This is an accepted version of this page Casandra Elizabeth Ventura (born August 26, 1986), known mononymously as Cassie, is an American singer, dancer, actress, and model.

Born in New London, Connecticut, she began her musical career after meeting producer Ryan Leslie in late 2004, who signed her to his record label, NextSelection Lifestyle Group.

She was then discovered by rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, who signed her to a joint venture with his label, Bad Boy Records, to commercially release her 2006 debut single, "Me & U".

[17] Encouraged by producer Rockwilder, Ventura took vocal lessons, modern ballet, as well as using her school's performing arts program.

[15] She finished high school in 2004 and moved to New York City, where she returned to modeling and classes at the Broadway Dance Center.

[15][19] The two wrote a duet called "Kiss Me", and after recording the track, Leslie played the song for music executive Tommy Mottola.

[25] MTV News reported in June 2007 that contrary to rumors, Ventura had not been dropped from Bad Boy Records after releasing two singles from her self-titled debut album.

[28] 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.

[30] Ventura said that she had 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.

The song was released on November 13, 2007,[32] and peaked at eighty-five on the Canadian Hot 100[33] and fifty-two in the UK's The Official Charts Company.

After the performance Cassie and 106 & Park were worldwide trending topics on Twitter and it received mostly mixed to positive reviews from various online media outlets.

[39] On September 13, 2012, Nicki Minaj released the lead single off her re-release album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up, titled "The Boys", featuring Ventura.

[54] In January 2019, after ending her relationship with Combs and leaving Bad Boy Records, Ventura worked with producers Chris n Teeb and singer-songwriter Ro James.

[63] Ventura cites Aaliyah, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Nine Inch Nails, Britney Spears, La Lupe, Mariah Carey, Faith Evans and Usher as musical influences.

[73][74] On November 16, 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Combs alleging that he subjected her to a decade-long "cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking.

[76] Ventura claimed that the abuse began when their relationship started and that this included a 2018 rape after she tried to leave him, and multiple instances of domestic violence.

[76] One day after filing the lawsuit, the parties announced they had reached an agreement to resolve the case, and did not disclose terms of the out-of-court settlement.

[79] In May 2024, CNN obtained and published a video of Combs grabbing Ventura, punching her and then throwing her to the ground and kicking her and stomping on her in a hotel hallway on March 5, 2016.