Love
" featuring Diddy
in April 2009, and "Lets Get Crazy" featuring Akon in August 2009. All three singles failed to chart in the USA. After several delays, it was announced in December 2009 that Cassie had signed a new record deal with Interscope Records
. She is featured in a spread in the August/September issue of Bust
in which she said a new single will be released in the fall. She has recently told her Twitter followers that she is still in the studio recording for her album.
At the time of an October 2010 interview with HitQuarters
, A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell said that Cassie had already recorded around fifty songs for the album. Mitchell said that she was taking her time over the album because she is keen for "it to be something that people are going to respect." She also appeared in rapper Wiz Khalifa
's Roll Up music video as his love interest.
Diddy
announced that “King of Hearts” will be the first single off Cassie’s sophomore album, due in 2012. In a interview with BET she said the single should be released in October and the album in early 2012.
Cassie also made appearances in several music videos including "Roll Up
" by Wiz Khalifa
, "Here I Go Again
" by Mario
, "Stronger
" by Kanye West
, Roc Boys by Jay-Z
and "Crawl
" by Chris Brown.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r and actress. After being introduced to music producer Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
Anthony Ryan Leslie, known professionally as Ryan Leslie, is a Grammy nominated American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, entrepreneur, and singer. Founder of the media company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie has produced singles for a number of artists in a variety of genres...
, she was signed to his music-media company, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. Leslie wrote and produced Cassie's first single, "Me & U", which became a major hit in 2006. He convinced Sean "Diddy" Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
to partner his Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
with Leslie's NextSelection imprint for the release of her debut album, Cassie
Cassie (album)
Notes* "Kiss Me" contains interpolations from "T-Shirt", written by Angela Beyincé, Vidal Davis, Garrett Hamler, Andre Harris, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelendria Rowland and Tenitra Williams, as performed by Destiny's Child.- Charts :- Personnel :...
, which was released in August 2006. Her second studio album will be released in 2012.
1986–2003: Early Life and career beginnings
Casandra Ventura was born on August 26, 1986 in New LondonNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Her father is a of Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
ancestry, and her mother is of Mexican African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, West Indian ancestry. She attended The Williams School
The Williams School
The Williams School is a coeducational independent high school located on the campus of Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut.-Noteworthy Alumni:* Stephen Trask, composer * Cassie Ventura, model/singer...
, a preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in New London. She trained as a singer and dancer, and took voice lessons. Cassie began modeling at the age of 14, and by the time she was 16, appeared in print ads for Seventeen
Seventeen (magazine)
Seventeen is an American magazine for teenagers. It was first published in September 1944 by Walter Annenberg's Triangle Publications. News Corporation bought Triangle in 1988, and sold Seventeen to K-III Communications in 1991. Primedia sold the magazine to Hearst in 2003. It is still in the...
and the catalog for popular teen line, Delia's
Delia's
dELiA*s, Inc. is a direct marketing and retail company composed of two lifestyle brands primarily targeting girls and young women between the ages of 13 and 19. Delia's also is popular amongst college aged women as many of its clothing and accessories are mature and affordable for college aged...
,. When she graduated from high school in 2004, she decided to pursue her career in modeling and singing. After high school, Cassie moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and continued modeling, as well as attending classes at the Broadway Dance Center
Broadway Dance Center
Broadway Dance Center, located in the heart of Times Square in New York City, was founded in 1984 a "drop-in" dance training schools in the world, offering over 200 classes a week in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Theater and more...
. She is represented by Wilhelmina Models
Wilhelmina Models
Wilhelmina Models is a modeling agency founded in 1967 by the model Wilhelmina Cooper and her husband Bruce Cooper in Manhattan Starting in 2010, Wilhelmina Models started a sub-brand called "Digital Empire Modeling" for new digital-era modeling talents....
and One Model Management in New York City.
Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
Anthony Ryan Leslie, known professionally as Ryan Leslie, is a Grammy nominated American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, entrepreneur, and singer. Founder of the media company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie has produced singles for a number of artists in a variety of genres...
spotted her at clubs and parties in late 2004 frequently. The two wrote a duet called "Kiss Me
Kiss Me
"Kiss Me" is a song recorded by Sixpence None the Richer and released on the 1997 album Sixpence None the Richer. It reached number two on the U.S...
", and after recording the track, Leslie played the song for music executive Tommy Mottola
Tommy Mottola
Thomas Daniel "Tommy" Mottola is an American music executive, co-owner of Casablanca Records in a joint venture with the Universal Music Group. He is the ex-husband of Mariah Carey and is married to Mexican singer Thalía...
.
2004–06: Cassie
Mottola offered Cassie a management deal, and Leslie signed her to NextSelection Lifestyle Group, his music-media company he founded with online marketing partner Rasheed RichmondRasheed Richmond
Rasheed Richmond is an American internet entrepreneur, political fundraiser, and social media expert. As a managing partner with Ryan Leslie in the NextSelection Lifestyle Group, he became an acclaimed online marketer after his successful viral marketing campaign for the recording artist Cassie and...
. Leslie wrote and produced Cassie's first single, "Me & U", in 2005. The song became a club hit in Germany. During this time, Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
heard "Me & U" in a club, and Leslie convinced him to partner his Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
with Leslie's NextSelection imprint for the release of Cassie's debut album.
The album, Cassie
Cassie (album)
Notes* "Kiss Me" contains interpolations from "T-Shirt", written by Angela Beyincé, Vidal Davis, Garrett Hamler, Andre Harris, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelendria Rowland and Tenitra Williams, as performed by Destiny's Child.- Charts :- Personnel :...
, was released on August 8, 2006 and sold 321,000 copies in the US. Lead single "Me & U" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, selling more than 1 million digital downloads. To promote her album, Cassie performed on Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
and 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live. Her performances were described as "rocky" and "less-than-stellar", but Diddy said that it was due to her inexperience. He said that he would be "with her through her development", and that he has no "question on her ability [to sing]". Cassie addressed the events on her MySpace page, saying that she is aware that her performances were "pretty bad", and that she was "still getting over stage fright".
2007–present: Second studio album
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
reported in June 2007 that contrary to rumors, Cassie had not been dropped from Bad Boy Records after releasing two singles from her self-titled debut album
Cassie (album)
Notes* "Kiss Me" contains interpolations from "T-Shirt", written by Angela Beyincé, Vidal Davis, Garrett Hamler, Andre Harris, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelendria Rowland and Tenitra Williams, as performed by Destiny's Child.- Charts :- Personnel :...
. Diddy said that she was in the studio working with producers Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
on her second album. It was also reported that Cassie was no longer collaborating with Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
Anthony Ryan Leslie, known professionally as Ryan Leslie, is a Grammy nominated American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, entrepreneur, and singer. Founder of the media company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie has produced singles for a number of artists in a variety of genres...
, who had produced the majority of her debut album. However, the singer later stated that she was open to collaborating with Leslie again. According to Bad Boy A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell, rather than largely relying on the one songwriter-producer, the new album's mix of writers and producers, as well as her own co-write input, makes it a more personal record for her.
Additional production on the album came from Seven and LV, as well as Diddy himself. Cassie said that she had also collaborated with Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
, The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
, Danja, Eric Hudson
Eric Hudson
Eric Hudson is a South Orange, New Jersey native and Grammy award-winning music producer. Born to father Curt Hudson, songwriter/producer . He went to Columbia High School in South Orange, NJ and graduated in 2004.-2006:Omarion - 21* 01. "Entourage"* 03. "Electric"* 11. "Been With a Star"John...
, The Surf Club and Rob Holiday, although she was not sure which tracks were going to be included on the album. Commenting on the number of producers on the album, Cassie said that she "collaborated with a lot of different producers and a lot of different writers, which was an amazing opportunity for me, because on my first album, one producer [Ryan Leslie] straight through…which was fun, but it was nice to experience other people."
In July 2006, Cassie announced that the album's title would be Electro Love. The idea was given to her by DJ Cassidy; Cassie explained by saying that "it's basically the sound of the album. It's not supposed to be taken so literal. 'Electro' could be like house and techno, but that's not what it is, but it's definitely a dance album. I just wanted it to be a reflection of that and the vibe of the music. It has that love song feel to it, but accompanied by that specific beat." Cassie said that her new album will demonstrate more "independence"; there will be a "difference in vocals, a little bit more personality. And it's definitely a sensual album."
Three singles have been released from the album; "Official Girl" featuring Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
in August 2008, "Must Be Love
Must Be Love
"Must Be Love" is a song by American recording artist Cassie.-Background:The song was produced by Mario Winans. It was originally meant to be a track on the album of fellow Bad Boy recording artists Day26. It was recorded by Cassie in early 2009. Footage showing the finalization of the track can be...
" featuring Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
in April 2009, and "Lets Get Crazy" featuring Akon in August 2009. All three singles failed to chart in the USA. After several delays, it was announced in December 2009 that Cassie had signed a new record deal with Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. She is featured in a spread in the August/September issue of Bust
Bust (magazine)
Bust is a bi-monthly United States-based women's lifestyle magazine. It was founded in 1993 by Debbie Stoller, Laurie Henzel, and Marcelle Karp.-Content:...
in which she said a new single will be released in the fall. She has recently told her Twitter followers that she is still in the studio recording for her album.
At the time of an October 2010 interview with HitQuarters
HitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
, A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell said that Cassie had already recorded around fifty songs for the album. Mitchell said that she was taking her time over the album because she is keen for "it to be something that people are going to respect." She also appeared in rapper Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...
's Roll Up music video as his love interest.
Diddy
Diddy
Diddy may refer to:*Sean Combs, an American rap mogul also known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puff, Puffy and Sean John*Diddy-Dirty Money, an American hip hop group featuring Diddy...
announced that “King of Hearts” will be the first single off Cassie’s sophomore album, due in 2012. In a interview with BET she said the single should be released in October and the album in early 2012.
Filmography
- BarbarianBarbarian (film)Barbarian, also known as Kane the Barbarian, is an American sword and sorcery action direct-to-video film released in 2003. It can almost be considered a remake from the 1983 film Deathstalker...
(2003) as Harem - Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) as Sophie Donovan
Cassie also made appearances in several music videos including "Roll Up
Roll Up
"Roll Up" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. It was released as the second single from his debut studio album, Rolling Papers; having been written by Wiz Khalifa, and StarGate...
" by Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...
, "Here I Go Again
Here I Go Again (Mario song)
"Here I Go Again" is a R&B single by Mario. It is the third single from his second studio album Turning Point. The single was released on May 2005. It was produced by Drama Family Ent. and Ron "Neff-U" Feemster. The single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 11...
" by Mario
Mario (singer)
Mario Dewar Barrett , who performs under the mononym Mario, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, actor, dancer and model. He is best known for his hit singles "Just a Friend 2002" and "Let Me Love You" , which won him two Billboard awards, as well as for appearing in the films Step Up and...
, "Stronger
Stronger (Kanye West song)
"Stronger" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released as the second single from his third studio album Graduation. It was produced by West and contains an extended outro co-produced with Mike Dean...
" by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Roc Boys by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and "Crawl
Crawl
Crawl or crawling may refer to:*Crawling , Crawling occurs when the glaze hasn't properly adhered to the bisqued clay.*Crawling , any of several types of human quadrupedal gait...
" by Chris Brown.
Discography
- CassieCassie (album)Notes* "Kiss Me" contains interpolations from "T-Shirt", written by Angela Beyincé, Vidal Davis, Garrett Hamler, Andre Harris, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelendria Rowland and Tenitra Williams, as performed by Destiny's Child.- Charts :- Personnel :...
(2006) - Untitled (2012)