While Def Jam Recordings newest crooner, August Alsina, finds himself basking in the success of his latest single, “I Luv This Sh*t,” featuring label mate Trinidad James, his life has not always been as smooth as his silky and soulful vocals.
The 20 year-old New Orleans native, at an early age, weathered a home life inundated by drugs and violence. With both his father and stepfather battling crack addiction, August’s mother relocated their family to Houston, Texas in search of a new beginning.
At the age of 14, August learned that his father (August Sr.) had lost his battle with drugs and alcohol and just two years later he was kicked out of his mother’s home. Alone, August returned to the streets of New Orleans where he bounced around between the homes of family and friends. Out of desperation, he gravitated to the streets alongside his older brother, selling drugs as a means to survive.
Just days before August’s 18th birthday, in a tragic turn of events, his older brother was shot and killed in New Orleans East. Instead of becoming another statistic, he used his brother’s death as motivation to pursue his musical aspirations with a deeper sense of passion.
I recently caught up with an enthusiastic yet laid-back August to discuss his life, upbringing, signing to Def Jam Recordings as well as his current and future projects. He had the following to say…
For those who don’t know, who exactly is August Alsina?
I’m just a young dude trying to get it. I’m a hustler who’s hustling this music. I plan on taking over pretty soon. I have a lot of ambition and a lot of spirit.
You recently signed a deal with Def Jam. How does this make you feel?
Man, you know, that’s a blessing but at the same time it’s just half of the milestone. We worked hard to get a deal but that just puts you in the race. You know what I’m saying? So, really, it’s a blessing but it just means harder work to come is all.
What do you like and dislike most about the industry thus far?
What I like most about the industry is, it allows me the opportunity to do what I love and it’s a way that I can feed and take care of my people in my squad. I guess what I dislike about it is, as an artist, you kind of sign up to put yourself out there in front of people to be judged. I think people get it confused. They think that you trying to impress them but I’ve really never been that type of person who cares what other people think of me. So, that’s the biggest part [of what I dislike] but, you know, it comes with it.
When did you first start singing?
[I’ve been singing] for about six years and it’s crazy because a lot of people don’t believe me when I say that but it’s the truth. I was watching Sister Act 2 and I saw Lauryn Hill and I was like, “Damn, that’s dope.” I wanted to do it and I just stuck with it. It’s crazy because no one in my family has ever sung. No one is musically inclined and no one plays any instruments. It’s just a gift from God to save me from the negative things that I was doing.
So, you say “Sister Act 2″ is what inspired you to sing?
Very much. Very much so. Lauryn Hill was killing it, man. She was killing it!
How would you describe your style of music?
It’s straightforward and in your face. I’m a groove type artist and it’s a certain bounce that my [music] gives you. There’s no beating around the bush and no sugar coating it. It is what it is, you know?
Okay, let’s talk about your single, “I Luv This Sh*t”. You teamed up with Trinidad James to record that track. How did you get Trinidad to do the record and whose idea was it to put him on it?
Trin, that’s my guy. I had that song for about six months before he even touched it but I knew that was the first [song] I wanted anybody to hear from me. What’s cool about it is, he and I get tatted at the same tattoo shop and we have some mutual friends who had been trying to connect us for a minute. Then I heard, “All Gold Everything,” so it was a no brainer for me. The lifestyle he embodies is everything the song is about. So, I had to go get him. I had a session with Curren$y, I called him to the studio, played him the record and he hopped on it. I had to go to Houston. So, I left it with him and as soon as he was finished with it he sent it over to me.
What other artists and producers did you work with on the album?
We got a bunch of young artists that’s grinding and are on my team. We keep it in the family. So, it’s a dude named Cassius Jay, a guy by the name of Knucklehead, and The Exclusives, and we all are in the same camp. We, [also], got Curren$y, Roscoe Dash, Juelz Santana and of course we got Trinidad James on the tape. So it’s a good look.
What can we expect to learn from you on the album?
Actually, it might give you a little too much. When I was working on it, I struggled with that all the time. Like how much of myself do I give to the people? But, at the end of the day, [if I didn’t give them me] I would be cheating myself and cheating the people because it’s so many people out there like me that I could help. So, that’s really what it’s all about for me.
What artist past or present would you say inspires you to make music?
Tupac. Man, look at Pac. You see what Pac did for the world? You see what type of person he was? He made an impact on the world and he changed a lot of people’s lives. No matter how much people may talk bad about him, what he was doing was for the people. I salute him and if I could have ever did a song with anybody it would be Pac.
