Brian Buckmeyer

As a teenager, she attended a performing arts school where she studied ballet and jazz. Cassie moved to New York City in the fall of 2004 with her best friend. At first, she found work as a model. But Cassie wanted to be something more. She looked up to artists like Sade, Janet Jackson, and Aaliyah. She wanted to be an artist too. And not just that, she wanted to be famous.

As a teenager, she attended a performing arts school where she studied ballet and jazz. Cassie moved to New York City in the fall of 2004 with her best friend. At first, she found work as a model. But Cassie wanted to be something more. She looked up to artists like Sade, Janet Jackson, and Aaliyah. She wanted to be an artist too. And not just that, she wanted to be famous.

She said as much in a 2006 documentary on YouTube called Cassie Ventura, The Beginning.

She said as much in a 2006 documentary on YouTube called Cassie Ventura, The Beginning.

Once her deal with Bad Boy was finalized in 2006, Cassie started working on her debut album. The album cover is a close-up of Cassie's face. She's staring straight at the camera with a serious and mysterious expression. Her hair is parted on the side and falls in loose waves over one eye.

Once her deal with Bad Boy was finalized in 2006, Cassie started working on her debut album. The album cover is a close-up of Cassie's face. She's staring straight at the camera with a serious and mysterious expression. Her hair is parted on the side and falls in loose waves over one eye.

The day of the launch, Cassie and her producer, Ryan Leslie, drove to Virgin Records, a big music store in Times Square, to celebrate. They were greeted by a crowd of fans holding up CDs they had just bought.

The day of the launch, Cassie and her producer, Ryan Leslie, drove to Virgin Records, a big music store in Times Square, to celebrate. They were greeted by a crowd of fans holding up CDs they had just bought.

Now that she was a bad boy artist with a hit single, Cassie was becoming more visible on a national stage. She had a big moment in the spotlight in 2006 when she performed in front of a live audience for the popular TV show 106 and Park on Black Entertainment Television, or BET. Both the cable network and the show were a really big deal at the time. Here's DJ and ABC News contributor Megan Wright.

Now that she was a bad boy artist with a hit single, Cassie was becoming more visible on a national stage. She had a big moment in the spotlight in 2006 when she performed in front of a live audience for the popular TV show 106 and Park on Black Entertainment Television, or BET. Both the cable network and the show were a really big deal at the time. Here's DJ and ABC News contributor Megan Wright.

As a teenager in the late 90s and early 2000s, 106 & Park was the place to see my favorite performers and check out up-and-coming artists. The show brought hip-hop to the forefront in a way that was mainstream, big, and just cool. Everyone watched it. So if you missed it and showed up to school the next day, you'd be lost in the conversation.

As a teenager in the late 90s and early 2000s, 106 & Park was the place to see my favorite performers and check out up-and-coming artists. The show brought hip-hop to the forefront in a way that was mainstream, big, and just cool. Everyone watched it. So if you missed it and showed up to school the next day, you'd be lost in the conversation.

Cassie appearing on 106 & Park meant she had made it onto one of the biggest and coolest stages there was. The day of Cassie's big debut on 106 & Park, she looked nervous.

Cassie appearing on 106 & Park meant she had made it onto one of the biggest and coolest stages there was. The day of Cassie's big debut on 106 & Park, she looked nervous.

Her voice sounded shaky, tentative. You could see her eyes dart across the audience.

Her voice sounded shaky, tentative. You could see her eyes dart across the audience.

At one point, the camera pulls back to show the crowd, and there's only a few people dancing. The whole thing feels very low energy.

At one point, the camera pulls back to show the crowd, and there's only a few people dancing. The whole thing feels very low energy.

Jamila Lemieux is a writer and cultural critic. She remembers Cassie's BET debut.

Jamila Lemieux is a writer and cultural critic. She remembers Cassie's BET debut.