New Kid On The Block: Our Exclusive Interview With August Alsina
Chances are you found yourself humming the summer anthem “I Luv This Shit” and have been wondering ‘who is this August Alsina character?’ Alsina is the most recent addition to Def Jam Recordings’ roster of talented artists. Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Alsina personalizes his music in a different way. Remaining true to his roots, the talented 20-year-old has no issue with expressing his views on strippers, the death of his brother and what it was like to grow up hustling.
Get to know our new kid on the block, August Alsina, and brace yourself for his vocal takeover.
Age: 20
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Label: Def Jam
Twitter: @augustalsina
Recent Projects: The Product, The Product 2
Latest Project: Downtown: Life Under The Gun
Why You Should Check August Alsina Out: August Alsina is more than a pretty face and sultry voice, Alsina has proven himself to be a great addition to your iTunes. With recent hits such as his smash hit “I Luv This Sh*t” featuring Trinidad Jame$, “Let Me Hit That” featuring Curren$y and “Downtown” featuring Kidd Kidd, Alsina’s planning on sticking around for some time.
Watch August Alsina’s debut video “I Luv This Sh*t” featuring Trinidad Jame$.
Check out our exclusive interview with August Alsina to hear about his favorite rapper, views on strippers and what makes him different from other artists.
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Why should we care about August Alsina? What separates you from all of the other artists that are out right now?
*chuckles* Cause I’m Aug’ and they them. I just feel like no one is the same. We all got different backgrounds and we all got different sh*t to talk about. I didn’t live their life and they didn’t live mine. My mama didn’t raise them and their mama didn’t raise me so we came up a different way. So you know, we have different demeanors. I’m just myself and them n*ggas is just them n*ggas.
Okay, fair enough. How would you describe your sound?
If I had to describe it in one word it would be truth.
Truth? How so?
Because I speak the truth. *laughs*
Very blunt. Would you consider yourself to be more of a “Trap R&B” artist?
I hate that sh*t man. That shit so lame.
How so?
Well, what makes something trap?
What makes something true?
The realness of it.
So maybe that’s someone else’s perspective. Trap is their hustle and their ‘realness.’
I guess we can look at it that way but… you’ll never hear that come out of my mouth. And I don’t consider it that way. It’s just… my sh*t.
When exactly did you start singing and who would you say has influenced you the most as a singer?
I’ve been singing for about 7 years. Who influenced me the most? I’d have to say Lauryn Hill, I think she influenced me the most. I think she’s the reason why I’m singing right now. The reason I started singing was because I was watching Sister Act 2-it was one of my favorite movies as a youngin’. She was singing some gospel song… “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” or something, I can’t remember. She was killing that and I was just like ‘man, I wanna do that’ and I just started doing it and of course you start off really rough *laughs*.
Now look where it got you.
It was really rough but I stuck with it.
More with Def Jam’s New Artist, August Alsina
Your ‘Downtown ‘ video hit close to home with the death of your brother. How would you say his death motivated you with moving forward with your career?
Well really for me to be doing what I’m doing right now, it sucks to say, but I think without any of my struggle I wouldn’t be doing this right now. It took a lot of tragedies for me to get here. I think in every way it inspires me and that’s why I do what I do- because of my brother. But I would trade all this sh*t [for him], right now, at this moment.
Downtown- August Alsina featuring Kidd Kidd
You do a lot of hip-hop covers. The first hip-hop cover/song that I heard from you was ‘Ode to the Project Chick’ or something.
*begins singing* ‘Give me a project b*tch/ Give me a hood rat chick/One that don’t give a f*ck/And say she took that…’
How do you feel about Kendrick Lamar’s verse on control?
I haven’t heard it. Everyone keeps asking me about it, I guess I have to listen to it at some point.
Have you heard any of the responses?
No, I haven’t heard any responses either. I’ve just been doing my sh*t. I’m just focused. I have seen the reactions and I do like what he’s doing for hip-hop and I like what he’s doing for music in general. There’s a whole lot of noise going on around there about Kendrick.
Who would you say is your favorite hip-hop artist?
I like Kendrick a lot.
What’s your favorite Kendrick Lamar song?
My favorite song by Kendrick is a song with Schoolboy Q. It’s actually Schoolboy’s song.
Collard Greens?
I really like that but no, it’s called “Blessed.”
More with Def Jam’s New Artist, August Alsina
You were able to tour with The Dream and Kelly Rowland this summer, what was that like and what was your craziest experience?
That was my first ever tour so you know, it was a new experience. It was cool. For me to be there, we get like five seconds as the new n*gga on the tour to do your thing but you gotta take advantage of the moment and it was surprising for me to see that people came out with signs. It takes a lot to make fan signs so you know, me being a new artist I just wasn’t expecting it.
Why weren’t you expecting it?
You know, it’s like no one givse a damn that I’m here. I gotta go prove myself to these people but to actually see people come out for me and be so supportive, I think that’s cool.
And what was your craziest moment?
I don’t think I really had one. I think it was really just actually realizing that I’m on tour, my first tour being in the mix and amongst Kelly and Dream. They’re some great people.
The first time many people heard about you you was on “Sucka” or “Swimming Pools” with Lloyd. How did that work? How did you meet Lloyd?
We actually have the same management but you know usually people think that it was a layup to just go get him because ‘oh, your manager connected y’all’ but it didn’t work that way. We just built our own relationship. I met him one night somewhere and we kind of just started building. I told him I had a song for him and he just came through and did it. From then we just started doing a bunch of music together. You know, I’m a fan. That’s my dog, I’m a fan.
So what’s the process for you when you go to record a track?
The process? Man, I’m all over the place with my sh*t. Like, I’m kind of a night owl. Well, no I actually am a night person. But my process? It just happens. It can’t be forced, it just has to come from a place where you feel it. Know what I’m saying? So you know, no matter how long it takes or whatever, it’s just as long as you get something out of it. So it’s not really a process. I may be kicking it and drinking some Ciroc and then I feel like you know? ‘Let me get in a booth.’
Are there any artists that you look forward to working for?
I like Kendrick. I f*ck with Kendrick. I’m a fan of what he does.
Anyone else?
I don’t really like this *laughs* I hate to answer these questions because it’s like namedropping and well, you know how that goes. Yeah, maybe J. Cole. I rock with J. Cole too.
More with Def Jam’s New Artist, August Alsina
Download August Alsina’s EP, “Downtown: Life Under The Gun”
Your EP “Downtown: Life Under The Gun” is now in stores. How would you say your EP is different from your mixtapes?
It’s a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot more emotional. I have some interludes in between each track. You know just to holla at you and talk to you, just taking you through the sh*t. You kinda just get to know August.
What was the first album you bought with your own money?
To be honest it was “Lyfe 268-192″, Lyfe Jennings album.
What made you want to go out and buy that album?
Damn this was so long ago. I think when I first started singing there were some dudes in some type of competition singing *starts singing* ’must be nice.” That’s when I really first kinda got up on Lyfe and that’s when I was like ‘yeah, I fuck with this.’
What’s up with you and strip clubs?
What? What do you mean?
You seem to talk about strippers a lot.
What? Do I?
Yes.
I’m like the ‘strip club man’ then. I must be. You know what’s funny, I’m not even in the strip clubs really like that. A lot of people think I just be going ham in the strip club. It’s not about me being in the strip club, I know strippers. I am friends with a few strippers and they have good souls. They have really good spirits.
I mean because you go about singing about strippers in a totally different way compared to like Drake.
How does Drake sing about strippers?
Like they broke his heart.
How do I sing about ‘em?
Like you respect their hustle.
I do because I feel like stripping is like selling drugs for a n*gga. I’m doing what I gotta do to get it and this is what it is. I just feel like it’s equal to selling dope for a n*gga and I just respect your grind that you can get out there and do it. Now at the same time, let me say that motherf*ckers do just take the easy route and say ‘let me go strip.’ That’s some bull. But if you’re doing it with a purpose and you got a plan, I have no choice but to respect it. Know what I’m saying? I feel like strippers… they’re so… it’s like being naked.
Well, technically yes.
Like when you’re naked, you can see all of me. You know what I’m saying? It’s like ‘sh*t, I ain’t got nothing to hide.’ If I got naked right now… you would just see all of me. So it’s everything being put on the table.
More with Def Jam’s New Artist, August Alsina
So you’re stripping on your album?
Yes. It’s all up front and in your face.
True. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had in a strip club?
The best meal in a strip club… Actually, my dog… Well if you ask T, he would say a**. *laughs* I’m actually not even old enough to be in strip clubs yet [in ATL]. I just get in because I’m me I guess. How are strip clubs out here?
Oh you’re trying to get me in trouble.
Yeah, we’ll talk about that later on. *laughs* Oh but the best meal I had… It was some spinach, mashed potatoes, gravy and something else. It was just fucking awesome. I think it was some oxtail.
You had a home cooked meal in a strip club?
Yep, it was awesome. Cheetah! That’s where I had it, Cheetah in Atlanta. Woo! Goddamn food was so good.
Fifteen years from now, how do you want to be remembered?
Fifteen years from now remember me as a hustler, like someone who was trying to do something for the world. Well, not trying to because 15 years from now I should still be alive.
Who do you think your legacy will resemble?
I don’t think it will be similar to anyone’s legacy. Just gotta create my own sh*t. No one is doing what I’m doing and I’m not doing what they’re doing. But if anything, Pac because of what he did for the people and the hope that he gave everyone. He gave people a lot of hope and ambition.
What’s your favorite Tupac song?
Probably “Dear Mama.” Yeah, I love that song.
Good choice. Well August that’s about it, thank you.
No problem. Make sure you all go out there and cop my EP “Downtown: Life Under The Gun.”
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New Kid On The Block: Our Exclusive Interview With August Alsina was originally published on theurbandaily.com
