August Alsina | |
|---|---|
 Alsina performing in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August Anthony Alsina Jr. (1992-09-03)September 3, 1992 (age 33) New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Origin | Houston,Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Works | August Alsina discography |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels |
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| Producer(s) | The Exclusives |
| Website | augustalsina |
August Anthony Alsina Jr.[2] (born September 3, 1992) is an AmericanR&B singer-songwriter.[3][4] He self-released his debut mixtapeThe Product in 2012, which was followed byThe Product 2 the following year; he signed withThe-Dream'sRadio Killa Records, an imprint ofDef Jam Recordings to release his debut commercialextended play (EP),Downtown: Life Under the Gun (2013). The EP marked his first entry on theBillboard 200 and was preceded by his debut single, "I Luv This Shit" (featuringTrinidad James), which peaked within the top 50 of theBillboard Hot 100 and receiveddouble platinum certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2014 follow-up single, "No Love (Remix)" (featuringNicki Minaj), was met with similar commercial success, also receiving double platinum certification.
Both songs were issued as lead singles for Alsina's debut studio albumTestimony (2014), which peaked at number two on theBillboard 200 and saw critical praise.[5] His second album,This Thing Called Life (2015), was less commercially-oriented, but received continued critical praise. During this time, Alsina notablyguest performed onDJ Khaled's hit singles "Hold You Down" in 2014 and "Do You Mind" in 2016. After a long-tenured hiatus and departure from Def Jam, he self-released his third and fourth albums,The Product III: State of Emergency (2020) andMyself (2022).
Alsina was born on September 3, 1992[6][7] inNew Orleans, Louisiana.[8] He attended middle school in New Orleans.[9] Although no one in his family was musically inclined, he was inspired to sing byLauryn Hill inSister Act 2. Alsina first uploaded videos toYouTube in 2007 at age 14, starting with a cover of "Hypothetically" byLyfe Jennings.[10]
With both his father and stepfather battlingcrack cocaine addiction, Alsina's mother moved him toHouston, Texas, in search of a fresh start afterHurricane Katrina in 2005. Then, Alsina's father died.[8][9] 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 toAtlanta in 2011.[11][12][13]
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His first mixtapeThe Product was released in April 2012,[14][15] though an "Untitled" mixtape with six acoustic covers premiered in October 2011.[16] His single "I Luv This Shit" featuringTrinidad James was released in January 2013, and[17][18] hismixtapeThe Product 2 followed in May 2013.[19][20]
The EPDowntown: Life Under the Gun was released on August 20, 2013, with a video for "Hell on Earth" released the following month.[21] On December 9, 2013, the third single from his EPDowntown: Life Under the Gun, "Ghetto" featuringRich Homie Quan, was serviced tourban contemporary radio[22] and it was the most added song on urban radio the week ending December 12, 2013.[23] On January 14, 2014, Alsina released "Make It Home" featuringJeezy, as thelead single from his debut studio album. Along with the release, it was revealed that the album would be titledTestimony, which was released on April 15, 2014.[24] He was named part of the 2014XXL freshmen class.[25]
On December 11, 2015, Alsina released his second studio album,This Thing Called Life.[26] It debuted at number 14 on theBillboard 200, with first-week sales of 41,000 copies in the United States.[27] The album was supported by five singles; "Hip Hop", "Why I Do It" (featuringLil Wayne), "Song Cry", "Been Around the World" (featuringChris 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 acrack baby, losing my father and sister, and becoming the guardian for my three nieces", as well as his battle with theauto-immune disease that affected him.[28][29]
On September 21, 2021, he announced that he was “likely” retiring from music.[30][31][32] However in March 2023 he released a new album titled "MySelf".[33]
Alsina's music generally falls into theR&B category, often fusing it withhip-hop. His musical influences areChris Brown,Usher andLyfe Jennings.[34][35]
In 2015, the singer revealed that he was going blind due to a degenerative eye disease.[36] In 2017, the singer revealed that he suffers from a severeautoimmune disease that attacks hisliver. This illness has led to multiple incidents including a collapse on stage in 2014[37] which he ended up in a three-day coma.[38]
On July 8, 2019, Alsina updated his health scare. In a video he posted toInstagram, 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".[39]
In June 2020, Alsina, a friend ofJada Pinkett Smith's sonJaden, 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.[40] He also claimed that the affair happened with Jada's husbandWill Smith's permission.[40] A spokesman for Pinkett Smith denied the claims, saying they were "absolutely not true".[40] However, on July 10, 2020, in an episode of her talk showRed 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.[41]
After Jada's use of the word "entanglement" went viral on the Internet, Alsina released a collaboration titled "Entanglements" with rapperRick Ross on July 19, 2020, in which Alsina sings "You left your man just to fuck with me and break his heart".[42]
Alsina first publicly introduced Zu, a male R&B singer, during an episode of the reality TV seriesThe Surreal Life in 2022, where he stated that he wanted to honour Zu for the love they share.[43] This declaration prompted widespread speculation, as fans interpreted it as Alsina coming out publicly.
Online speculation intensified following their appearance at Atlanta Pride Weekend in 2025. In response, Zu took to Instagram and addressed rumors—particularly about their age difference—clarifying that he met Alsina when he was already an adult. In the same statement, he also went on to state that “August is my boyfriend, and we’re happy with each other, simple...”[44]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014[45] | August Alsina | Best Male R&B/Pop Artist | Nominated |
| Best New Artist | Won | ||
| "I Luv This Shit" | Best Collaboration | Nominated | |
| Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award | Won | ||
| 2015 | August Alsina | Best Male R&B/Pop Artist | Nominated |
| "No Love" (Remix) | Best Collaboration | Nominated |
Headlining
Supporting
iWoke up out of a 3 day coma
| International | |
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| National | |
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