August Anthony Alsina Jr.

                   My favorite artist is the one and only August Alsina. August Alsina is 22 years old. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. August had four older siblings Melvin, Jamal, Travis and Sha'Neita. In 2010 his brother Melvin LaBranch III was killed. August was also kicked out of the house in the same year. His brother being killed inspired him to become a singer. His brother always told him that he could sing and could be someone but at the time August was all about getting fast money. Once Melvin died, he realized that the next day isn't promised so from then on out he made each day count. From day one he has always said that he is his brothers keeper so once his brother died he had to live up to that. His brother left behind three daughters and a fiance who August looks after. At an early age Augusts' father died due to a drug overdose.  
                The reason why I love his music so much is because it tells a story-his story.It tells from how he went from being homeless at the age of seventeen to living in hotels on the oceans' shore.My favorite songs by August Alsina are Benediction and Downtown. Benediction talks about how he started out in the streets taking collections from the addicts to how he's made it. He prays to God saying " Our father who are in heaven I pray your keep me from the demons and keep me leveled. I know you kept me out of prison where I was heading when I heard somebody killed my brother 187. I hope he made it to your presence for me he was a blessing at least I know he's resting and he ain't out here stressing trying to get to the good life and out of the hood life I pray that my step pops is off of them crack pipes...." Downtown talks about how his brother died. He says that he won't let anyone take him downtown, which in New Orleans, downtown is the cemetery. He tells how he found out his brother was killed, which was by phone call and how in New Orleans you don't make it to see 25 and his brother was only 24. He also reveals that the police didn't do anything about it neither did the person get caught. This song came off of his debut album Testimony which he released on April 15, 2014 which is actually his oldest brother, Melvin's, birthday.