Exclusive: Cassie Grows Up on Second Album

staging-rapup.kinsta.cloud caught up with Cassie last week in Hollywood for a quick Q&A. The singer, who turns 22 today, discussed her forthcoming sophomore album, which artists and producers she’s working with, collaborating with Lil Wayne on her first single, and her favorite song right now.

Tell us about your second album.

My new album that I’m still working on is due in early 2009. The sound of this album is a little more sensual. I hate to say grown up because, you know, everyone says that, it’s a little cliché. But I definitely have grown up and I’ve learned a lot over the past two years. I don’t have a title yet, but I’m taking suggestions. I’ve been working on this album for a really long time. I could put it out now, but I’m so particular with the details. It has to be great. To have a second chance and second opportunity is really a big deal, so I want to take advantage of it and make sure I do it the best I can.

Who are you working with?

A recent collaboration would be The-Dream, which was really cool. I worked with Ryan [Leslie], he’s an artist now; I got to work with Puff, which was really cool; Mario Winans; and Kanye West. I collaborated with a lot of different producers and a lot of different writers, which was an amazing opportunity for me, because on my first album, one producer [Ryan Leslie] straight through…which was fun, but it was nice to experience other people.

Singer/producer Ryan Leslie doesn’t seem to be as involved with this album as the first one. How did Ryan respond to that?

He totally supported it 100%, and I’m still working with Ryan. We still have tracks on the album. We haven’t finished working together yet, but he is totally supportive.

Were you involved in writing the first single “Official Girl”?

Actually The Clutch wrote “Official Girl.” It fit really well right into actually being able to emotionally attach myself to a song, knowing that other girls out there would totally feel it too.

You worked with Lil Wayne on “Official Girl.” How was that?

Working with Lil Wayne was a lot of fun. The first time I actually got to hang out with him was on the video set, and he has such great energy. That was actually the day he went platinum, so that energy on the shoot was amazing too. And he’s a really down-to-earth guy.

What’s your favorite song right now?

I’m feeling “Jockin’ Jay-Z.”

Reported by Jessica Washington. Photo by Chris Polk/MTV.