Curated by Shawn "JAY Z" Carter, JAY Z's Life+Times is a digital experience covering art, sports, music, fashion and culture.

FLOOR SEATS II out now https://smarturl.it/floorseats2

PUBLISHING COMPANY
TOPTEN RECORDS SOUNDCLOUD 
HOME TO: @ChrisWattz & @Chabo9

Born and bred from the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, enter into the game, 20-year-old August Alsina...

With the love and hustle of the Crescent City running through his veins, August is eager to follow in the footsteps of the NOLA music legends that paved his way. His recently inked deal Def Jam Recordings looks to be a great step in the right direction, but music wasn’t always in his future. 

August learned at an early age that drugs and money could make you, or break you. With both his father and stepfather battling crack addiction, August’s mother moved their family to Houston, Texas in search of a fresh start. But Houston provided no happy ending. For years a young August endured a home life plagued by drugs and violence. At just 14, he got word from New Orleans that is father, August Sr., lost his battle with drugs and alcohol. 

In an attempt to escape his reality, August took to Youtube, where he posted dozens of homemade performance videos. His clips covering Musiq Soulchild, Lyfe Jennings and others went viral, generating millions of views in just over a month. It seemed that he was finally taking his first steps toward a bright future in music, but just a year later, reality hit home when his best friend was shot and killed in the streets of Houston. As quickly as August appeared, he vanished form Youtube, back to the real world. With tensions mounting at home, 16-year-old August was kicked out. Alone, he returned to New Orleans and took to the streets, selling drugs as a means of survival. 

With his older brother also in the streets hustling, it wouldn’t be long before August learned that the addiction to money could be as deadly as the addiction to drugs. Just days before August’s 18th birthday, his older brother was gunned down in New Orleans East, another unsolved murder in one of the nations most dangerous cities. “I never expected them [the police] to find his killer”, August explains. “People die everyday in the streets of New Orleans. Unfortunately, death has become a way of life,” but not for August. His brother’s death became his motivation to not become a statistic, but to pursue his musical aspirations on an entirely new level.

Under the guidance of Noontime Unlimited (management and production company), August relocated to Atlanta in 2011 to begin carving his own musical path with his life experiences at the center of his artistry. He recently teamed up with Hoodrich/MMG’s own DJ Scream for the release of his debut mixtape, ‘The Product’, which spawned the internet and radio buzzing anti-love single, “Sucka” which features fellow New Orleans crooner Lloyd. 

Yet to reach 21 years old, with already a lifetime of experiences behind him, August is living proof that your past doesn’t have to dictate your future, and that life’s hardships can be the motivation required for success. With Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter The Dream prepping August’s debut project for release through his Radio Killa/Def Jam imprint, the path to success has been laid. Look for August to make 2013 his official coming out party.


Rihanna is an Academy Award nominated and Grammy winning artist, philanthropist, and businesswoman, recognized as one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She holds the record for the most Diamond-certified RIAA singles by any female artist. All of her studio albums have achieved Platinum or Multi-Platinum status, including Good Girl Gone Bad, Loud, and Anti, cementing her legacy as a music industry legend. Beyond her musical achievements, Rihanna is celebrated for her humanitarian involvement, entrepreneurship, and fashion industry influence. She established the Clara Lionel Foundation in honor of her grandparents, focusing on investing in community-led solutions across the Caribbean, East Africa, and the US South. She is also one of the most influential moguls in beauty, cosmetics, and fashion, with her trail blazing and culture shifting companies: Fenty Beauty, Fenty Hair and Savage X Fenty.

http://itsmyurls.com/babyeazye
Baby Eazy-E (E3) is a rapper coming to you straight out of Compton California,  the second son of Eric Eazy-E Wright. E3 grew up in the rap game at an early age, appearing in the Only If You Want It music video with his father front and center. After the passing of his father ,E3 got involved in music at the age of 8yrs old.He took time to grow as an artist and now he's going hard continuing the legacy his father started. Be on the lookout because he's ready to blow the world's mind with his charismatic flow. Stay tuned and enjoy the journey. RIP Eric Eazy-E Wright

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