Cassandra Ventura, better known as Cassie, burst onto the music scene in 2006 with her infectious hit, “Me & U”. Though the former model had a huge first single, after some less than stellar live performances, many were quick to doubt the talents and the staying power of Bad Boy’s resident bad girl. However many had to admit there was something special about Bad Boy’s new princess. Unfortunately, over the past couple of years it would seem that Cassie has made more headlines for her personal life than for her music.

The gossip blogs have been ablaze with rumors of a supposed secret relationship between her and label head P.Diddy Combs. Most recently on the heels of promotion for her upcoming album Electro Love, naked pictures of the singer surfaced on the internet. As the release of her sophomore album creeps closer and closer, one question has yet to be answered: Can her music entertain us as much as her personal life?

AllHipHop.com Alternatives: It’s been a little while since your debut. If you could, just talk about how you have evolved and changed in the past couple of years.

Cassie: It has been quite a long time, but since the end of the last album cycle I went overseas and performed and did promo out there. Then started re-recording, and then I shot a film [Step Up 2: The Streets]. And these little things, they build you up and build your character. I went through a lot of different stuff. I went back after the film and continued recording. The sound is fully developed, I’m excited about it. The album is called Electro Love.

AHHA: If you could just kind of touch on the title. The mind definitely goes certain places when you mention the title.

Cassie: The last album, it was self-titled. It was a fast release because I had the single out and I just had to put an album out almost immediately. It was like I had no choice, kind of. And it wasn’t that it was bad. It was a great album, but I wanted people to be able to see who I was and the kind of music I like and what I really like to listen to. Electro Love is not really supposed to be taken literally. DJ Cassidy gave me the idea, and I just thought it fit the sound of the album perfectly with where it was going. It’s not electro music/house like hardcore but there is a good beat to dance to. And the lyrical content is dope. It’s all different. So I have a record with Pharrell that he wrote on. Tricky and Dream, Akon, like it’s just a good mix.

AHHA: Do you think anything on this album will surprise people? Or do you think the album in general will surprise people?

Cassie: I think the album in general will surprise people. It’s hard because of records getting leaked and stuff like that. I try to refrain from talking about that to people. Like if I see a record out, what I immediately want to do is be like “Oh My God that’s my record it got leaked blah blah” but it takes away from what people will know on the album. So hopefully they will forget that it got leaked and came out. But I’ve remixed and revamped everything that I’ve done. I have a cool record actually with Jadakiss called “Make You a Believer” and it’s just…it’s hard to explain. I’m having such a hard time trying to describe my album to people. But I think they will be surprised.

AHHA: Talk about the single and how that came about.

Cassie: The single is “Must Be Love”. It was a record that was kind of already in Bad Boy. Day 26 had recorded it. They didn’t keep it for their album. So it was just there, and I was like I love this record. This record is amazing, can I please try it? I’ve never like really had a soulful R&B record, something that just gave a good Bad Boy vibe. I’ve never had a record like that. I had “Me And U”, “Long Way 2 Go”, “Official Girl”- they were all different. So I tried it and it worked. Puff got on it, which is really an honor to have him on the record or want to be on the record. And that’s what we stuck with. It’s a great R&B record.

AHHA: Within the last years since your initial release there has been a lot that has happened in general in the music business. Has that made you change as an artist in any way?

Cassie: The industry itself has changed so much since I first started. That in itself is serious. Everybody always asks me are you nervous to put out a release because people aren’t really selling albums anymore. But I feel like I have a good fanbase and I feel like I’ve evolved as an artist, and if I can get the opportunity to let people see that and what I’m all about they’ll get it.

AHHA: How have you changed as a person? How has the “celebrity” changed you?

Cassie: I never have really tapped into that side of it. I’m not running to the store calling the paparazzi to come follow me. I don’t do any of those types of things. The celebrity part of it has never really been apart of my life. I might get talked about and things happen but I’m always the one at home watching movies with my friends. I’m not going to the club and trying to act a fool or anything. But I don’t feel like I’m a celebrity or I’ve changed. I feel like I’ve acted the same way my entire life.

AHHA: We live in a celebrity-obsessed culture. We want to know everything that goes on in a person’s life who is on television or who is on the radio or whatever. And there was a situation that occurred recently where there were some personal photos of you that leaked on the internet. What was you reaction to how that whole situation went down?

Cassie: Um. I was in shock because they weren’t meant for anyone to see, Number 1. It hurt for the few days that it happened and the few days I had to deal with it and then I just moved on because there was no other way to handle it. People assumed whatever they wanted about how the pictures came out and what exactly happened. But how I explain it to people is, I have a mother and a father and brother and little cousins that are high school and middle school and it was just really rough. It wasn’t a good situation at all. But I just handled it. It was for my man.

AHHA: We live in a culture where everything gets leaked. Everything comes out when it isn’t supposed to. Photos get leaked, videos get leaked. When you were taking photos like that did you ever think this would happen?

Cassie: I can say that I definitely did. But with the situation I was in, I was as safe as I could be with it. I didn’t know that someone was up in my email like that. I don’t even know what the case is. It’s being investigated. So I don’t know exactly what happened. I no longer had the pictures. And my boyfriend no longer had the pictures and it wasn’t something that was really thought about. And I don’t think he would sell me out like that. It definitely makes you rethink things. I’m not saying that I’m never going to take pictures for my boyfriend ever again because that’s how our relationship is. But I’m not going to email them. [laughs] Because clearly that was really stupid.

AHHA: That brings me to my next question. Recently, there has been a lot of speculation about your relationship with the head of your label. I wanted to give you a chance to address that in any manner you see fit.

Cassie: Puff is my friend. We are not dating, and that is it. There just so many other things and ways to say it to try to get through to people but everyone is going to believe what they want to believe. That’s what it is for me. We are not together. We never have been together. He’s my friend. I hang out with him.

AHHA: Let’s talk about the hair. That’s another thing that caused a big stir on the internet. What led up to you shaving half of your head?

Cassie: I had thought about it for awhile. My uncle used to listen a band back in the day, and the lead singer had this cut. I’d never seen it on anyone else. I’d never seen a girl do it. And I didn’t know how much I was going to shave; I didn’t know how low it was going to be. I just did it. I just woke up one morning and decided I wanted to do it. What am I holding out for? I’m not modeling anymore. So I can shave my head. What do I need that side of hair for anyway? It’s just taking up space on my head. I wanted something different.

Since I was 12 I’ve been modeling and I’ve always had that same hair. Never colored it or changed it. Actually I colored it once. It was blonde, it looked really weird, I changed it back. And it was just my moment of being a teenage and doing something my parents wouldn’t really approve of. My Mom actually really likes it though.

AHHA: Why do you think it caused such a stir?

Cassie: I have no idea. I think people had a certain perception of me. They thought that I was just this girly girl. All the glam the hair and make-up and the sexy dresses and whatever it is and they had it wrong. I’m not 24/7 in hair and make-up. I’m a t-shirt and jeans girl and some boots. I feel more comfortable now. This is just a reflection of my attitude towards life right now and just who I am.

AHHA: What would you say has been the hardest part about working in this industry for the years you’ve been in it?

Cassie: Things have definitely been difficult. It’s hard to break through. And you don’t want to spend all your time trying to prove yourself to people. I enjoy making music. I don’t care what people think about if I sound like Aretha Franklin or whatever it is. I think I’m numb to being criticized which is fine. Sometimes I’m like damn did they have to go that deep, but it doesn’t affect me like it used to. I don’t really look at anything as a negative anymore. Because most of the time people are just sitting behind their computers hiding.

AHHA: Where do you see yourself going from here as an artist, as an entertainer, as a personality?

Cassie: I’m so focused right now on getting this album out this year. I really do want to continue making music. I love making music. Even if its just behind the scenes helping create stuff. I did a film which I loved. I loved being on set and that whole environment so I definitely want to try that again. I definitely need to get more experience and take some classes. I’m really happy where I am now. I’m going to be 23 years old this year and I’m just having a great time.

AHHA: Do you feel like you’ve been targeted in anyway by the online blogs or certain press outlets?

Cassie: I think everyone is a target. It’s just life. They get on everyone. Everyone has an opinion. Even the people that are right in my circle. It is what it is. The streets are Gossip Girl right now.

AHHA: What do you think is the biggest misconception about you?

Cassie: I think the biggest misconception about me is that I’m not talented, because I clearly would not be here if I wasn’t.

AHHA: Twenty years from now if they had to sum up your life and career and all that you’ve accomplished with one word. What word would you want that to be?

Cassie: Spontaneous.