Cassie Takes Control Of Career: "I Left Bad Boy... I'm Independent"

BY Erika Marie 22.8K Views
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Cassie, Diddy, Ciara, Bad Boy, Level Up Radio
The singer chopped it up with Ciara on "Level Up Radio."

The last few years have been a whirlwind for Cassie. Her career catapulted after she released her classic hit "Me & U," but she struggled to maintain that steam with her later releases. For the better part of a decade, Cassie was known more for her relationship with Diddy than her work in the studio, but in 2018, Cassie and Combs decided to end their romance after reportedly being together for 11 years. Soon, Cassie resurfaced online boasting about her relationship with Alex Fine, and in 2019, the couple got married and welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Frankie.

At the tail end of 2020, Cassie revealed that she was pregnant yet again, and in a recent interview with Ciara for Level Up Radio on Apple Music, the ladies talked about balancing their professional lives with their growing families. Cassie, who was once naturally a Bad Boy artist, also shared that not only has she parted ways with Diddy personally, but she was able to remove herself professionally, as well.

“I left Bad Boy. I was able to get out of my deal. So now I’m independent,” Cassie reportedly said according to Rap-Up. “So that’s just very different from the start.” She's previously spoken about reigniting her music career but this is a new stage for Cassie. “It’s so different. And I mean, even now I’m just in a different place in my life."

“It’s the place to be, just to own your stuff and just... You could do whatever you want. You could wake up tomorrow and be like, ‘Okay, I want to record four records. And then put them out and it’s mine. And what you going to say?'” That is something that Ciara identifies with because back in 2017, she launched her own brand, Beauty Marks Entertainment, and has been working for herself for some time.

It's unclear if or when Cassie will return to the music scene and it will be interesting to see what sound she goes for after being out of the game for some time.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.