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 the likes of Musiq Soulchild and Lyfe Jennings 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, 16-year-old August was kicked out of his mother’s home. Alone, he returned to New Orleans. He bounced around between family and friends houses, but on some nights, only the corner store provided him shelter. Eventually, he 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 just 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 NNTME MuCo, AKA Noontime, (management/production company), August relocated to Atlanta in 2011 to begin carving his own musical path, creating music in a lane that would separate him from his R&B counterparts. His experiences in life are what shaped him, so those experiences, no matter how brutally honest, positive or negative, would serve as the focal point of his artistry. In April of 2012 August teamed up with Hoodrich/MMG’s own DJ Scream for the release of his debut mixtape, ‘The Product’, which garnered him an internet and radio buzz, and spawned the Sound Mob produced single, “Sucka” featuring fellow New Orleans native, R&B crooner Lloyd. The anti-love track offers the opinion that “love is for suckas”, providing an alternative to the sappy love songs associated with today’s R&B.
This past May, Alsina returned with his second installment of ‘The Product‘ series, this time teaming up with DJ Drama and his Gangsta Grillz brand. The debut single “I Luv This Shit” finds August paired with fellow Def Jam label mate, Trinidad Jame$. The top 10 hit, produced by Knucklehead, speaks to the rebellious and, sometimes, reckless lifestyle that finds August singing words that many can relate to, “I’m way too drunk to be talking like this, I’m way too high to be trippin like this, I’m way too young to be livin like this, ask me why I do it I’ma put it like this... God Damn it, I luv it”. It’s that honest and rebellious tone that caught the ear of Cash Money CEO/Rich Gang boss, Birdman, who jumped on the remix to stamp the fellow New Orleans native.
With his buzz building, August’s next stamp would come from media giant MTV, as he was named one of 2013’s Fab 5, their annual list of hip-hop artist to watch. Exposure on the network helped to make his independent video “Downtown” ft. Kidd Kidd, a viral hit, generating nearly 1 million views in less than 2 months. The autobiographical song/visual would become the title track for Alsina’s first official NNTME/Radio Killa/Def Jam release, an 8-song EP titled, ‘Downtown: Life Under the Gun’, which offers collaborations between Alsina and the previously mentioned Jame$ & Kidd Kidd, along with NOLA veteran Curren$y, and Atlanta newcomer Rich Homie Quan. Of the EP, Alsina says, “It allows you to walk through my hood with me and see where I’m from. Don’t get it confused, this isn’t my album, just a few songs to let people know what I’m about and why I do this”.
While just 21 years old, and already a lifetime of experiences behind him, August Alsina 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.
Heavy
August Alsina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Niggas hating so I'm up, you, you know wassup (shit is getting heavy)
Walking through the club, goose up in my cup
Niggas hating so I'm up, this shit I can't be touched (shit is getting heavy)
Ah, Shit is getting heavy
Killing these niggas and you ain't even gotta tell me, ahh
Is it my demeanor, is it cause I'm cleaned up,
Is it my inner swag, packing the shit you lack
Nigga you wish you had, that
I backseat ride, I'm chauffered,
Can a young nigga feel any older?
I'm a boss like Ross or Hova
Your girl looking good, damn you know she mean, bra
Soon as I make my move, you know she gon leave ya
Let's not make her choose, cause she's not that confused
I know that it's me she want and you know too, no need to front, ahh
Walkin' through the club, bitches show me love
Niggas hating so I'm up, you, you know wassup (shit is getting heavy)
Walking through the club, goose up in my cup
Niggas hating so I'm up, real shit I can't be touched (shit is getting heavy)
She want me, she want me, she want me,
She want me, she want me, she want me (shit is getting heavy)
She want me, she want me, she want me,
Shit is getting heavy
Hold up, let me check my Rolex, time for me to roll out
Meet me at the telly, my room girl, lets show out
Yes, time to have sex, we can do it how you want it girl
Let you get a taste the August's World
Ahh, ahh, ahhh, ahh
Don't stop now, better pull my brakes, we trying to make a baby
Just wanna hear you make that and oo-ooo-ahh sound
Your girl looking good, damn you know she mean, bra
Soon as I make my move, you know she gonna leave ya
Let's not make her choose, cause she's not that confused
I know that it's me she want and you know too no need to front, ahh
Walkin' through the club, bitches show me love
Niggas hating so I'm up, you, you know wassup (shit is getting heavy)
Walking through the club, goose up in my cup
Niggas hating so I'm up, real shit I can't be touched (shit is getting heavy)
She want me, she want me, she want me,
She want me, she want me, she want me (shit is getting heavy)
She want me, she want me, she want me,
Shit is getting heavy
The lyrics to August Alsina's song "Heavy" speak to the artist's rising success in the music industry and his newfound ability to attract attention from both women and jealous male peers. Throughout the song, Alsina walks through a club, sipping on Goose and flexing his boss-like demeanor. He notes that he is killing the game and doesn't need anyone to tell him so. He muses on whether his success is due to his collected appearance or his undeniable swag and confidence. Alsina mentions how he has a luxurious lifestyle, riding in the back of a chauffeured car, and feeling like a boss like Rick Ross or Jay-Z.
The song takes a turn when he encounters a woman and notes that she is eyeing him with interest. He promises to make her feel good and enjoy his world. The lyrics also suggest that the woman’s current boyfriend is not going to be able to keep her happy, and she will eventually choose Alsina over him. He assures her there’s no need to make any decision since he knows that deep down, she wants him. In the end, the song comes back to its original message that things are getting heavy because he's attracting a lot of attention, he's winning, and no one can touch him.
Line by Line Meaning
Walkin' through the club, bitches show me love
August is walking through the club, and women are showing him love.
Niggas hating so I'm up, you, you know wassup (shit is getting heavy)
August notices men hating on him, but he is not bothered because he knows the situation is becoming intense.
Walking through the club, goose up in my cup
August is walking through the club with his drink filled to the brim.
Niggas hating so I'm up, this shit I can't be touched (shit is getting heavy)
August is unperturbed by the jealousy of other men, he is untouchable as the situation becomes unbearable.
Ah, Shit is getting heavy
August emphasizes that the situation is escalating to a higher level.
Killing these niggas and you ain't even gotta tell me, ahh
August boasts about how he is killing it, and he does not even need approval from onlookers.
Is it my demeanor, is it cause I'm cleaned up,
August wonders if his cool attitude and clean appearance draw people towards him.
When I step up on the scene, uh
August acknowledges his impact on the scene when he arrives.
Is it my inner swag, packing the shit you lack
August thinks his inner confidence and swag are the reasons why he is more attractive than others.
Nigga you wish you had, that
August knows that other men wish they were like him.
I backseat ride, I'm chauffered,
August is driven around, often as a backseat passenger.
Can a young nigga feel any older?
August wonders if he will ever grow up and mature as a young man.
I'm a boss like Ross or Hova
August considers himself as Boss-like, similar to Ross or Hova.
Your girl looking good, damn you know she mean, bra
August acknowledges that your girl looks good, and he knows she is a bad girl.
Soon as I make my move, you know she gon leave ya
August is confident that, once he makes a move, your girl will leave you for him.
Let's not make her choose, cause she's not that confused
August suggests not to make your girl choose between him and you, because she already knows what she wants.
I know that it's me she want and you know too, no need to front, ahh
August is sure that your girl wants him, and he knows you know it too.
She want me, she want me, she want me,
August emphasizes that your girl wants him multiple times.
She want me, she want me, she want me (shit is getting heavy)
August repeats that your girl wants him because the situation is becoming intense.
Hold up, let me check my Rolex, time for me to roll out
August is checking his Rolex to confirm the time and prepare to leave.
Meet me at the telly, my room girl, lets show out
August is inviting your girl to his hotel room to party and have fun.
Yes, time to have sex, we can do it how you want it girl
August is acknowledging that they will be having sex, and it will be on her terms.
Let you get a taste the August's World
August is inviting your girl to feel what it is like to be with him.
Don't stop now, better pull my brakes, we trying to make a baby
August is not ready to stop having sex and suggests that they need to take precautions to prevent pregnancy.
Just wanna hear you make that and oo-ooo-ahh sound
August wants your girl to make sexually suggestive sounds.
Contributed by Avery Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tammie Rashida Price McLaughlin
Tears fill my eyes evidence that I ve cried
Cement paved walkways covered in blood that has dried
Stronger in the mind
Thoughts of the seasons to rewind
Play ever so gently on the treble of my eyesight
Never to be confused with the window of my soul that shines ever so bright
One time ride by one time we fly
Exposure to negatives
Directions to where ya live
Antidote to sedatives
Ripped ya own medicine
Downlow and beared for sake of your leisure
Body parts and brain fragments
A gift in your freezer
Yeah Goofy thats me
Think you know my name
Material for your bars
Ghostwriter undercover stars
Shame on you and yo crew boo!
Not ya homie past comments forgiven
Grow up Blow up
503TD
2021 still a banger. This is timeless music
Jsmiles4you
I love every song you have put out, but by far this is my fav song you have done. The beat is just so soothing & relaxing. Your voice is amazing, you're one incredible singer. I hope the world can witness it soon because the music industry needs someone like you & there's very few male singers that's consistent with their work so I think you'll be perfect for that position if you know what I mean. I'll definitely keep supporting you, I've even thought about making a twitter to support even more.
Mary Chea
August writes songs that are just the realist!
Ron Sizzle 402
Facts 💯
Kayla Marie
Aeyh
chrissy plus trini
Mary Chea so true
Aryelle McDonald
why dont you post on ur channel no more
Brittany Jackson
Babe it’s 2020 and I still love this song, you need to put this on Apple Music
OFFICIAL MARCUS THE ARTIST
It’s 2020 and this still in my top 20 playlist 💪🏽💯‼️
MzPrettiBlacc
Mhmmmmm love this song still playing this in 2019🔥🔥🔥🔥....Raw fresh talent ....love his voice just melts my soul 💗