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

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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.


The official SoundCloud of Bad Boy Entertainment.

Biography of Brandon "B.Savage" Garrett

Brandon Tresean Garrett was born on February 23, 1990 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Young Brandon was determined at the young age of 9 years old that music was definitely going to have an intense impact on his life. Dedicating himself at the still early age of 12 to the music industry and beginning his transition to the artist we know as Bezzie, he upheld the belief that hard work will lead to progress in his career. Still encompassing the positions of a family oriented man, professional musician, and professional tattoo artist, he remains as determined and dedicated as he was in his younger days. B.Savage has been working as a professional tattoo artist for 6 years and currently tattoos at Tat Starz, New Orleans. He has performed under several labels. His first taste of the music and cutting his teeth in the industry he began by starting with Untouchable Entertainment, which he was never under contract with. He was then officially signed under contract with Yz Gyz Entertainment at only 18 years old. At the same time B.Savage went as far as opening his own label Its Up Entertainment, LLC. He is currently under the management of SupaUnit and still has far to go. B.Savage has performed with several artists such as Lil' Boosie, Webbie, Bobby Valentino, 8 Ball, MJG, Future, Young Jeezy, Lil' Phat and Kevin Gates. B.Savage has also recorded a song feat. Kevin Gates in a single called "Ceilin' of the Room". He has performed in several states including his home, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Look forward to this list growing in the near future as projects and opportunities arise. He has released personal recordings, titled "Finally Made It", "Product of Myself", "Product of My Environment", "Bound to Happen", and "By Myself". B.Savage is currently producing an album entitled "New Chapter". Proclaimed as a professional musician and not limited only to rap, B.Savage also enjoys working in R&B. B.Savage gives credit to Webbie for his influence, both coming from menial backgrounds and working their way up. He believes in a strong work ethic and working hard is the best way to achieve the goals he has set. B.Savage plans to continue in both the music and arts industry. As with most dedicated as he, music is his life and can't see dedicating himself to any other lifestyle. At 25 years of age, B.Savage is working just as hard as when he was 9 years old and starting out. He thanks God first for giving him the ability to perform and reach his main goal by reaching his diverse audiences and entertaining and inspiring them with his music and art. Currently, B.Savage is A Savage Life Entertainment music artist. B.Savage is also grateful for the support of his family and his managers Derrick Johnson, Jazzy Lady and Porche Madre for getting him to this point of success. As he travels, learns, working hard to achieve his personal and professional goals, look forward to hearing more from B.Savage.

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