Who is Cassie, the Y2K pop star who just sued Diddy? Before the abuse allegations – settled in a single day – the singer rose to fame with ‘Me & U’, dabbled in acting, and married model Alex Fine
- Cassandra Ventura filed a lawsuit against Sean Combs alleging abuse throughout their relationship and reportedly seeking US$30 million, according to Diddy’s lawyer – the case was settled a day later
- Cassie rose to R&B and hip-hop fame with her debut single ‘Me & U’ when she was just 19 – she also signed to Diddy’s label Bad Boy Records, and the two dated for over a decade
Cassie burst onto the music scene in 2006 with an irresistible blend of pop and R&B.
Although the singer, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, has withdrawn from the spotlight in recent years, Cassie is still beloved by fans of 2000s club jams.
The case was settled just a day later. Official financial details were not made public, although Combs’ lawyer claimed that Cassie was seeking US$30 million, per The New York Times.
Here’s everything to know about the late-aughts icon.
Cassie broke out with the club hit “Me & U”
Before launching her music career, Cassie had done some modelling for brands like Delia’s.
In 2006, when she was 19 years old, she released her debut single “Me & U”. It became her first hit, reaching No 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No 3 on the Hot 100.
“Me & U” set the tone for her self-titled debut album, which was praised by critics for its “hypnotic groove” and “flippant playfulness”. Rolling Stone later described Cassie as “the most brilliantly minimalist R&B album of its era”.
A positive review in Slant noted, “‘Me & U’ has single-handedly revived his ailing Bad Boy imprint,” referring to Sean Combs, then known as Diddy. Combs’ Bad Boy record label partnered with NextSelection to release the album.