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AHHA: You’ve signed to Bad Boy and Diddy has this track record of crazy hits like Biggie and Faith, but also has a lot of misses. Did you have any reservations before signing with Bad Boy?

Cassie: I actually never have been asked this question in an interview, and that’s really cool that you did, because it’s usually asked by kids. Kids notice. There were a lot of factors as to why I signed [to Bad Boy] because I did have other deals on the table. I got to hang out with Puff and see what he was all about when I was in Miami. He actually really talked to me about what he wanted to do. I didn’t hear that from anyone else. It wasn’t like, “Oh, we’re gonna make you a star!” It was all planned out, kind of, in his head. Then it came to be, because the single got so big.

I’m really happy that I [signed to Bad Boy]. At this point, I have great management, I’m signed to Next Selection too, Ryan’s production company, so I have a great production company as well. It’s just a great group. I don’t know how it is for everyone else at the label. I think the Making The Band girls [Danity Kane] are so talented. I got to watch them record with different producers when they were in Miami. They are so focused. Cheri Dennis is so amazing. There are artists on Bad Boy that are really gonna do it this year for sure. [Yung] Joc! First week album sales 150 [thousand]. It’s gonna turn around, definitely. ...

AHHA: I was reading in your blog about an original video for “Me & U” that leaked.

Cassie: Well what happened was before I got a deal, the song was kind of building on MySpace, but what I personally felt was, “Where is this gonna go?” I just didn’t expect it to go anywhere. At the same time, I was at a point where I felt like I needed to be so different. For me to different, I felt like I needed to be grown. That wasn’t the ticket. I didn’t wanna do it anyway, but I tried to make it work and it didn’t. Little X was like, “Look, come to Toronto. We’ll shoot a low budget video.” I went with Ryan, so I wasn’t there by myself. I saw it [the video] and was like, “No. This isn’t me.” [Little X] was like, “Ok let’s edit it and do it again.” He edited it, and it didn’t change anything. I was like, “Look, I can’t do this. I’m sorry. It’s not me.” About a week later it was leaked on the internet…uncut. Everything was just raw. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t expect this.

A lot of fans just asked questions like, “Why would you do it anyway?” I’m thinking, “Look, I didn’t really expect my career to go anywhere to be completely honest with you.” That’s what I did. It’s over. That’s the worst thing you can find on me. It was definitely a mistake on my part, and I wish I’d never done it. I thought I redeemed myself with the other video, but a lot of people like the raw version more than the new one. I don’t really know why [laughs].