Cassie is the professional name of Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, an American model, R&B singer and occasional actress from New London, Connecticut. Born in 1986, she moves to New York City and continues modelling while also taking classes at the Broadway Dance Center.

She is best known for the single Me & U, which becomes a major hit in 2006. Music producer Ryan Leslie spots her in clubs and at parties in late 2004, and after a formal introduction she becomes the focus of Next Selection. Leslie co-writes and produces Me & U, and he also co-writes a duet called Kiss Me with her. The song is played for music executive Tommy Mottola, helping to build her profile. Cassie is later introduced to Sean “Diddy” Combs by a make-up artist from one of her modelling assignments, which also gives her a route into a music career.

Before she signs to Bad Boy, Me & U is already receiving radio play and is popular in clubs. It goes on to reach number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Billboard Pop 100. Her follow-up single, Long Way 2 Go, is much less successful and peaks at number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut album, Cassie, is released in 2006 and sells 321,000 copies in the United States. By contrast, Me & U sells more than one million digital downloads.