Parle Mag
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Diddy Trial
  • Lifestyle
  • Interviews
  • Contact Us
  • Team Parlé
  • Podcast
  • Advertising
Facebook 0 Likes
Twitter 0 Followers
Instagram 0 Followers
Pinterest 0 Followers
LinkedIn 0
Reddit 0 Subscribers
TikTok 0
0
0
0
0
0
Parle Mag
Subscribe
Parle Mag
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Celebrity
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Sports
    • Television News
  • Diddy Trial
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Op-Ed
    • Politics
    • Relationships
    • Travel
  • Interviews
Featured Categories
black countries
About Parlé
4 Posts
View Posts
Taye Diggs reads a book in an episode of private practice.
About Parle Magazine
4 Posts
View Posts
About the Editor
3 Posts
View Posts
Ad Test
1 Posts
View Posts
Posts
  • Finances When Starting a Business 1
    How to Stay on Top of Your Finances When Starting a Business
    • October 9, 2025
  • Starting Your Own Online Radio Station 2
    Starting Your Own Online Radio Station: A Step-by-Step Guide
    • October 8, 2025
  • Health and Wellness Goals 3
    Shaping New Health and Wellness Goals
    • October 6, 2025
  • Finances When Starting a Business

    How to Stay on Top of Your Finances When Starting a Business

    • October 9, 2025
    View Post
  • Starting Your Own Online Radio Station

    Starting Your Own Online Radio Station: A Step-by-Step Guide

    • October 8, 2025
    View Post
  • Health and Wellness Goals

    Shaping New Health and Wellness Goals

    • October 6, 2025
    View Post
  • Music

This Thing Called Life – August Alsina album review

  • December 12, 2015
  • Kevin Benoit
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

August Alsina impressed on his debut album and his knack for good music, remixes and consistent visuals made him a surprising breath of fresh air in an R&B lane dominated by Trey Song and Chris Brown. Over the last year the music hasn’t been as rapid and the arena of music he found success in has been flooded with newcomers like Tory Lanez, Bryson Tiller, Elijah Blake, Guordan Banks and even Ty Dolla $ign. Still the release of the sophomore album, This Thing Called Life is an opportunity for Alsina to prove he’s the real deal and here to stay. With little buzz and only two songs really buzzing it’s almost a surprise how good the new album is. This Thing Called Life may even be better than the first release.

This Thing Called Life finds August in a very real and thoughtful place. Testimony was an opportunity for fun melodies, some club bangers and features with as many names as possible. Songs like “Make It Home” still featured a stark reality of the hood, but “Get Ya Money” and “I Luv This Sh*t” were more on pace with the album’s overall theme. This time the album is overwhelmed with painstaking, questions. A true man, and artist is revealed, one who has found success but hurts over the loss of his brother, and the problems that having money have come with. The intro finds Alsina questioning it all, but right from the first song, he snaps back into the reality of the hustle. “Job” teams him with Anthony Hamilton and Jadakiss for one of only three tracks that have a guest appearance. Takes a confident  R&B artist to let Anthony Hamilton sing your hook, but the track is a perfect set-up for what’s to come.

The single, “Why I do It?” is another one of those questions, but instead of answering, August flips it back on those asking. Vintage Lil’ Wayne provides an assist. “Hip-Hop” was another single, though it never really matriculated. It does however feature a clever sample and sits perfectly in the early ebb of the album. “Song Cry,” the latest song buzzing from the project is the one that’s really supposed to take this project over the top but it may just be too real, too emotional.

Advertisement

This might be a bold statement but I think August Alsina does with his sophomore album a better job than Kendrick Lamar did at making a relatable album that reflects the struggles of a young man with a little bit of success but a lot of questions. It won’t receive the same accolades but It deserves the praise.  A song like “American Dream” really say it all about this.

This is a special album in that there really isn’t any reason to hit the skip button and not one song does anything to disappoint.  August and the album’s co-executive producers/co-writers The Exclusives did a wonderful job at piecing this project together and satisfying old fans as well as new listeners.  No sophomore slump and more importantly, August proves he can lead the pack of the next generation.

I guess at this point it should come as no surprise.  August Alsina is a great artist who makes great music…

Advertisement
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • August Alsina
  • August Alsina 2015
  • August Alsina review
  • This Thing Called Life
  • This Thing Called Life album review
Kevin Benoit

Kevin Benoit is the editor of Parlé Magazine. He founded the magazine while in college and continues to run it today. Follow him on IG: @parlewithme Read more articles by Kevin.

Previous Article
  • Entertainment News
  • Lifestyle

This Thing Called Life – August Alsina album stream, cover art and tracklist

  • December 12, 2015
  • Team Parle
View Post
Next Article
  • Entertainment News
  • Music

PARLÉ EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE – Lil Snupe New Video For “18”

  • December 14, 2015
  • Team Parle
View Post
You May Also Like
A Look at the Best Rappers Who Became Actors
View Post
  • Celebrity
  • Entertainment News
  • Home Page
  • Music

A Look at Rappers Who Became the Best Actors

  • Obiorah Precious
  • September 23, 2025
Hip-Hop Diss Songs: The Best Rap Roasts and battle of All Time
View Post
  • Entertainment News
  • Home Page
  • Music

Hip-Hop Diss Songs: The Best Rap Roasts of All Time

  • Obiorah Precious
  • September 20, 2025
Social Media Reacts To The Cardi B's 'Am I The Drama' Album
View Post
  • Entertainment News
  • Music

Social Media Reacts To The Cardi B ‘Am I The Drama’ Album

  • Obiorah Precious
  • September 19, 2025
Normani, Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, and Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony
View Post
  • Entertainment News
  • Music

Fifth Harmony: Where Are They Now? And How Realistic Is A Reunion?

  • Kehinde Adejumo
  • September 16, 2025
Truth About Drake vs UMG
View Post
  • Entertainment News
  • Music

The Truth About Drake vs. UMG (& Kendrick Lemar): Separating Fact From Fiction

  • Kehinde Adejumo
  • September 15, 2025
Where is August Alsina
View Post
  • Celebrity
  • Entertainment News
  • Music

Where is August Alsina? The R&B Singer’s Meteoric Rise, Followed By A Number of Scandals

  • Stacey Mickles
  • August 30, 2025
Black Empowerment Music: Iconic Songs That Fueled a Movement
View Post
  • Entertainment News
  • Home Page
  • Music

Black Empowerment Music: Iconic Songs That Fueled a Movement

  • Obiorah Precious
  • August 24, 2025
Megan Thee Stallion and PSY to host KPOPPED series
View Post
  • Celebrity
  • Entertainment News
  • Music
  • TV

Megan Thee Stallion + K-pop = ‘KPOPPED’ – Everything You Need To Know About The Crossover Series

  • Ayanna Kelley
  • August 14, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts
  • Brian Thomas Jr. NFL
    From LSU Star to Jaguars Pro: Brian Thomas Jr.’s Journey To The NFL
    • October 4, 2025
  • Diddy sentencing
    The Aftermath of Power: Diddy Sentencing and Its Implications
    • October 4, 2025
  • 20 Best Black Led Movies and Series on Prime Video to Binge
    20 Best Black Led Movies and Series on Prime Video to Binge
    • October 3, 2025
Categories
Entertainment News
5773 Posts
View Posts
Interviews
868 Posts
View Posts
Lifestyle
2770 Posts
View Posts
Featured Posts
  • Finances When Starting a Business 1
    How to Stay on Top of Your Finances When Starting a Business
    • October 9, 2025
  • Starting Your Own Online Radio Station 2
    Starting Your Own Online Radio Station: A Step-by-Step Guide
    • October 8, 2025
  • Health and Wellness Goals 3
    Shaping New Health and Wellness Goals
    • October 6, 2025
  • Brian Thomas Jr. NFL 4
    From LSU Star to Jaguars Pro: Brian Thomas Jr.’s Journey To The NFL
    • October 4, 2025
  • Diddy sentencing 5
    The Aftermath of Power: Diddy Sentencing and Its Implications
    • October 4, 2025

RSS Parle Mag

  • How to Stay on Top of Your Finances When Starting a Business
  • Starting Your Own Online Radio Station: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Shaping New Health and Wellness Goals
  • From LSU Star to Jaguars Pro: Brian Thomas Jr.’s Journey To The NFL
  • The Aftermath of Power: Diddy Sentencing and Its Implications
Parle Mag
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Team Parlé
  • Podcast
  • Advertising
  • Parle Endeavors
  • Parle New York
  • Privacy Policy
parlemag.com - The Voice of The Culture

Input your search keywords and press Enter.