The Rundown: August Alsina, Testimony
Track-by-track look at the New Orleans-bred singer's debut.
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The Rundown: August Alsina, Testimony - The streets have been buzzing for the past year about August Alsina, as he's built up his catalogue singing about the struggles of the 'hood and trying to survive. After two mixtape projects, The Product and The Product 2, August delivers Testimony, his Def Jam debut with 17 new tracks, and collaborations with a host of MCs including Rick Ross, Jeezy, Fabolous and Yo Gotti. Read on for a track-by-track look. (Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"Testify" - August Alsina's opening track sets the tone for his debut as he tells his trials and tribulations growing up as a young man using all of his available options to rise out of poverty and the hood. Faced by numerous odds including an absentee drug addicted father, the loss of a brother to the streets, and being raised by a single mother doing all she can to hold her family together, the struggle to success is real as August tells his story. (Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"Make It Home," feat. Jeezy - The Louisiana native enlists The Snowman for this motivational track as they discuss the struggles of running the streets, and the dead end consequences that normally follow young hustlers who are just trying to make it out of the 'hood. The pain is real on this track as the motto "failure is not an option" helps outline their blueprints to success.(Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
Photo By Photo: Def Jam Recordings
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"Right There" - Never forgetting where he came from, August Alsina offers hope and inspiration on this song as he lets people know to keep reaching for the stars because he was once "right there," too, he reminds with melodic repetition.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
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"You Deserve" - August smooths it out on this mid-tempo ballad as he lets his crush from afar know that she deserves better and that her man doesn't treat her right. Even if she doesn't choose him, he wants her to be with someone who makes her happy as he sings, "Baby take a look in the mirror, baby girl you are a prize."(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
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"No Love" - There's no mincing words on this song, and there's certainly "no loving" August, as he lets a hottie know to not come looking to settle down. One-night stands, exit stage left. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
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"Porn Star" - August Alsina gets his mack on here as he promises to deliver a night of passion that Ray Jay would be proud of. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
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"FML," feat. Pusha T - Everybody goes through lows in their life and August and Pusha T understand. The duo speaks on suicidal thoughts on the depressing "FCUK My Life."(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
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"Grind & Pray/ Get Ya Money," featuring Fabolous - You can't judge a book by its cover. August and Fabolous make that clear when they pay homage to strippers working in the clubs for a better way. Over this Dun Deal track, August serenades those ladies doing what they have to do to raise kids and finish college: "I ain't judging you, baby I salute/ Go ahead and get ya money."(Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
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"Ghetto," feat. Yo Gotti - Video vixens, supermodels, and groupies come and go, but August Alsina and Yo Gotti keep that day-one, around-the-way girl by their sides. To some she may be ghetto, but over this Knucklehead beat, she's honored as the queen she is for staying down and being real.(Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"Kissin' On My Tattoos" - For this sensual ballad, August Alsina lets his lady explore his body and assures her that she's the only one in his life as the lips lead to passion explored throughout his body art.(Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"Ah Yeah" - August is thankful for his blessings on this track as he has his world rocked by a bedroom goddess who blows his mind and leaves him wondering if he's the only one privileged to be in her presence. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)
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"Mama" - Paying homage to his number one lady, August Alsina thanks his mom for her life lessons as he forges on his path to manhood. (Photo: Ricky Swift/WENN.com)
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"Benediction," feat. Rick Ross - Leaving his soul on the track, August Alsina details his grind coming up on the streets of New Orleans which included losing his brother to the 'hood after being murdered, drug addicted parents, and ducking a jail stint. "Trying to get the good life and out of this hood life," he sings. Rick Ross also paints a vivid picture of his grind to success. (Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"I Luv This S**t," feat. Trinidad James - No romance involved, but after a night of partying hard, a climatic ending is still a good cap, much like this song, August's first Billboard Top 50 hit and the first of his bonus tracks. Trinidad Jame$ comes through, expressing his lust for one-night stands as well. (Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"Numb," feat. B.o.B & Yo Gotti - It’s nothing but a party here with special guests B.o.B and Yo Gotti. Over a perfectly timed for mind-numbing DJ Mustard production, August Alsina is just looking for something fine to take home. But not without partying responsibly -- he gives his keys and drinks to the homies when he knows he's had enough.(Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)
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"Grind & Pray (Extended)" - "I'm 'bout mine, you know that," August sings innocently on the extended version of his ode to the late night dancers. "All I do is grind and pray, riding through the streets all day." Fab is not on this one, but it still has a balance of bang and smooth, like rolling in a Caddy.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)