August Alsina
A raw-voiced R&B storyteller from New Orleans who channeled street-life struggle into platinum-selling anthems of survival.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American singer·Birthday: September 3·Millennials
Biography
August Alsina's music is forged in hardship. Raised in New Orleans' 7th Ward before relocating to Houston after Hurricane Katrina, he witnessed violence, loss, and poverty that would later seep into every bar of his songs. He began recording tracks on a karaoke machine and selling CDs out of his car, a grassroots hustle that caught the ear of major labels. His breakthrough hit, 'I Luv This Shit,' was a defiant, unvarnished slice of life that resonated widely, leading to a debut album, 'Testimony,' that played like a memoir set to moody beats. Alsina's career has been marked by both commercial success and personal, public battles with health issues, creating a narrative where his art is inextricably linked to his very public journey of resilience.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
August was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When August Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
August's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His debut single 'I Luv This Shit' featuring Trinidad James peaked in the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
- His debut studio album 'Testimony' (2014) debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.
- Won the BET Award for Best New Artist in 2014.
- Collaborated with Nicki Minaj on the hit single 'No Love' which also achieved platinum status.
Did You Know?
He lost both his father and his older brother to gun violence while he was a teenager.
He has a condition called degenerative vision loss, which has significantly impacted his eyesight.
He taught himself to play piano, guitar, and drums by ear.
“My story is my testimony. I just tell my truth.”
