It's been a rough 18 months for the pop ingenue, but Cassie's moving on toward Happily Ever After.

By Toshitaka Kondo; Photographs by Brian Bowen Smith

Are you dating now?

Cassie: No. It’s hard to commit—well, not commit. I think it’s just more of me wanting to do my own thing and not answer to anybody. Especially if I had a boyfriend who was outside the industry and wouldn’t understand me just picking up and leaving. I don’t even call my mom to tell her I’m going out of the country sometimes.

When’s the last time you actually liked someone?

Cassie: It was months ago. I always have crushes on people. I don’t know. [Laughs.] You’re making me feel awkward.

Would you ever date a rapper?

Cassie: A rapper? I don’t know. I’d date Snoop. [Laughs.] He’s my favorite rapper.

There was a lot of speculation about“Me & U.” What was that song about?

Cassie: I didn’t write it. Ryan wrote it. Because I have a young fan base, what upset me was that it’s like, “Damn, I have little girls and boys singing this song.” But I didn’t take it the same way everyone else did. It’s about a special moment, whatever you want it to be. It could be right before you kiss. It’s when it’s just you and
the person.

But you have to know the YouTube video that Little X directed made it look like it was about going down on a guy.

Cassie: Because that’s how Little X interpreted it. That wasn’t my treatment—and he didn’t write one either. We just shot as we went along. I like him as a person and he’s a great guy, but I was kind of upset that it even got leaked. I was like, “Who did that? It had to be one of your people because I didn’t have it.” But we’re definitely cool now. 

You caught a lot of criticism for your live performances.

Cassie: I don’t think I should have done those shows. But I didn’t know I had a choice. I would sit in rehearsals and sing full songs a cappella. I wasn’t Beyoncé, but I wasn’t fucking up. Then I got out there and was like, “Oh my God, millions of people are watching me right now. I have stage fright.” Before the BET performance, I remember being backstage with Gwen Niles, the VP from my label, and I was like, “I’m gonna shit myself. I can’t do this. Don’t make me go out there.”

I was surprised to read that the infamous TRL appearance was only your seventh live show ever.

Cassie: That’s what’s funny about it, though. I took it really seriously and I tried and went through rehearsals, but I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know what I was doing at all.

There’s certain things singers are known for. With you, a lot of times the first thing that people mention is you’re really hot. Does that bother you?

Cassie: No. At least I have something. [Laughs.] I hope eventually people find something about me talent-wise that they can associate me with. Maybe after the second time around. That would make me really happy. Home // GIRLS // COVER GIRLS // CASSIE