For nearly two years, rising R&B artist August Alsina has been grinding out hits, incorporating his street sound to the genre of R&B. His unique approach to rhythm & blues has helped him connect with a new audience of listeners in R&B music. However, his hard knock life on the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana made the light at the end of the tunnel seem deem for the 21-year old singer. Nonetheless, releasing mixtape after mixtape ( “The Product”, “The Product 2”) his once dreams quickly started to turned into reality. Now as he rides high off the success of his debut single “I Luv This Sh*t” which recently notched the No.1 spot on Urban radio and continues to rise on the Billboard charts, we want to share our five reasons why R&B lovers should love the NOLA native.
He’s interactive with his fan-base
Thank God for Twitter. It has allowed artists to promote their current projects, tours and a host of other things concerning their brands.
However, the biggest gift of the social network is allowing artists to react and interact with their fans.
Alsina realized since the tender age of 15, recording YouTube covers of Lyfe Jennings (“Hypothetically”) and Musiq Soulchild (“Love”), he recognizes that his fans have gotten him to his current position.
Whether it’s responding to all the girls gushing over him to retweeting fans, who are vibing to his tracks or even clarifying false promo for them – he stays humble.
“@MissCarolina910: @AugustAlsina Heyy sexy, are you really gonna be in Fayetteville NC tonight at the Solar Lounge??!!”< no, false promo
— August Alsina (@AugustAlsina) October 11, 2013
He remains musically productive
In the new world of R&B, it is a must you keep fans fed with new music (especially if it’s free) or you’ll be forgotten tomorrow. Alsina understands this concept as he released two successful mixtapes and a chart-topping EP, all before the release of his debut studio album.
Usually when artists release tunes that aren’t going to be potential singles, they don’t normally shot music videos. However, the NOLA native drops accompanying visuals to garner even more buzz surrounding his current project such as the latest clip “Hell on Earth.”
You’ve got to respect his grind.
He’s eye candy
On a sexy scale from 1 to 10, August Alsina without a doubt is an 11. Like a televangelist, Alsina will have any woman slain in the spirit with one touch. He has the all the characteristics to a woman weak to her knees. From his striking facial structure to his lustful tattoos and his undeniable swag, Alsina probably gets women moist in all the right places.
He puts on for his city
August Alsina’s musical style is quite different from his male counterparts – Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and Trey Songz, who croon about the ups and downs of love.
Growing up on the rough streets of NOLA, the R&B crooner lays his ups and downs on wax, giving fans the unadulterated truth — whether it be good or bad. His message doesn’t come off as preachy as it comes off as relatable to his generation of listeners.
His words through song may inspire and encourage NOLA listeners and fans alike to leave a life of crime and turn over a new leaf as Alsina has done.
He’s an inspiration to fans
Through his life, the “Hell on Earth” artist has experience it all.
He has witnessed his parents deal with their drug addictions, lost his older brother to gun violence, and even sold drugs as a means of survival among other things.
In society’s eyes, Alsina should have been another stereotype for young African American males with unstable upbringings — either incarcerated or killed by the streets. However, he rose to the occasion and used his trials and tribulation as fuel to continue pursuing his thriving music career.
Now with a successful single, his hardships have not been in vain. It shows fans and outsiders going through similar situations, no matter what you have been through; there is success at the end of the tunnel as long as you stay optimistic and stay driven.
