His brother's death became his motivation to not become a statistic, but to pursue his musical aspirations on an entirely new level.

Unfortunately, death has become a way of life,' but not for August. 'People die every day in the streets of New Orleans. 'I never expected them to find his killer,' August explains. Just days before August's 18th birthday, his older brother was gunned down in New Orleans East, another unsolved murder in one of the nations most dangerous cities. With his older brother also in the streets hustling, it wouldn't be long before August learned that the addiction to money could be just as deadly as the addiction to drugs. Eventually, he took to the streets, selling drugs as a means of survival. He bounced around between family and friends houses, but on some nights, only the corner store provided him shelter. With tensions mounting, 16-year-old August was kicked out of his mother's home. As quickly as August appeared, he vanished form YouTube, back to the real world. It seemed that he was finally taking his first steps toward a bright future in music, but just a year later, reality hit home when his best friend was shot and killed in the streets of Houston. His clips covering the likes of Musiq Soulchild and Lyfe Jennings went viral, generating millions of views in just over a month. In an attempt to escape his reality, August took to YouTube, where he posted dozens of homemade performance videos. At just 14, he got word from New Orleans that his father, August Sr., lost his battle with drugs and alcohol. For years, a young August endured a home life plagued by drugs and violence. With both his father and stepfather battling crack addiction, August's mother moved their family to Houston, Texas in search of a fresh start. His recently inked deal with Def Jam Recordings looks to be a great step in the right direction, but music wasn't always in his future.Īugust learned at an early age that drugs and money could make you, or break you. With the love and hustle of the Crescent City running through his veins, August is eager to follow in the footsteps of the NOLA music legends that paved his way.

Born and bred from the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, enter into the game, 21-year-old August Alsina.

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