Today marks a monumental day for Cassie with the release of her long delayed mixture, RockaByeBay. The singer/model has been plotting her comeback over the past 4-5 years, but she has been met with many roadblocks, one being finding her sound as an artist.
Prior to this new mixtape and its supporting singles "Numb" featuring Rick Ross and "Paradise" featuring Wiz Khalifa, Cassie released several singles that failed to chart or gain radio play. Many continue to compare her current body of works to her debut smash single "Me & U," a song that garnered her popularity around the world.
"I think mentally with really considering I was 18, 19 years old. I’ve put out several records and singles on both my labels since. I really have tried a lot of different things. I feel like it was time to complete something that was for my supporters and for myself, for once, and not really have to worry about living up to “Me & U” because “Me & U” is such a staple record," Cassie shared to XXL mag.
A massive song indeed, but Cassie almost missed the road to stardom after disliking the single at first. She adds, "I didn’t like “Me & U” when I first cut it. That’s the funniest thing to me in the world. Like after I heard it, I was like, “I sound so monotone. What is this?” You know what I mean? Everyone fell in love with it. I don’t set myself up to feel like I have to hit an expectation of some sort. That’s why I wanted to make it vibe-y and it be a mixtape and not be an album and just give it to people."
With help from label boss, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Cassie has been finding her sound and continues to group as an individual. "He’s helped me a lot with this project in trying to find where I fit in the world. I don’t know a better way to put that. [Laughs.] But, definitely. We work together," she says.
As far as finding her musical lane, Cassie has no plans to be like Rihanna or Katy Perry, but she plans to bust her butt to be competitive.
She adds: "I don’t consider myself in the running. I consider myself such an underdog. Rihanna is seven albums in. She is non-stop working. I have been too, but on a totally different plane and level. Just not out, all over the world like that. I really started focusing on something. I would go away from it and come back. I’m just really a perfectionist with everything. So I don’t consider myself in the running with them. Hopefully soon! I’m working towards that. I think they’re all really awesome."
As she continues to prepare her sophomore album, Cassie is thankful to several people who has helped her remained inspired, one being superstar Beyonce.
"She's shown me so much love over the past years, just telling me she loves my voice on records, she loves my tone – you can't really beat that. You can't beat Beyonce loving one of your records," Cassie told Global Grind. "It's so dope. She's a sweetheart, she really is. I've been around her a few times and hung out with her in different situations and she's so down to earth so, it really feels good that she feels that way about my records."
Cassie Ventura has been in the music industry for over a decade, and her career is still thriving. From working with Danity Kane to collaborating on songs with Chris Brown, Cassie’s talent as an artist shines through all of her work. But it wasn’t always this way; when she first released “Me & U” back in 2006, she was hesitant about it becoming a hit song. Not only did she have to compete with stars like Rihanna and Beyoncé, but there were also doubts that her music would be accepted by audiences. In this article, we explore how Cassie overcame those fears and grew into one of the most successful R&B singers of our time–not to mention forming a close bond with two of the biggest names in music: Queen B herself, Beyonce Knowles-Carter, and superstar Rihanna Fenty.
Cassie’s Initial Reaction To ‘Me & U’
When Cassie first heard her hit single “Me & U”, she wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for her. Initially, she felt like it didn’t really match up with her style and that it might not be well-received by fans. Despite this initial apprehension about the song, something inside of her kept pushing her to give it a chance.
Cassie eventually decided to take a leap of faith and record the track. She knew there was potential in the song, but still had doubts as to whether or not people would appreciate it. After all, at the time Rihanna’s music was dominating airwaves across the world and she feared that “Me & U” may struggle to compete against such an established artist.
Fortunately for Cassie, “Me & U” quickly became a smash hit and catapulted her into superstardom. It also brought her closer to Beyonce who gave her encouragement throughout the process. Ultimately, taking a risk on “Me & U” paid off big time for Cassie; proving that sometimes you have to push past your own doubts in order find success.
Rivalry With Rihanna And Friendship With Beyonce
At the time of its release, Cassie’s “Me & U” was seen as a direct rival to Rihanna’s hit single “Umbrella”. Despite some initial skepticism from fans, it soon became clear that Cassie had made the right decision with her song choice. Through hard work and promotion, “Me & U” managed to stand out among other Top 40 tracks at the time and went on to become one of the biggest songs in 2006.
The success of “Me & U” also brought Cassie closer to Beyonce who she already admired prior to this track. The two struck up an unlikely friendship which has been solidified over the years by numerous collaborations and mutual appreciation. In fact, when asked about their relationship, Cassie has stated that they are more than just friends – they are like sisters.
It is clear that taking a risk and going against popular opinion ultimately paid off for Cassie. This experience taught her that sometimes you have to push past your doubts and take a leap of faith in order to achieve success; something she still applies today both musically and personally.
Conclusion
My conclusion on Cassie’s interview is that it was an insightful look into how she has grown as an artist and person over the years. It showed her willingness to take risks, even if they don’t always pay off, and showcased her resilience when faced with adversity. She also proved that no matter what success comes with fame and fortune, one can still stay true to themselves while maintaining genuine relationships with those around them.
Cassie’s story serves as a reminder for us all to never give up no matter what life throws at you. Even though she didn’t initially like “Me & U”, she ended up making it a hit single due to her dedication and hard work. As well, despite feeling competitive towards Rihanna early in her career, Cassie was able to forge strong friendships with some of music’s biggest stars such as Beyonce – showing that true friendship transcends competition or rivalry.
All in all, this interview gave great insight into the mind of Cassandra Ventura (also known as Cassie) and provided valuable lessons we can learn from her experiences both good and bad. I’m sure many people will be inspired by her journey just like I am!
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
