"Official Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Cassie. It features vocals by American rapper Lil Wayne, who wrote his guest verse, while the original composition was written by members of collective The Clutch including Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis, along with Marcella Araica and Nathaniel "Danja" Hills. Production was also handled by Hills. The song was first released for digital download in the United States on August 5, 2008, through Bad Boy and NextSelection in association with Atlantic Records, who then serviced it to rhythmic contemporary radio stations on September 22, 2008. The single was issued on vinyl as well with a promotional record being released that month.
Originally intended to be the first single from her second studio album, "Official Girl" is an R&B song, with the beat being referred to as "candy-floss production." Cassie stated the track stood out to her for its relatability with a good message and for being musically different. The song's lyrics consist of Cassie seeking status confirmation in a relationship as she is presented at a crisis between vulnerability and authority; she clarified its meaning as "standing up for what you want out of it." It garnered generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its production and Cassie's delivery of the song's lyrical content.
The accompanying music video was directed by Chris Robinson and its concept revolves around Cassie's interpretation of the track's message, in which she grows frustrated over the uncertainty of a relationship with a man before deciding to break things off with him. The video's dance segments and styling generated Aaliyah comparisons. "Official Girl" debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot Videoclip Tracks and the Norway Digital Songs charts, also topping MTV's Total Request Live countdown.
Background
After releasing two singles from her self-titled debut album, "Me & U" and "Long Way 2 Go," Cassie went back home for a period of time, "I got really sick and was in the hospital in like November or December. It was stress and exhaustion, and I ended up going home to Connecticut. [Puffy] actually called me up when I was at home and asked me what I wanted to do. I was like, 'I want to do another album.'" She returned to the studio in 2007 with Ryan Leslie, who had co-written and produced the entire album released in the previous year. It was reported she would also be collaborating with Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, after being featured as the female lead in the latter's "Stronger" music video. Later that year, she released "Is It You," included in the soundtrack album of the dance film Step Up 2: The Streets released in February 2008, in which she starred as Sophie Donovan.
Cassie then talked about her yet-untitled sophomore project: "I found the sound that I was after, which is the hardest thing especially when you're moving onto a project that is so much more important and you have so much to prove," elaborating on its sound, "Now it's about becoming a woman, and I'm not quite there yet, but I'm going through the experiences that make me get there. It's a more vulnerable album; it's a little bit stripped down as far as vocally and the content in the songs." Cassie added she was working with various other producers, including Danja and Jim Beanz, and had been looking forward to that opportunity particularly after hearing a song they had produced for Britney Spears called "Perfect Lover." She stated in another interview that she was more vulnerable in her new songs, and that her vocals could be heard better. She felt there was "real emotion and a much realer connection with [her] fans." She said that her first single would be "a club record – something fun and danceable," and cited "My House," "Push It" and "Thirsty" as possible single choices for the album.