Cassie ''Cocooned Into A Butterfly'' On Sophomore Set, Says Diddy

Apr 08,2008 00:00 by admin

Ryan Leslie protégé, Cassie will return to the music scene this summer with the release of her sophomore album.

The Bad Boy/Next Selection artist has been working with some of the hottest producers for her sophomore set. Though the album tracks are not finalized, Cassie did tell Billboard earlier this year that she teamed up with Ryan Leslie, Seven, Mario Winans, Bryan Michael Cox, Eric Hudson, Sean C and LV for her follow-up album.

Bad Boy label head, Diddy, told Billboard a surprise is in store for Cassie fans.

"There's a huge [cry] out there for a younger Britney Spears, a younger Janet Jackson. Those two great artists have paved the way."

Casssie's 2006 self-titled album sold 321,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen's SoundScan. The album's hit single "Me & U" made it to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100. Additionally, it sold more than 1 million digital downloads.

A novice to the music scene, Cassie endured criticism in 2006 after a handful of less than stellar performances.

On the topic of Cassie's growth since the 2006 incident, Diddy said, "I just don't think she was ready. I think that we threw her into the spotlight without the artist development -- that goes on with a lot of new artists. We pulled out, we took our time, we developed her for like, a year-and-a-half. People are just going to see her there and be like, 'Wow, she's really cocooned into a butterfly.'"