Cassie

American singer, dancer, actress, and model Cassie (born Casandra Elizabeth Ventura) blended pop, R&B, and hip-hop in a style reminiscent of <a href="spotify:artist:5pKCCKE2ajJHZ9KAiaK11H">Rihanna</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0urTpYCsixqZwgNTkPJOJ4">Aaliyah</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:08rMCq2ek1YjdDBsCPVH2s">Amerie</a>, with influences as wide-ranging as <a href="spotify:artist:1l7ZsJRRS8wlW3WfJfPfNS">Christina Aguilera</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0X380XXQSNBYuleKzav5UO">Nine Inch Nails</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4qwGe91Bz9K2T8jXTZ815W">Janet Jackson</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4iHNK0tOyZPYnBU7nGAgpQ">Mariah Carey</a>. Raised in a multicultural family with a prep school education, she began modeling as a teenager, which led to her first brush with the music industry when she appeared in <a href="spotify:artist:20s0P9QLxGqKuCsGwFsp7w">Mario</a>'s video for "Just a Friend 2002." With the help of producer <a href="spotify:artist:44qVOHAihzGKRQC0RaoEoK">Rockwilder</a>, she began taking formal voice and modern ballet lessons. After graduation from high school, she started modeling in New York City. There, she met producer <a href="spotify:artist:3aTMDZLtkFlYQfQL7bzccp">Ryan Leslie</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:3FD9VAd0ppjmKbfxF4LzUh">Danity Kane</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5xuNBZoM7z1Vv8IQ6uM0p6">JoJo</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:21E3waRsmPlU7jZsS13rcj">Ne-Yo</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7bXgB6jMjp9ATFy66eO08Z">Chris Brown</a>), who encouraged her to pursue music. The pair wrote and recorded the song "Kiss Me," which helped Cassie ink a deal with Tommy Mottola.

A second track co-penned with <a href="spotify:artist:3aTMDZLtkFlYQfQL7bzccp">Leslie</a>, "Me & U," would be Cassie's first major hit. <a href="spotify:artist:59wfkuBoNyhDMQGCljbUbA">Sean "Puffy" Combs</a> caught wind of the single and signed her to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bad+Boy+Entertainment%22">Bad Boy Entertainment</a>. Her self-titled debut was released in the summer of 2006. Cassie peaked in the Top Three of the U.S. and U.K. R&B/hip-hop charts, as well as rising to number four on the Billboard 200. "Me & U" continued to climb the singles chart, peaking at number three and earning platinum certification. She also made her movie debut in Step Up 2: The Streets. Although she planned to record an immediate follow-up, those sessions never resulted in a proper studio album. Instead, Cassie released a series of high-profile collaborative singles over the ensuing years, including "Official Girl" with <a href="spotify:artist:55Aa2cqylxrFIXC767Z865">Lil Wayne</a> in 2008; "Must Be Love" with <a href="spotify:artist:59wfkuBoNyhDMQGCljbUbA">Puffy</a> and "Let's Get Crazy" with <a href="spotify:artist:0z4gvV4rjIZ9wHck67ucSV">Akon</a> in 2009; "Radio" with <a href="spotify:artist:0YWxKQj2Go9CGHCp77UOyy">Fabolous</a> and "Make You a Believer" with <a href="spotify:artist:5pnbUBPifNnlusY8kTBivi">Jadakiss</a> in 2011; and "Balcony" with Jeezy in 2012. That same year on Valentine's Day, Cassie issued the slick electro-dance track "King of Hearts," and later appeared on <a href="spotify:artist:0hCNtLu0JehylgoiP8L4Gh">Nicki Minaj</a>'s single "The Boys."

In 2013, Cassie unveiled a new sound on her RockaByeBaby mixtape. Released in the spring, the effort -- her first major work in seven years -- marked a dark and mature shift for the singer. Inspired by the classic '90s flick New Jack City, RockaByeBaby featured a cover showing Cassie holding a golden pistol and songs that combined raw grit and adult content with her strong vocals. A stacked roster of guests appeared on the album, including <a href="spotify:artist:137W8MRPWKqSmrBGDBFSop">Wiz Khalifa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0ONHkAv9pCAFxb0zJwDNTy">Pusha T</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6vXTefBL93Dj5IqAWq6OTv">French Montana</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1sBkRIssrMs1AbVkOJbc7a">Rick Ross</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3KV3p5EY4AvKxOlhGHORLg">Jeremih</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0YWxKQj2Go9CGHCp77UOyy">Fabolous</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:20sxb77xiYeusSH8cVdatc">Meek Mill</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0v2Y5jwtcv8LiWNTRls1KM">Ester Dean</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4sb7rZNN93BSS6Gqgepo4v">Too $hort</a>, as well as production nods from <a href="spotify:artist:0NWbwDZY1VkRqFafuQm6wk">Mike WiLL Made-It</a> and Rob Holladay. After starring in Honey 3: Dare to Dance and The Perfect Match in 2016, Cassie announced that she had signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Epic+Records%22">Epic Records</a>. The <a href="spotify:artist:02kJSzxNuaWGqwubyUba0Z">G-Eazy</a> collaboration "Love a Loser," her first single for the major label, was released in 2017. Beginning in 2019, Cassie delivered a steady stream of singles including "Excuses," "Don't Let Go," "Teach Me," and "Simple Things." ~ Neil Z. Yeung