August Alsina

Alsina was born on September 3, 1992{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/happy-birthday-august-alsina/|title = Happy Birthday, August Alsina! - XXL| date=September 3, 2015 }}[https://twitter.com/AugustAlsina/status/374965579561857024 September 3, 2013 Tweet from August Alsina], twitter.com, Retrieved September 25, 2013 (tweet confirms birthdate" "21 today... & my 1st time in Vegas! ...Know dat I'm wasted ...") in New Orleans, Louisiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/bio.aspx?artistID=7480 |title=Bio | August Alsina | Artists | Def Jam |publisher=Island Def Jam |access-date=February 2, 2014}} He attended middle school in New Orleans.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/who-is-august-alsina/moving-to-houston |title=Moving To Houston — Who Is August Alsina? |publisher=Complex |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2014}} Although no one in his family was musically inclined, he was inspired to sing by Lauryn Hill in Sister Act 2. Alsina first uploaded videos to YouTube in 2007 at age 14, starting with a cover of "Hypothetically" by Lyfe Jennings.(March 28, 2012). [http://allhiphop.com/2012/03/28/new-orleans-august-alsina-rbs-next-best-man-audio/ New Orleans' August Alsina: R&B's Next Best Man ], AllHipHop

With both his father and stepfather battling crack cocaine addiction, Alsina's mother moved him to Houston, Texas, in search of a fresh start after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Then, Alsina's father died. Alsina had disagreements with his mother at some point and was "kicked out." After his older brother, Melvin La'Branch III, was shot and killed on August 31, 2010, he became more committed to his music, and relocated to Atlanta in 2011.(May 11, 2012). [http://globalgrind.com/2012/05/11/august-alsina-music-new-orleans-interview/ August Alsina – Music Saved My Life], Global Grind(April 10, 2013). [http://respect-mag.com/exclusive-interview-august-alsina-puts-the-real-in-rb/ Interview: R&B Singer August Alsina Talks The-Dream, His Def Jam Deal & New Orleans Upbringing], Respect.(June 11, 2013). [http://theboxhouston.com/9326256/started-from-the-bottom-now-hes-here-august-alsina/ Started From The Bottom, Now He's Here: August Alsina], theboxhouston.com (KBXX)

{{expand section|date=July 2024}}

His first mixtape The Product was released in April 2012,(August 20, 2013). [http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/who-is-august-alsina/the-product-mixtape-and-def-jam Who Is August Alsina – The Product Mixtape and Signing to Def Jam], Complex(April 15, 2012). [http://www.thisisrnb.com/2012/04/new-music-august-alsina-the-product-mixtape-world-premiere/ New Music: August Alsina – The Product (Mixtape) (World Premiere)], thisisrnb.com though an "Untitled" mixtape with six acoustic covers premiered in October 2011.(October 11, 2011). [http://www.thisisrnb.com/2011/10/new-musicemerging-artist-august-alsina-untitled-acoustic-mixtape/ NEW MUSIC/EMERGING ARTIST: AUGUST ALSINA – UNTITLED ACOUSTIC MIXTAPE], thisisrnb.com His single "I Luv This Shit" featuring Trinidad James was released in January 2013, and(February 20, 2013). [http://www.vibe.com/article/new-video-august-alsina-feat-trinidad-james-i-luv-shit New Video: August Alsina (feat. Trinidad James) – "I Luv This Shit"], Vibe(April 26, 2013). [http://www.vibe.com/article/introducing-august-alsina-rb-crooner-unafraid-making-masterpiece Introducing August Alsina, an R&B Crooner Unafraid of Making a Masterpiece], Vibe his mixtape The Product 2 followed in May 2013.Stovall, Calvin (May 7, 2013). [https://www.bet.com/article/ddrcm1/mixtape-review-august-alsina-the-product-2 Mixtape Review: August Alsina, The Product 2], Black Entertainment Television(May 15, 2013). [http://www.stereogum.com/1349521/mixtape-of-the-week-august-alsina-the-product-2/franchises/mixtape-of-the-week/ Mixtape Of The Week: August Alsina The Product 2], Stereogum

The EP Downtown: Life Under the Gun was released on August 20, 2013, with a video for "Hell on Earth" released the following month.(September 16, 2013). [http://thesource.com/2013/09/16/watch-august-alsinas-hell-on-earth/ Watch August Alsina's "Hell On Earth"], The Source On December 9, 2013, the third single from his EP Downtown: Life Under the Gun, "Ghetto" featuring Rich Homie Quan, was serviced to urban contemporary radio{{cite web |url=http://www.frequencynews.com/flippagefreq/flip-freq-dec-2013/index.html#p=18 |title=freq-flip-dec-2013 |website=Frequencynews.com |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118082950/http://www.frequencynews.com/flippagefreq/flip-freq-dec-2013/index.html#p=18 |archive-date=January 18, 2016 |url-status=dead }} and it was the most added song on urban radio the week ending December 12, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=5 |title=BDSRadio Charts |website=Charts.bdsradio.com |access-date=December 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131028145809/http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=5 |archive-date=October 28, 2013 }} On January 14, 2014, Alsina released "Make It Home" featuring Jeezy, as the lead single from his debut studio album. Along with the release, it was revealed that the album would be titled Testimony, which was released on April 15, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2014/01/14/new-music-august-alsina-f-jeezy-make-it-home/ |title=New Music: August Alsina f/ Jeezy – 'Make It Home' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=February 2, 2014}} He was named part of the 2014 XXL freshmen class.{{cite web|last=Sia|first=Niccole|title=XXL Freshmen 2014 Cover Revealed|date=May 5, 2014 |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/05/xxl-freshmen-2014-cover-revealed/|publisher=XXL Magazine|access-date=May 6, 2014}}

On December 11, 2015, Alsina released his second studio album, This Thing Called Life.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-thing-called-life/1061175724 |title=This Thing Called Life by August Alsina |date=December 11, 2015 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=April 10, 2016}} It debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 41,000 copies in the United States.{{cite web|last=Hernandez |first=Victoria |url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.36727/title.hip-hop-album-sales-august-alsina-r-kelly-rick-ross |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: August Alsina, R. Kelly & Rick Ross |publisher=HipHopDX |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=April 10, 2016}} The album was supported by five singles; "Hip Hop", "Why I Do It" (featuring Lil Wayne), "Song Cry", "Been Around the World" (featuring Chris Brown) and "Dreamer".

Alsina had been working on his third studio album since 2017. On January 6, 2017, Alsina released the singles "Drugs". Then on June 1, 2017, "Lonely", and on June 6, 2017, "Don't Matter" was released for the album. The album, The Product III: State of Emergency was eventually released on June 26, 2020. The singer announced that the album highlights "the struggle in my life, my upbringing as a crack baby, losing my father and sister, and becoming the guardian for my three nieces", as well as his battle with the auto-immune disease that affected him.{{cite web |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/292524-august-alsina-set-to-drop-the-product-iii-state-of-emergency-next-week-report-news |title=August Alsina Set To Drop "The Product III: State of Emergency" Next Week |website=www.hotnewhiphop.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626135419/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/august-alsina-set-to-drop-the-product-iii-state-of-emergency-next-week-report-news.112823.html?_amp |archive-date=2020-06-26}} {{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/06/august-alsina-the-product-3-state-of-emergency|title=Listen to August Alsina's 'The Product III: StateofEMERGEncy' Album|website=Complex Networks}}

On September 21, 2021, he announced that he was “likely” retiring from music.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2021/09/20/august-alsina-hints-at-retirement/|title = August Alsina Hints at Retirement}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/august-alsina-hints-at-retirement-while-previewing-new-music-on-ig-news.139555.html|title = August Alsina Hints at Retirement While Previewing New Music on IG|website = HNHH|date = September 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/09/21/august-alsina-illness/|title=What illness does August Alsina have, why do fans think he's retiring?|date=September 21, 2021}} However in March 2023 he released a new album titled "MySelf".{{cite web |last1=Devin |title=August Alsina Reveals 'Myself' Tracklist |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2023/03/09/august-alsina-myself-tracklist/ |website=Rap-Up |access-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309213849/https://www.rap-up.com/2023/03/09/august-alsina-myself-tracklist/ |archive-date=9 March 2023 |language=English |url-status=live}}

Alsina's music generally falls into the R&B category, often fusing it with hip-hop. His musical influences are Chris Brown, Usher and Lyfe Jennings.{{Cite web|title = Artist Influences for August Alsina|url= http://www.mtv.com/artists/august-alsina/related-artists/?filter=influencedBy|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140314115912/http://www.mtv.com/artists/august-alsina/related-artists/?filter=influencedBy|url-status= dead|archive-date= March 14, 2014|website=MTV|access-date=June 24, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1726548/august-alsina-says-theres-one-thing-that-baffles-him-about-chris-brown/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503093415/http://www.mtv.com/news/1726548/august-alsina-says-theres-one-thing-that-baffles-him-about-chris-brown/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2014|title = August Alsina Says There's One Thing That 'Baffles' Him About Chris Brown|website = MTV}}

In 2015, the singer revealed that he was going blind due to a degenerative eye disease.{{cite magazine |last1=Detrick |first1=Ben |title=R&B Star August Alsina on Losing His Eyesight: 'We All Battling Different Things' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/features/interview-august-alsina-losing-eyesight-troubled-past-6785577/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406230422/https://www.billboard.com/music/features/interview-august-alsina-losing-eyesight-troubled-past-6785577/ |archive-date=6 April 2022}}

In 2017, the singer revealed that he suffers from a severe autoimmune disease that attacks his liver. This illness has led to multiple incidents including a collapse on stage in 2014{{Cite magazine|title=R&B Singer August Alsina Collapsed During His New York Show|url=https://time.com/3382867/august-alsina-collapses-new-york-show-irving-plaza/|magazine=Time}} which he ended up in a three-day coma.{{cite magazine |last1=Stutz |first1=Colin |title=August Alsina Wakes From Three Day Coma Following Onstage Fall |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/august-alsina-wakes-from-three-day-coma-following-onstage-fall-6258973/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519164052/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/august-alsina-wakes-from-three-day-coma-following-onstage-fall-6258973/ |archive-date=19 May 2022 |quote="iWoke up out of a 3 day coma"}}

On July 8, 2019, Alsina updated his health scare. In a video he posted to Instagram, the singer explained that he was hospitalized after suffering a loss of mobility. "We're doing a bunch of tests and they're saying I have some nerve damage going on throughout my body".{{Cite web|title=August Alsina Hospitalized After Losing Ability to Walk|url=https://scooptrend.com/august-alsina-hospitalized-after-losing-ability-to-walk/|website=Scooptrend|access-date=June 27, 2020|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701220443/https://scooptrend.com/august-alsina-hospitalized-after-losing-ability-to-walk/|url-status=dead}}

In June 2020, Alsina, a friend of Jada Pinkett Smith's son Jaden, said that he and Pinkett Smith had been involved in an adulterous affair in 2016, when he was 23 years old and she was 44.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jada-pinkett-smith-healing-red-table-talk-august-alsina-affair-213203636.html|title=Jada Pinkett Smith says she'll do some 'healing' on 'Red Table Talk,' after August Alsina said they had an affair|work=Yahoo! News|date=July 2, 2020|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703184110/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jada-pinkett-smith-healing-red-table-talk-august-alsina-affair-213203636.html|url-status=live}} He also claimed that the affair happened with Jada's husband Will Smith's permission. A spokesman for Pinkett Smith denied the claims, saying they were "absolutely not true".

However, on July 10, 2020, in an episode of her talk show Red Table Talk alongside her husband, Pinkett Smith revealed that she did have a romantic relationship with Alsina four and a half years prior, when she and Will were separated. She stated she "got into a different kind of entanglement with August." Jada and Will denied that Will gave Alsina permission for the relationship, with Jada saying Alsina "would perceive it as permission because we [her and Will] were separated amicably". Pinkett Smith further claimed she wanted to "heal" Alsina, but needed to find healing for herself first. She and Will eventually reconciled after she broke things off with Alsina; she says she has not spoken with Alsina since.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/jada-pinkett-august-alsina-affair-red-table-talk-1234703531/|title=Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith Address Prior Separation, August Alsina Relationship on 'Red Table Talk'|work=Variety|last=Shafer|first=Ellise|date=July 10, 2020|access-date=July 11, 2020}}

After Jada's use of the word "entanglement" went viral on the Internet, Alsina released a collaboration titled "Entanglements" with rapper Rick Ross on July 19, 2020, in which Alsina sings "You left your man just to fuck with me and break his heart".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/hip-hop/9420661/august-alsina-entanglements|title=August Alsina Defines His 'Entanglements' to Jada Pinkett Smith on New Record With Rick Ross|magazine=Billboard|date=July 19, 2020|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

{{Main|August Alsina discography}}

• Testimony (2014)
• This Thing Called Life (2015)
• The Product III: State of Emergency (2020)
• Myself (2023)

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan=4|2014{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/06/30/bet-awards-list-of-winners-and-highlights-including-nicki-minaj-chris-rock-lil-wayne/ |title=BET Awards: List of winners and highlights, including Nicki Minaj, Chris Rock, Lil Wayne |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Emily |last=Yahr |date=June 30, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2014}}

|rowspan=2|August Alsina

|Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best New Artist

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=2|"I Luv This Shit"

|Best Collaboration

|{{nom}}

|-

|Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=2|2015

|August Alsina

|Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

|{{nom}}

|-

|"No Love" (Remix)

|Best Collaboration

|{{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

• Testimony Live{{cite web|title=Testimony Live Tour Dates|url=http://www.augustalsina.com/2014/06/24/august-alsina-testimony-live-tour-dates/|website=August Alsina Official Website|access-date=October 10, 2014|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325095255/http://www.augustalsina.com/2014/06/24/august-alsina-testimony-live-tour-dates/|url-status=dead}} (2014)

• The UR Experience Tour (2014) {{small|(with Usher)}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}
• [http://www.defjam.com/artists/august-alsina/ Def Jam – August Alsina]

{{BET Award for Best New Artist}}

{{August Alsina}}

{{Def Jam Recordings}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alsina, August}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century African-American male singers

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:African-American male singer-songwriters

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:American hip-hop singers

Category:American contemporary R&B singers

Category:American soul singers

Category:Rappers from Houston

Category:Def Jam Recordings artists

Category:Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans

Category:Singer-songwriters from Louisiana