Hip-Hop Singing Sensation, August Alsina To Set The Stage For ‘Breezy’
SA Promoters, Glen21 Entertainment, Jalibird and Vertex Events in association with Channel O are proud to announce August Alsina, the 22-year old New Orlean’s Hip-Hop singing sensation will support Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Chris Brown when “Breezy” performs at the Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg on Thursday, 2 April 2015 and in partnership with East Coast Radio at the Moses Mabhida People’s Park, Durban on Saturday, 4 April 2015 as part of the world wide Chris Brown X Tour Live. This is the first time that August Alsina will perform in this country. Tickets available at ticketpro.co.za. For tour information visit www.chrisbrownsatour, hashtag #CBXTOURLIVE.
August Alsina recently collaborated with Chris Brown and Trey Songz for the “I Luv This Shit” Remix. That trio came together on stage at the 2014 BET Awards for an epic remix performance. To date, the single has sold more than 1,000,000 copies and been certified Platinum by the RIAA. SA Promoters, Glen Netshipise (Glen21 Entertainment), Sobukwe Jali (Jalibird) and Thato Segaole (Vertex Events) are excited to bring back major international artist Chris Brown, supported by August Alsina on the X Tour Live line-up. The three promoters unanimously agree that fans will be amped by the Chris Brown/August Alsina billing which is bound to be one of the biggest entertainment highlights of 2015.
Recently, August fulfilled a dream when he supported veteran R&B superstar, Usher at LA’s Staples Center as part of ‘The UR Experience’ tour last November. Soon a second dream, to perform on the same stage as Chris Brown will be realised, here in South Africa. It’s not long ago that these dreams were mere fantasies for August whose entire life has been intertwined with the perils of drugs accompanied by violence and hardships.
Upon hearing of the death of his father, August found solace in music. Just 14 years old, he was inspired to sing after watching Lauren Hill’s rendition of “His Eyes on a Sparrow” in ‘Sister Act 2.’ His newfound hobby quickly became his escape, and he took to YouTube to share his talent. His video covers of works by Musiq Soulchild, Lyfe Jennings and others generated millions of views and planted the seed that music could become a career. But when his best friend was shot dead in the streets of Houston, August vanished from the YouTube scene.
At the age of just 16 years, after August was banished from home by his mother he returned to New Orleans. But without a home or financial support, August turned to selling drugs as a means of survival, hustling the streets with his older brother Mel. That arrangement was tragically short-lived. In 2010, Melvin LaBranch III was gunned down in New Orleans East in what would become another unsolved murder in one of America’s most violent cities. August vowed to avoid becoming another statistic. He saw his brother’s premature death as inspiration to use music as his means out of the ghetto.
August’s talents eventually attracted the notice of management and production company NNTME MuCo, in particular his now-manager, Noontime. Under Noontime’s auspices, August moved to Atlanta and began carving his own musical path. His life experiences, no matter how brutal, would serve as his storyline. In April 2012, August released his debut mixtape, “The Product” to immediate fanfare. May 2013 marked the second installment in “The Product” series — this time teaming up with DJ Drama and his Gangsta Grillz brand. The tape featured Alsina’s breakout single “I Luv This Shit” produced by Knucklehead and featuring ATL’s own Trinidad Jame$.
August received major plaudits from MTV when he was named one of 2013’s Fab 5—its annual list of hip-hop artists to watch. August remains the only singer to ever merit this honor. The MTV nod translated into viral visibility, as his independent video “Downtown” ft. Kidd Kidd generated nearly 8 million views. The autobiographical song would become the title track for Alsina’s first official NNTME/Def Jam release, an 8-song EP entitled Downtown: Life Under the Gun. Alongside the aforementioned collabs with Jame$ and Kidd, the EP features NOLA veteran Curren$y and Atlanta’s Rich Homie Quan. Says August of the EP: “It allows you to walk through my hood with me and see where I’m from.”
Radio stations caught wind of “I Luv This Shit”, propelling the provincial anthem to the stratosphere. In October 2013, the single leapfrogged songs from Drake, Jay-Z and J. Cole to become the #1 record on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Chart—a feat that had not been accomplished by an R&B debut single in 4 years.
In the wake of that groundswell, August released his debut album, fittingly tilted Testimony, in April last year. He dedicated the album to Mel’s memory. Testimony sold 67,000 units in its first week, making it the #1 debut album, #1 R&B album, and #2 overall album on the Billboard Top 200. Described by The New York Times as a “striking album” Testimony includes autobiographical singles “Make It Home” featuring Jeezy and the Rick Ross-assisted “Benediction.”
Indeed, August brought his compelling tale directly to audiences when he headlined his first national tour, Testimony Live, which sold out in 18 consecutive cities. Unfortunately, the tour ended abruptly in New York City on September 15th; August, exhausted and dehydrated, collapsed and fell off stage. After a 6-week layoff to recover, August returned to the big stage with whom he calls “The OG”, Usher.
Also in 2014, August graced the cover of XXL Magazine as part of its annual Freshman Class—the first singer to claim the honor typically reserved for hip-hop emcees. But there’s no incongruity according to Alsina: “Hip-Hop is your story, your struggle, where you come from. Don’t shortchange me because I sing. I represent hip-hop just like the rappers do, if not more.”
August Alsina is living proof that the past needn’t dictate the future and life’s hardships can spark eventual success. Five years removed from homelessness, August received 4 nominations at this year’s BET Awards and took home 2 trophies, one for Best New Artist, the other for the prestigious Viewers Choice Award, wherein he beat out A-listers Beyonce, Drake, and Pharrell. An emotional Alsina accepted his awards saying, “This award is not for me, it’s for the people, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” This young artist is an exceptional role model to youth, the world over.
Local fans of Chris Brown and August Alsina are in the concert of a lifetime. Don’t miss it! Tickets can be bought on line only at ticketpro.co.za For transaction enquiries and assistance email info@ticketpro.co.za or call 0861-008-277, weekdays from 8am to 4pm. For tour information visit: www.chrisbrownsatour.co.za. Keep in touch on Twitter @CBSATOUR, Instagram: chrisbrownsatour. Tour enquires: contact: info@chrisbrownsatour.co.za
Chris Brown X Tour Live in SA featuring August Alsino as supporting guest artist tour information
Johannesburg Date: Thursday, 2 April 2015
Venue: Coca Cola Dome
Ticket prices:
Golden Circle: R1500
General access unreserved standing R1250
General Access reserved seating R1250
Mezzanine Level: R750
Durban Date: Saturday, 4 April 2015
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium People’s Park
Ticket prices:
Golden Circle: R1100 General Access: R690
Bookings: ticketpro.co.za
For further information: www.chrisbrownsatour.co.za
Ticket enquiries and assistance with transactions: info@ticketpro.co.za or 0861-008-277 Hours of operation: Weekdays 8am to 4pm Please note that no reservations can be made on this number
SA Tour online: www.chrisbrownsatour.co.za Twitter @CBSATOUR Instagram: chrisbrownsatour
Chris Brown online
Website: www.chrisbrownworld.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrisbrown
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chrisbrownofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrisbrown
Vevo: www.vevo.com/artist/chris-brown
August Alsina online
Website: www.augustalsina.com
Twitter: @AugustAlsina
Facebook: www.facebook.com/augustalsinamusic
Instagram: AugustAlsina