This Thing Called Life

The album's lead single, "Hip Hop" was released on April 21, 2015. The song was produced by Knucklehead, who did the instrumental on Alsina's song "I Luv This Shit", which later became Alsina's most successful single to date.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hip-hop-single/id984069302 |title=Hip Hop - Single by August Alsina on iTunes |publisher=iTunes |date=2015-04-21 |accessdate=2015-12-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226164926/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hip-hop-single/id984069302 |archivedate=December 26, 2015 }} On June 28, 2015, the music video was released for "Hip-Hop", which premiered during the 2015's BET Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/06/28/video-august-alsina-hip-hop/ |title=Video: August Alsina – 'Hip Hop' |publisher=Rap-Up |date=2015-06-28 |accessdate=2015-12-26}}

The album's second single, "Why I Do It" was released on August 28, 2015. The song features guest vocals from American hip hop recording artist Lil Wayne, with the production that was handled by Soundz and the duo Rock City.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/why-i-do-it-feat-lil-wayne-single/1445038132 |title=Why I Do It (feat. Lil Wayne) - Single by August Alsina on iTunes |publisher=iTunes |date=2015-08-28 |access-date=2015-12-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226165210/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/why-i-do-it-feat.-lil-wayne/id1032485766 |archive-date=December 26, 2015 }} The music video for "Why I Do It" featuring Lil Wayne, was released on September 17, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/09/17/video-august-alsina-lil-wayne-why-i-do-it/ |title=Video: August Alsina feat. Lil Wayne – 'Why I Do It' |publisher=Rap-Up |date=2015-09-17 |accessdate=2015-12-26}}

The album's third single, "Song Cry" was released on October 28, 2015. The song was produced by Brandon "B.A.M." Alexander.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/song-cry-single/1053722812 |title=Song Cry - Single by August Alsina on iTunes |publisher=iTunes |date=2015-10-28 |access-date=2015-12-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226165431/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/song-cry-single/id1053722812 |archive-date=December 26, 2015 }} The music video for "Song Cry" was released on December 11, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/12/11/video-august-alsina-song-cry/ |title=Video: August Alsina – 'Song Cry' |publisher=Rap-Up |date=2015-12-22 |accessdate=2015-12-26}}

The album's two promotional singles, "Been Around the World" featuring American singer Chris Brown and "Dreamer" were simultaneously released on December 3, 2015. Knucklehead also produced both tracks.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/12/04/new-music-august-alsina-chris-brown-been-around-the-world/ |title=New Music: August Alsina feat. Chris Brown – 'Been Around the World' |publisher=Rap-Up |date=2015-12-04 |accessdate=2015-12-26}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|first=Andy |last=Kellman |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-thing-called-life-mw0002896503 |title=This Thing Called Life – August Alsina |website=AllMusic}}

|rev2 = HipHopDX

|rev2Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/release-dates/id.4996/title.august-alsina-this-thing-called-life|title = August Alsina - This Thing Called Life|date = 11 December 2015}}

|rev3 = Pitchfork

|rev3Score = 7.4/10{{cite web|first=Renato |last=Pagnani |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21341-this-thing-called-life/amp/ |title=This Thing Called Life – August Alsina |website=PitchFork}}

|rev4 = Rolling Stone

|rev4Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|first=Elias|last=Leight|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/how-august-alsina-is-bringing-hope-back-to-mainstream-rb-51662/amp/ |title=How August Alsina Is Bringing Hope Back to Mainstream R&B|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=23 December 2015}}

}}

This Thing Called Life received generally positive reviews from critics. Andy Kellman of Allmusic said that the album is "immersed in street life and its grim aftershocks". Trent Clark of HipHopDX in a mixed review said that the album "doesn't stand out with a sound of its own, but rather takes what's already been done better lately from more relevant R&B artists". Renato Pagnani of Pitchfork expressed a positive response, stating: "Alsina applies the tender, ruminative aspects of R&B to his street tales, and his second studio album solidifies his place amongst the upper echelon of modern-day R&B". Elias Leight of Rolling Stone said that the album is "a thuggy mixture of Chris Brown's X and Trey Songz' Anticipation II" stating that its sound "succeeded in fusing R&B and hip-hop".

This Thing Called Life debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 41,000 copies in its first week of release.{{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=2015-12-21 |accessdate=2016-02-21}}

{{Track listing

| headline =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 56:23

| title1 = This Thing Called Life

| note1 =

| writer1 = {{hlist|August Alsina|Carlos Cahee}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|August Alsina|Cahee}}

| length1 = 0:57

| title2 = Job

| note2 = featuring Anthony Hamilton and Jadakiss

| writer2 = {{hlist|Alsina|Ronald Colson|Jameel Roberts|Sean McMillion|Ralph Jeanty|Anthony Hamilton|Jason Phillips|Sampha Sisay}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Flippa|JProof}}

| length2 = 4:14

| title3 = Why I Do It

| note3 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer3 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMiilion|Jeanty|Candace Curry|Nicodemo Lalli|Keyiara Sallie|Go Grizzly|Kevin Price|Dwayne Carter, Jr.}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Hood Famous The Prodducer|Go Grizzly}}

| length3 = 3:58

| title4 = Hollywood

| writer4 = {{hlist|Alsina|Samuel Irving III|Cahee|Curry|Jeanty|McMillion}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length4 = 3:28

| title5 = Hip Hop

| writer5 = {{hlist|Alsina|Irving III|McMillion|Jeanty|Robert Reese|Erykah Badu|Vincent Brown|Keir Gist|Anthony Criss|Ernest Isley|Marvin Isley|O'Kelly Isley, Jr.|Ronald Isley|Rudolph Isley|Christopher Wallace|Robert Glasper}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length5 = 3:29

| title6 = Change

| writer6 = {{hlist|Alsina|Irving III|Cahee|Jeanty|McMillion}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length6 = 3:20

| title7 = Dreamer

| writer7 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMillion|Jeanty|Irving III}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length7 = 4:46

| title8 = Been Around the World

| note8 = featuring Chris Brown

| writer8 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMillion|Irving III|Jeanty||Ian Devaney|Etterlene Jordan|Christopher Brown|Paul Hardcastle|Andrew Morris|Lisa Stansfield|Mark DeBarge}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length8 = 3:22

| title9 = First Time

| writer9 = {{hlist|Alsina|Irving III|E. Isley|M. Isley|O. Isley|R. Isley|R. Isley|Jasper|McMillion|Jeanty|William Earl Collins|Gary Lee Cooper|George Clinton Jr.|Gary Shider}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length9 = 3:08

| title10 = Would You Know?

| writer10 = {{hlist|Alsina|Jeanty|McMillion|Brandon Hodge}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|B.A.M.}}

| length10 = 5:35

| title11 = Song Cry

| writer11 = {{hlist|Alsina|Jeanty|Hodge}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|B.A.M.}}

| length11 = 4:29

| title12 = Other Side

| writer12 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMillion|Jeanty|Hodge}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|B.A.M.}}

| length12 = 3:59

| title13 = American Dream

| writer13 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMillion|Jeanty|Irving III|Fitzgerald Scott|Keith Sweat}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Knucklehead}}

| length13 = 3:28

| title14 = Look At How Far I've Come

| writer14 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMillion|Jeanty|Dominyque Allen}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|MelloTheProducer|The Exclusives}}

| length14 = 4:24

| title15 = The Encore

| writer15 = {{hlist|Alsina|McMillion|Jeanty|Harvey Averne|Jamal Jones|Ralfi Pagan}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Polow da Don}}

| length15 = 3:46

}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{August Alsina}}

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Category:2015 albums

Category:August Alsina albums

Category:Def Jam Recordings albums