By Cara Alwill

Given the great success of Britney Spears’ comeback from tabloid queen to pop princess, it’s easy to see why other artists might follow her PR plan in one way or another. Cassie, for instance, made quite a statement when she shaved half her head this past Friday.

According to the New York Daily News, the singer broke the news of her dramatic new look on her Twitter page, where she posted “Yeah I did it” next to an image of her newly buzzed locks.

“Sometimes in life, you need a change,” she wrote. “Something deeper than what you thought you were capable of … Something that displays the ‘I don’t give a f—’ attitude that was always present, but never showcased … & something that will shock your mother, but make her call you a ROCK STAR.”

Could it be a coincidence that Cassie’s new single “Must Be Love” (featuring Diddy) is being released for digital download on Tuesday? Or, you could go with another of her Tweeted explanations: “I woke up and felt like it!!! Yeeeahhh!!! LOL.”

The radical new look comes just days after Diddy confirmed on his video blog that Cassie’s new album would be called Electro Love and is slated to be released later this year.

“You’re definitely going to see more independence,” Cassie told MTV News of her sophomore release. “On [this album], I got to work with different people and [learn] what their habits were and what works well with me. So you’ll see a difference in vocals, a little bit more personality. And it’s definitely a sensual album.”

The song encourages women to take control of their relationships.

By Jocelyn Vena

As Cassie braces to release her yet-untitled sophomore album, she revealed to MTV News that she is ready to let loose and find new ways to use her voice.

“You’re definitely going to see more independence. On [this album], I got to work with different people and [learn] what their habits were and what works well with me,” she said. “So you’ll see a difference in vocals, a little bit more personality. And it’s definitely a sensual album.”

This personality comes through on her latest single, “Official Girl,” featuring Lil Wayne, a song dedicated to independent-spirited ladies everywhere.

“I definitely think that when I first heard the song, from the beginning of the record you kind of feel like, you know, ‘I’m leaving it up to you. I left it to you,’ ” she said. “And by the time it gets to the second verse and makes it to the end of the song, it just feels like I’m saying, ‘I don’t want to put up with it anymore. It’s not fair.’ ”

Cassie hopes that the song can spread the message of girl power and empower girls to stand up and take control of their romantic relationships.

“It was a great first single for me because it said something. I fell in love with records like [Beyoncé's] ‘Irreplaceable,’ where you could emotionally attach yourself to the record as soon as you heard it,” she added. “I didn’t want something so vague and so clubby, because I wanted people to see me as a woman with something to say.”

For those of you who are still unclear as to what exactly an “official girl” is, the singer defines the song’s title this way: “I would say that an ‘official girl’ is someone in a relationship,” she said. “You’re attentive, you’re honest, but at the same time you can let go a little bit.

“To be an official girl, you just have to ride for your significant other and support them 100 percent.”