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August Alsina is already at the top of the charts and he proves exactly why in this impressive freestyle for XXL Magazine…

August Alsina XXL 2014 Freshman Freestyle

R&B music is gradually easing back onto the airwaves through the voices of a few tremendously talented new young people and 21-year-old NOLA crooner August Alsina is leading the pack.

Releasing his debut album “Testimony” last month, August is quickly rising to the top of the music scene by combining his undeniable vocal talent with raw lyrics and an honest, charismatic, unfiltered personality that continues to win over audiences across the country.

Singing since the age of 14 and making his mark on mainstream in 2012 with the release of his single “I Luv This Sh*t,” August was recently named to the ever-popular XXL Freshman Class of 2014 and in this vocal freestyle for XXL  below, he’s not only holding his own as the sole singer on the list of rappers, he’s putting a few of them to shame. Check it out below and see what you think.

If you’ve been sleeping on August, it’s definitely time for you to wake up! And we’re glad to help.

On the surface he’s an authentic southern ladies man who sings from his soul and speaks from his heart, but his story has more layers than you’d ever imagine. From dealing with family drug addictions, violence, heartbreaking loss and homelessness to being a caretaker for his three young nieces in the wake of his brother’s tragic death, this young man has seen it all and then some.

Hit the flip to learn a few facts about this young legend in the making, including a precious video of August with his three adorable nieces.

August is New Orleans born but relocated to Houston briefly after his mother moved their family to try and cope with his stepfather’s (who had been in his life since he was 1 years old) drug addiction.  Two years later, he found YouTube and began signing on camera as an outlet for his tough home life.  Check out one of his earliest videos covering “Hypothetically” by Lyfe Jennings below.

Shortly after moving from New Orleans, he learned that his biological father, who also battled heavily with drug addiction, had passed away. August was born into a family of four other siblings that included three older brothers and one older sister.

Tensions between he and his mother over his stepfather’s addiction reached the boiling point, and August even once spoke on remembering having all of his school clothes sold for drugs by his stepfather. He was eventually kicked out of his home as a teenager, so he left Houston and moved back to New Orleans where he made a life for himself on the streets.   He began hustling alongside his older brother Melvin to survive and even spent many nights sleeping on the floor of a neighborhood corner store.

Around that same time, he learned that his best friend had been killed back in Houston.

After reaching a point where he was now homeless with no school clothes, August eventually dropped out of high school during his senior year to hustle full-time.  But he quickly learned the hard way that it wasn’t a life he wanted to live after his older brother Melvin was murdered in 2010 at the age of 24 while caught up in the very life he too was living. Soon after, he made the decision to move to Atlanta and seriously pursue his music career.

His older brother Melvin left behind three young daughters, whom August says are now like his children. He provides for them without hesitation, admitting that he knows what it’s like to grow up without a biological father and that he aims to ease that burden for them as much as possible.  He recently took his oldest niece to her first father-daughter dance and even included all three of the girls in the video for his mixtape single “Downtown,” in which he details the day he learned of his brother’s murder.

Too adorable, riiiigght?

 

He released two mixtapes early on in his career before releasing his widely popular “Downtown: Life Under The Gun” mixtape in August 2013.  His debut album Testimony hit stores 8 months later on April 15th, which is his brother Melvin’s birthday.

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In case you had any doubts, your favorite singer’s favorite singer has already cosigned his undeniable talent.

Following the infamous 106 & Park appearance, he later returned to the show and admitted to co-host Keisha Chante that he didn’t intend to disrespect her, but stood by his reaction to being “surprised” with an unwanted question.

You can check out his “apology” below.

Despite their disagreements in the past, August cites his mother as the number one woman in his life and his biggest supporter.

Last year, he was able to graduate high school via homeschooling with the help of his teacher and his mother.


Ladies……..he’s tatted, lightly bearded and he can saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang.

He once revealed during an interview that he’s only been in one serious relationship, which ended with his now ex-girlfriend getting pregnant by a close friend.

You can catch him performing live at various events this summer, including the Hot 97 Summer Jam concert and on the 2014 XXL Freshman Tour.

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